Chicago , IL
|Hybrid
|Contract
Chicago, IL
|Hybrid
|Contract
We’re looking for a Software Engineer to help move AI proof-of-concepts into secure, scalable production applications. This role is focused on building the architecture, integrations, pipelines, and deployment readiness needed to support AI-enabled solutions in an enterprise environment.
Responsibilities
- Design and build high-performing, secure, and scalable AI-enabled applications.
- Partner with AI engineers and product teams to turn proof-of-concepts into MVPs and production-ready solutions.
- Develop application architecture, project scaffolding, core services, APIs, and data integrations.
- Implement software engineering best practices, including design patterns, code reviews, testing, and release processes.
- Support CI/CD pipelines, environment management, and deployment readiness across development and production stages.
- Work closely with DevOps and platform teams to support secure and reliable enterprise deployments.
- Integrate AI solutions with enterprise systems while meeting security, compliance, and operational standards.
- Help select the most effective technical patterns for AI applications in collaboration with technical partners.
- Contribute to observability, evaluation, and operational support for AI-powered applications.
Skills
- Strong software engineering background with hands-on experience delivering production-grade applications.
- Experience applying architecture and design best practices to scalable, secure systems.
- Practical exposure to AI solution patterns such as RAG, agentic workflows, and API-based model integration.
- Solid Azure experience, including infrastructure, platform services, identity, security, and networking.
- Experience with CI/CD, branching strategies, pull requests, and modern development workflows.
- Ability to work in enterprise environments with security, compliance, and deployment requirements.
- Working knowledge of tools and technologies such as Neo4j, Cosmos DB, PostgreSQL, MongoDB, Kafka, containers, Kubernetes, and FastAPI.
- Comfort using GitHub workflows and AI productivity tools such as GitHub Copilot and Claude Code in a disciplined way.
- Strong collaboration skills and the ability to work effectively across engineering, platform, and product teams.
Preferred Skills
- Experience supporting AI engineering teams by introducing scalable engineering practices.
- Familiarity with enterprise data platform choices, including relational, NoSQL, graph, vector, and event-driven approaches.
- Experience delivering across multiple projects in a large enterprise setting.
- Exposure to secure integration patterns for internal enterprise systems.
- Background working with open-source and cloud-native technologies in production environments.
Horizontal is committed to fostering a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace where people of all backgrounds are valued and supported. We welcome candidates who bring different experiences, perspectives, and ways of thinking, and we encourage everyone to apply.
By applying for this position, you acknowledge and agree that Horizontal Talent may contact you regarding your application using automated technology, including phone calls, SMS/text messages, or email, which may be delivered by our virtual AI recruiter, Alex.
Horizontal is committed to taking affirmative action to employ and advance in employment qualified individuals with disabilities and protected veterans. If you are an individual with a disability and require a reasonable accommodation to complete any part of the application process or participate in the interview process, click here to request accommodation assistance.
All applicants applying must be legally authorized to work in the country of employment.