Lead Software Engineer (Chantilly)
phoenix groupChantilly (VA)
Lead Software Engineer (Chantilly)
Posted today
phoenix groupChantilly (VA)
SENIORITY
Lead
About the role
Join a leading legal technology firm at the forefront of AI-driven legal tools, where you'll play a critical role in designing and deploying innovative software solutions that empower attorneys and legal professionals across the industry.
Role Overview:
This senior software development leadership position involves architecting, developing, and maintaining advanced legal applications, AI-powered features, and automation systems. The successful candidate will directly contribute to building scalable, secure, and efficient software solutions while guiding a specialized tech team. This role offers the opportunity to influence cutting-edge AI integration and system architecture in a dynamic, regulated environment.
Key Responsibilities:
- Lead end-to-end design, development, and deployment of custom legal and AI-driven applications, from requirements analysis to production support
- Architect, implement, and optimize CI/CD pipelines using tools like GitHub Actions, Jenkins, or GitLab CI to facilitate rapid, reliable software releases
- Design, deploy, and manage containerized environments (Docker, Kubernetes) supporting scalable and portable applications in cloud or hybrid infrastructures
- Champion responsible AI development practices, including integrating large language models (LLMs), RAG pipelines, and agentic workflows into legal software solutions
- Develop and refine evaluation methodologies for AI system quality, including accuracy assessment, hallucination risk mitigation, and compliance with security standards
- Mentor developers through code reviews, pairing, and technical coaching, emphasizing Python best practices and full lifecycle development skills
- Collaborate with legal professionals and IT leadership to translate business needs into robust technical solutions
- Identify, prioritize, and remediate technical debt, security vulnerabilities, and system bottlenecks within critical software environments
- Lead design and implementation of AI/LLM-powered features, such as document classification, e-discovery automation, and AI-assisted legal research tools
- Conduct comprehensive testing (unit, integration, and end-to-end) to ensure high-quality deliverables in regulated industry environments
- Core Qualifications & Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in computer science, software engineering, or related field; equivalent practical experience acceptable 7+ years of professional software development experience with at least 2+ years in a senior or lead role
- Extensive hands-on expertise in Python, including frameworks such as Django, FastAPI, and FlaskProven track record across the full software development lifecycle—requirements gathering, architecture, coding, testing, deployment, and support
- Strong experience building and maintaining CI/CD pipelines (GitHub Actions, Jenkins, GitLab CI)
- Deep expertise in containerization and orchestration technologies (Docker, Kubernetes) for scalable, portable environments
- Experience integrating AI APIs/models (e.g., OpenAI LLMs, Claude, Harvey) into production legal applications
- Proficiency in web technologies, including TypeScript/JavaScript, and familiarity with frameworks like NextJS (preferred)
- Cloud deployment experience across Azure, AWS, or Google Cloud, with a focus on security compliance in regulated sectors
- Familiarity with MLOps practices, model lifecycle management, and infrastructure-as-code (Terraform, Bicep, CloudFormation)
- Knowledge of legal or financial industry security standards, with experience supporting sensitive data workflows and e-discovery processes
- Nice-to-Have Qualifications
- Master's degree in a related field.
- NET development experience (C#, ASP.NET Core), especially in legacy or migration projects
- Experience with Microsoft 365 integrations, including Microsoft Graph and Copilot
- Building RAG pipelines, multi-agent systems, or agentic workflows
- Knowledge of legal, financial services, or other highly regulated industries with stringent security requirements
- Experience with MLOps pipelines and model lifecycle management tools
Core Technical SkillsPython (Django, FastAPI, Flask) | AI/LLM APIs (OpenAI, Claude, Harvey) | CI/CD (GitHub Actions, Jenkins, GitLab CI) | Docker | Kubernetes | Cloud Platforms (Azure, AWS, Google Cloud) | TypeScript/JavaScript | Web frameworks (NextJS) | Infrastructure as Code (Terraform, Bicep, CloudFormation) | MLOps | Security Standards in Regulated Environments
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