VP of Engineering / Distinguished Engineer - AI & ...

Our client is seeking a builder-first engineering leader to own and evolve a proprietary, AI-driven underwriting platform. This role is ideal for a hands-on AI-focused engineer who thrives in modern architectures, actively codes, and pushes teams to use AI to fundamentally improve how software is built and delivered. You will serve as the technical authority for AI and underwriting platforms, building the AI roadmap, shaping next-generation architecture, and leading by example through hands-on development and code review. This is not a research role or a traditional VP management position - it is a deeply technical role for someone who loves being on the keyboard and building new systems from the ground up. You will report directly to the CTO and play a critical role in defining the company's AI strategy, platforms, and engineering culture. Role Breakdown 50% hands-on development & architecture (coding, POCs, platform build-out) 25% code review & technical oversight 25% people leadership, coaching & stakeholder engagement Key Responsibilities AI Platform Ownership & Roadmap Own the AI strategy and engineering roadmap for underwriting and adjacent business functions Design and build AI-first platforms leveraging agentic systems across underwriting, insurance operations, and future domains (e.g., AR/AP, go-to-market workflows) Lead adoption of AI-assisted development and code generation tools, pushing teams to meaningfully improve developer productivity and quality Partner with Data Science to operationalize models and agents in production (this role focuses on engineering and platformization, not model research) Architecture & Hands-On Engineering Lead the design and implementation of modern, cloud-native architectures in a 100% Microsoft Azure environment Build and evolve a proprietary AI-enabled underwriting platform from the ground up Perform hands-on development in core platform services and integrations Define and evolve APIs, services, and workflows across the underwriting lifecycle Ensure production-grade reliability, scalability, security, and observability Full-Stack & Modern UI Enablement (Supporting, Not Primary) Provide technical leadership across the full stack, including REST-based services and modern JavaScript frameworks Enable and guide teams working with Vue.js and React, without making front-end development the primary focus of the role Ensure UI and platform layers are well-integrated and designed for rapid iteration and AI-driven workflows AI Engineering & Tooling Build and scale agent-based AI systems using modern frameworks (e.g., LangChain, LangGraph, Semantic Kernel or equivalent) Own AI infrastructure, orchestration, and deployment pipelines Establish best practices for responsible, scalable AI in production environments Train and mentor engineers on effective use of AI tooling, agents, and modern development workflows Leadership & Team Development Lead a small core team (2-3 direct reports) and provide technical direction to a broader group of engineers and contractors Shape the team's technical direction, standards, and development culture Act as a key partner to Product, Underwriting, Data Science, and Executive Leadership Translate business and underwriting needs into scalable technical solutions Required Experience & Skills Must-Have Expert-level hands-on engineering background with a strong desire to build and code Deep experience building production AI systems, including agent-based architectures Strong proficiency in Python and applied AI frameworks (e.g., LangChain, LangGraph, Semantic Kernel) Experience designing and owning modern, cloud-native platforms in Microsoft Azure Solid experience with RESTful services and modern backend architectures Working knowledge of JavaScript and modern frameworks (Vue.js, React) sufficient to lead and guide teams Demonstrated passion for AI-assisted development and code generation tools Proven ability to define and execute a technical roadmap in fast-moving environments Nice-to-Have Experience in underwriting, insurance, or financial services Familiarity with regulated production environments and explainability requirements Experience extending AI platforms beyond core domains (e.g., finance operations, GTM workflows) Background in building internal developer platforms or proprietary tooling Leadership Profile Builder-first mindset - leads by doing, not delegating Comfortable embracing new architectures and evolving systems Pushes teams to use AI to improve how software is built Pragmatic, fast-moving, and comfortable with ambiguity Strong communicator across technical and non-technical audiences Passionate about modern engineering, AI, and continuous improvement Why This Role This role is ideal for a VP-level or Distinguished Engineer who wants: Real ownership of an AI platform and roadmap Daily hands-on coding and architectural impact The opportunity to shape how AI is used across underwriting and insurance Influence over team culture, tools, and technical direction - without stepping away from the keyboard

Created: 2026-03-04