Lead Software Engineer - Agentic AI Architecture & Engineering

Why Join UKG:

At UKG, your contributions make a difference. The software you develop and the interactions you have with customers are pivotal in transforming the workforce experience for millions of people globally. Our mission is simple: to help individuals get paid, thrive in their careers, and forge the future of their industries.

We believe in continuous learning and challenging the norm. Here, you'll receive genuine flexibility, dependable benefits, and work within a cohesive team environment. At UKG, you are valued, and so is your work.

About the Role:

We're on the lookout for a highly skilled Lead AI Engineer who will spearhead UKG's Agentic AI strategy across our entire product suite. This pivotal role not only requires extensive technical expertise but also involves collaborating closely with customers, sales leaders, product teams, and engineering specialists to translate AI advancements into valuable business outcomes.

As a key figure in our AI efforts, you will provide strategic and architectural guidance for our Agentic AI systems, shaping the design, deployment, governance, and scalability of autonomous, goal-driven AI agents across our offerings. This role demands an exceptional combination of deep technical knowledge, enterprise architecture thinking, commercial insight, and the ability to communicate effectively with executives.

Your work will occur at the intersection of customer success, product innovation, and engineering excellence, ensuring UKG remains at the forefront of responsible, scalable, and impactful Agentic AI solutions.

Note: UKG is unable to offer sponsorship for this position.

Key Responsibilities:

Agentic AI Vision & Strategy: Formulate and implement UKG's enterprise-focused Agentic AI strategy, creating an architectural framework for intelligent agents across our product suite.Customer Engagement: Collaborate directly with strategic clients, sales teams, and solution consultants to identify AI-driven value, use cases, and translate customer needs into scalable AI capabilities.Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work alongside Product, Engineering, Data Science, Security, and Legal teams to ensure our AI solutions are secure, compliant, and ready for deployment.Technical Leadership: Provide architectural expertise on multi-agent systems, LLM-powered agents, autonomous decision support, and AI safety and governance.Innovation: Stay updated on advancements in Agentic AI, lead experimental initiatives for next-gen AI capabilities, and ensure integration into our production systems.Commercial Strategy: Collaborate with GTM and Product leadership to ensure AI initiatives enhance our product offerings and align with market needs.Responsible AI Governance: Establish frameworks promoting transparency, compliance, and ethical AI practices across our autonomous systems.Mentorship: Elevate AI proficiency within the organization by mentoring senior engineers and fostering a culture of innovation.Industry Representation: Serve as an AI thought leader through publications, speaking engagements, and participation in industry forums.Qualifications:

Ph.D. in Computer Science or related field, or equivalent professional experience.15+ years in software development and AI, with 5+ years in generative AI or related areas.Proficiency in relevant programming languages (e.g., Python, Java) and frameworks (e.g., TensorFlow, PyTorch).Expertise in cloud platforms and MLOps for AI model training and deployment.Strong understanding of AI methodologies, including transformer models and multi-modal architectures.Track record of collaboration with sales teams to shape AI initiatives.Established credibility as a thought leader in AI with significant publications.Exceptional problem-solving and strategic implementation skills.Preferred Qualifications:

Experience in high-compliance settings or with privacy-focused AI.Background in optimizing AI models for cost at scale.Familiarity with cloud-native architectures and CI/CD processes.Company Overview:

UKG is dedicated to implementing workforce understanding in meaningful ways. With the largest collection of workforce insights and groundbreaking AI solutions, we provide our clients with the tools they need to maximize productivity and talent management. Learn more about us and our commitment to innovation.

Equal Opportunity Employer

UKG promotes equal employment opportunities, evaluating applicants regardless of race, color, disability, religion, sex, age, nationality, veteran status, or any other legally protected categories. We are committed to an inclusive workplace.

The pay range for this role is $233,300.00 to $385,000.00 USD, with eligibility for performance-based bonuses and restricted stock unit awards. Learn more about our benefits and rewards.