Lead Software Engineer

Here at Appian, our core values of Respect, Work to Impact, Ambition, and Constructive Dissent & Resolution define who we are. In short, this means we constantly seek to understand the best for our customers, we go beyond completion in our work, we strive for excellence with intensity, and we embrace candid communication. These values guide our actions and shape our culture every day.  When you join Appian, you'll be part of a passionate team that's dedicated to accomplishing hard things.

Imagine leading a team that's not just coding, but crafting the future of enterprise AI. At Appian, we're driven by a passion for technology and a relentless pursuit of innovation. Join us, and you'll be at the helm of projects that redefine industry standards, in an environment where your expertise is valued, and your growth is paramount. We're not just building software; we're empowering organizations to achieve the extraordinary through the power of AI.
 

About the Role:

We're seeking a seasoned Lead Software Engineer to spearhead development of our AI-powered low-code platform. In this influential role, you'll guide a team of talented engineers, driving the design and implementation of complex, scalable solutions. You'll leverage your deep expertise in Java, Python, JavaScript, and AWS services, with a focus on integrating cutting-edge AI technologies like Large Language Models (LLMs), Generative AI, AWS Bedrock, and Anthropic Claude, and other state-of-the-art AI tools and frameworks. Your leadership will be pivotal in shaping the future of enterprise software and driving Appian’s AI strategy.
 

Responsibilities:

• Lead the design, development, and deployment of enterprise-grade, full-stack applications with a strong emphasis on AI integration, ensuring alignment with Appian’s overall AI strategy.

• Mentor and guide a team of software engineers, fostering a culture of excellence and continuous improvement.

• Architect and implement complex software solutions, ensuring scalability, reliability, and security.

• Drive the adoption of best practices in software development, including code reviews, testing, and continuous integration/continuous deployment (CI/CD), with a focus on AI specific challenges like LLM-based feature validation.

• Collaborate with product managers and other stakeholders to define project requirements and timelines.

• Lead technical discussions and provide guidance on architectural decisions.

• Proactively identify and resolve technical challenges.

• Ensure the availability, latency, scalability, efficiency, and security of our platform by designing reliability and security into our systems, with a specific focus on the unique challenges of AI systems.

• Troubleshoot, investigate, and diagnose incidents using advanced tracing, alerting, and log analysis.

• Contribute to software performance analysis and system tuning.

• Build automation to prevent problem recurrence.

• Create and maintain comprehensive technical documentation.

• Effectively communicate complex technical designs to diverse audiences, including explaining AI concepts and trade-offs to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.

• Take ownership of team performance, quality, stability, and velocity, with a focus on the AI aspects of the platform and the team’s contribution to Appian’s AI initiatives..

• Champion Agile methodologies and a quality-first culture.
   

Qualifications:

• Minimum Qualifications: BS in Computer Science or related field/degree; MS in Computer Science preferred.

• 8+ years of experience building and delivering enterprise-grade software applications.

• Proven experience leading software development teams, including teams focused on AI.

• Experience in a high-volume or critical production service environment.

• Expert proficiency in Java, JavaScript, Spring, JPA, JDBC, Hibernate, React, Gradle, and Git.

• Deep understanding of web technologies and AWS cloud services.

• Demonstrated experience with AI technologies, including Large Language Models (LLMs), Generative AI, Machine Learning (ML), and Prompt Engineering.

• Ability to apply both object-oriented and functional programming approaches.

• Strong advocate for industry best practices, including platform development, DevOps, and CI/CD, with a focus on AI specific challenges like LLM-based feature validation..

• Exceptional problem-solving and analytical skills, with a focus on AI-related challenges, such as model debugging and performance optimization..

• Excellent communication and collaboration skills, including the ability to explain complex AI concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences..

• A relentless curiosity and passion for innovation, particularly in the field of AI and its application to business process automation..

• Agile mindset and unwavering commitment to quality.

About Appian:

Appian is a software powerhouse that's revolutionizing business process automation. Our AI-Powered Process Platform is the definitive solution for designing, automating, and optimizing even the most intricate processes. We empower the world's most innovative organizations to streamline workflows, unify data, and optimize operations, driving exceptional growth and customer experiences. Join us at appian.com.

This role is based at our Chennai office in Brigade World Trade Center Chennai. Appian was built on a culture of in-person collaboration, which we believe is a key driver of our mission to be the best. Employees hired for this position are expected to be in the office 5 days a week to foster that culture and ensure we continue to thrive through shared ideas and teamwork. We believe being in the office provides more opportunities to come together and celebrate working with the exceptional people across Appian.  

Tools and Resources 

• Training and Development: During onboarding, we focus on equipping new hires with the skills and knowledge for success through department-specific training. Continuous learning is a central focus at Appian, with dedicated mentorship and the First-Friend program being widely utilized resources for new hires. 
• Growth Opportunities: Appian provides a diverse array of growth and development opportunities, including our leadership program tailored for new and aspiring managers, a comprehensive library of specialized department training through Appian University, skills based training, and tuition reimbursement for those aiming to advance their education. This commitment ensures that employees have access to a holistic range of development opportunities.
• Community: We’ll immerse you into our community rooted in respect starting on day one. Appian fosters inclusivity through our 8 employee-led affinity groups. These groups help employees build stronger internal and external networks by planning social, educational, and outreach activities to connect with Appianites and larger initiatives throughout the company.

About Appian

Appian is a software company that automates business processes. The Appian AI-Powered Process Platform includes everything you need to design, automate, and optimize even the most complex processes, from start to finish. The world's most innovative organizations trust Appian to improve their workflows, unify data, and optimize operations—resulting in better growth and superior customer experiences. For more information, visit appian.com. [Nasdaq: APPN]

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Appian is an equal opportunity employer that strives to attract and retain the best talent. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to any characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. 

Appian provides reasonable accommodations to applicants in accordance with all applicable laws. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process, please contact us by email at ReasonableAccommodations@appian.com. Please note that only inquiries concerning a request for reasonable accommodation will be responded to from this email address.

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