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Software AI Engineer

Cogent IBS, IncChicago, IL🇺🇸United StatesPosted 8 Sept 2026

Quick Overview

Seniority
Mid Senior
Work mode
Hybrid
Location
Chicago, IL, United States
Posted
Yesterday
SQL

Job Description

Senior AI / Software Engineer – Internal Operations
Location: Chicago, IL
 
We’re partnering with a rapidly growing financial technology firm to hire a Senior AI / Software Engineer who will help build the internal technology and AI infrastructure supporting the company’s next phase of growth.
This is not a traditional maintenance role. You’ll work directly with the Head of Product to identify business problems, design solutions, and build them—from initial idea through production.
The ideal candidate is an entrepreneurial software engineer who has gone deep into AI and Agentic AI and enjoys using technology to automate processes, improve operations, and solve real business problems.
 
What You’ll Do
• Build AI-powered solutions that automate and improve internal business operations
• Design and develop AI agents, agentic workflows, chatbots, and other AI-driven applications
• Build internal software and systems that replace or improve third-party tools
• Automate processes across sales operations, reporting, and client delivery
• Manage and enhance a central database and integrations across business systems
• Build and maintain API integrations
• Translate business needs into technical specifications and production-ready software
• Use AI-assisted development tools such as Claude Code, Copilot, or similar platforms
• Collaborate directly with Product, Sales, Operations, and company leadership
• Own solutions from problem → design → development → deployment
 
What We’re Looking For
• 5+ years of software development/engineering experience
• Advanced hands-on experience developing AI solutions, including experience with Agentic AI
• Experience building multiple AI applications, agents, chatbots, workflow automations, or similar solutions
• Strong software engineering fundamentals
• Strong SQL, database, and API integration experience
• Experience translating business requirements into working software
• BS or higher in Computer Science, Financial Engineering, Operations Engineering, or a related quantitative discipline
• Strong mathematical and analytical aptitude
• Genuine interest in financial markets, investing, trading, derivatives, options, structured notes, fixed income, or similar financial products
 
The Person We’re Looking For
Technical ability is only part of the equation.
We’re looking for someone who is engaging, collaborative, curious, creative, and entrepreneurial. You should enjoy brainstorming ideas, challenging existing processes, and figuring out better ways to get things done.
You’ll have significant autonomy, so you should be comfortable taking up an ambiguous business problem, figuring out what needs to be built, and driving it forward without extensive oversight.
At the same time, you’ll work closely with Sales and Operations leaders, so the ability to communicate technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders is extremely important.
 
Why This Opportunity?
This is an opportunity to join a small, growing, privately funded company where technology and AI are central to the growth strategy.
You’ll have:
• Direct access to company leadership
• Significant autonomy and ownership
• An AI-native development environment
• The ability to build new systems rather than simply maintain legacy technology
• Deep exposure to financial markets and derivatives
• The opportunity to have a visible impact on how the company scales
 
Chicago: Hybrid schedule with approximately 3 days/week in the downtown Chicago office during the initial ramp-up period.

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