Lead developer jobs in Aurora, IL

Job Family: Data Science Consulting Travel Required: Up to 10% Clearance Required: None What You Will Do: We are seeking a AI Development Lead to drive the design, development, and delivery of AI solutions, especially Generative AI, for clients modernizing their operations through intelligent automation. This hands-on leader will guide agile teams in developing AI-enabled Minimum Viable Products (MVPs) while advising on architecture, deployment, and governance strategies. The ideal candidate blends strong technical depth in modern AI tools with consulting experience, ensuring that emerging technologies deliver measurable value for clients. AI Delivery Leadership Lead the end-to-end delivery of AI MVPs, from use case definition through demonstration and iteration, including engaging directly with clients. Design solution architectures and technical roadmaps that integrate AI components within client cloud environments. Oversee model development, validation, and user interface integration to create functional prototypes. Deliver MVP demonstrations, gather stakeholder feedback, and refine solutions through post-deployment feedback loops. Construct and maintain scalable data pipelines for processing, transforming, and feeding data into AI models and applications. Agile Development & Team Enablement Lead agile development sprints and facilitate SCRUM ceremonies to ensure quality, velocity, and stakeholder alignment. Mentor developers and data scientists, fostering collaboration and excellence in applied AI engineering. Support backlog management, sprint prioritization, and delivery tracking across multidisciplinary teams. Generative AI & Technical Advisory Apply Generative AI and Large Language Model (LLM) techniques to automate, analyze, and enhance compliance and operational workflows. Evaluate and refine prompt engineering and context enrichment strategies for AI-based applications. Assess and optimize existing AI toolchains and workflows to improve scalability and delivery efficiency. Advise on production deployment strategies, including security, performance, and data integration considerations. Conduct operational readiness assessments to evaluate solution performance, resilience, and maintainability. Design lightweight model monitoring and retraining pipelines to maintain relevance and accuracy. Support AI governance alignment, ensuring all solutions adhere to organizational standards and risk management practices. Serve as the primary client interface for technical leadership, solution assurance, and delivery success. Construct and maintain scalable data pipelines for processing, transforming, and feeding data into AI models and applications. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to rapidly prototype and iterate on solutions Deploy and manage applications and models in cloud environments leveraging infrastructure-as-code and DevOps best practices. What You Will Need: Bachelor's degree is required Minimum SEVEN (7) years of experience delivering AI, software, or data-driven solutions, Minimum TWO (2) years in a leadership or client-facing consulting role Hands-on experience designing or implementing Generative AI systems (e.g., knowledge assistants, automation workflows, or retrieval-based reasoning) in cloud environments (e.g. Azure, Amazon Web Services) Experience with key Generative AI system patterns, such as: RAG (Retrieval-Augmented Generation) and retrieval-based reasoning systems Agentic frameworks (e.g., orchestrated multi-step reasoning, tool-using AI agents) Evaluation and observability frameworks (e.g., LLM/human evals, prompt testing, reliability scoring) Model monitoring and retraining pipelines Proficiency in Python and experience developing applications or pipelines that integrate AI/LLMs via APIs or SDKs (e.g. LangChain, LangGraph or similar) Strong understanding of AI architecture, data integration, and model lifecycle management Demonstrated experience leading teams using Agile and DevOps delivery practices, including sprint management, CI/CD, and iterative prototyping Excellent communication, stakeholder engagement, and problem-solving skills What Would Be Nice To Have: Master's degree Experience designing or deploying solutions with Amazon Bedrock, SageMaker, or other AWS AI services Understanding of AI governance and risk management frameworks Experience supporting clients in regulated or complex environments (e.g., energy, infrastructure, public sector) The annual salary range for this position is $118,000.00-$196,000.00. Compensation decisions depend on a wide range of factors, including but not limited to skill sets, experience and training, security clearances, licensure and certifications, and other business and organizational needs. What We Offer: Guidehouse offers a comprehensive, total rewards package that includes competitive compensation and a flexible benefits package that reflects our commitment to creating a diverse and supportive workplace. Benefits include: Medical, Rx, Dental & Vision Insurance Personal and Family Sick Time & Company Paid Holidays Position may be eligible for a discretionary variable incentive bonus Parental Leave and Adoption Assistance 401(k) Retirement Plan Basic Life & Supplemental Life Health Savings Account, Dental/Vision & Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts Short-Term & Long-Term Disability Student Loan PayDown Tuition Reimbursement, Personal Development & Learning Opportunities Skills Development & Certifications Employee Referral Program Corporate Sponsored Events & Community Outreach Emergency Back-Up Childcare Program Mobility Stipend About Guidehouse Guidehouse is an Equal Opportunity Employer-Protected Veterans, Individuals with Disabilities or any other basis protected by law, ordinance, or regulation. Guidehouse will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable law or ordinance including the Fair Chance Ordinance of Los Angeles and San Francisco. If you have visited our website for information about employment opportunities, or to apply for a position, and you require an accommodation, please contact Guidehouse Recruiting at ************** or via email at RecruitingAccommodation@guidehouse.com. All information you provide will be kept confidential and will be used only to the extent required to provide needed reasonable accommodation. All communication regarding recruitment for a Guidehouse position will be sent from Guidehouse email domains including @guidehouse.com or ************************. Correspondence received by an applicant from any other domain should be considered unauthorized and will not be honored by Guidehouse. Note that Guidehouse will never charge a fee or require a money transfer at any stage of the recruitment process and does not collect fees from educational institutions for participation in a recruitment event. Never provide your banking information to a third party purporting to need that information to proceed in the hiring process. If any person or organization demands money related to a job opportunity with Guidehouse, please report the matter to Guidehouse's Ethics Hotline. If you want to check the validity of correspondence you have received, please contact *************************. Guidehouse is not responsible for losses incurred (monetary or otherwise) from an applicant's dealings with unauthorized third parties. Guidehouse does not accept unsolicited resumes through or from search firms or staffing agencies. All unsolicited resumes will be considered the property of Guidehouse and Guidehouse will not be obligated to pay a placement fee.