Lead AI Engineer chez Aspida Financial Services LLC

Description

Company Description:

Aspida is a tech-driven, nimble insurance carrier. Backed by Ares Management Corporation, a leading global alternative asset manager, we offer simple and secure retirement solutions and annuity products with speed and precision. More than that, we’re in the business of protecting dreams; those of our partners, our producers, and especially our clients. Our suite of products, available through our elegant and intuitive digital platform, focuses on secure, stable retirement solutions with attractive features and downside protection. A subsidiary of Ares Management Corporation (NYSE: ARES) acts as the dedicated investment manager, capital solutions and corporate development partner to Aspida.  For more information, please visit www.aspida.com or follow them on LinkedIn. 

Who We Are:

Sometimes, a group of people come together and create something amazing. They don’t let egos get in the way. They don’t settle for the status quo, and they don’t complain when things get tough. Instead, they see a common vision for the future and each person makes an unspoken commitment to building that future together. That’s the culture, the moxie, and the story of Aspida.

Our business focuses on annuities and life insurance. At first, it might not sound flashy, but that’s why we’re doing things differently than everyone else in our industry. We’re dedicated to developing data-driven tech solutions, providing amazing customer experiences, and applying an entrepreneurial spirit to everything we do. Our work ethic is built on three main tenets: Get $#!+ Done, Do It with Moxie, and Have Fun. If this sounds like the place for you, read on, and then apply at aspida.com/careers.

What We Are Looking For:

Aspida is launching the Emerging Intelligence Group (EIG) — a cross-functional team dedicated to embedding AI into the core of how we operate. The Lead AI Engineer will serve as both architect and hands-on builder, shaping the roadmap, developing prototypes, and deploying AI solutions that transform business operations and customer experiences. This role also includes mentoring and upskilling Aspida’s engineering teams to expand our AI capabilities. Ideal for a technically strong, product-minded engineer who thrives in fast-moving environments and wants to help design the AI foundation of a modern insurer.  This role reports to the Chief Technology Officer and is required to be onsite 3 days a week at our Durham, NC headquarters. 

What You Will Do:

• Partner with the CTO to launch and scale the Emerging Intelligence Group — define mission, priorities, and deliver early wins.
• Deliver AI-driven features across web, mobile, and enterprise platforms.
• Build and deploy LLM-powered applications, RAG pipelines, and scalable APIs connecting model intelligence with real-world user experiences.
• Collaborate with Product Engineering to integrate AI into employee and client-facing systems.
• Serve as a technical liaison between data engineering, software engineering, and product management.
• Partner with Cybersecurity, Legal, and Infrastructure to establish AI governance, ethics, and transparency standards.
• Identify skill gaps, mentor engineers, and foster AI fluency across Aspida’s tech organization.
• Serve as Aspida’s resident AI expert and trusted advisor to business leaders.

 What We Provide:

• Hourly Pay
• Full-Time
• Full Benefits Package Available

What We Believe:

Not sure if you meet every qualification? We still encourage you to apply! We value inclusivity, welcoming candidates from diverse backgrounds, including non-traditional paths. Unique experiences enrich our team, and the willingness to dream big makes you an exceptional candidate!

At Aspida Financial Services, LLC, we are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment and are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. As such, Aspida does not and will not discriminate in employment and personnel practices on the basis of race, sex, age, handicap, religion, national origin or any other basis prohibited by applicable law. Hiring, transferring and promotion practices are performed without regard to the above listed items.

Requirements

What We Require:

• 5+ years in software engineering or AI product development (financial services, insurance, or fintech preferred).
• Proven success delivering production-grade AI projects.
• Hands-on experience with:
  • Designing and deploying Generative AI / LLM solutions (e.g., GPT, Claude, Llama).
  • Frameworks such as LangChain, Hugging Face, and LlamaIndex.
  • RAG architectures, integrating external data sources and building vector databases.
• Strong proficiency in:
  • AWS (Bedrock, Lambda, S3, etc.)
  • Full-stack development (React, Node.js, Python, or similar).
  • SQL / NoSQL data platforms.
  • RESTful API design and development.
• Familiarity with:
  • Conversational UX and generative AI design principles.
  • MLOps practices and CI/CD pipelines.
  • Responsible AI principles.
• Excellent communicator — able to translate technical outcomes into business value.
• Entrepreneurial mindset; thrives in a “startup-within-an-enterprise” environment.
• BS in Computer Science or related field.