Lead Software Engineer - AI/ML Deep Learning & GPU ML Serving

$152K - $215K Palo Alto, CA, US Senior AI Software Engineer

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Skills & Technologies

AwsDockerGcpKubernetesMlflowPythonPytorchRagRustSagemaker

About This Role

AI job market dashboard showing open roles by category

JOB DESCRIPTION

Be an integral part of an agile team that's constantly pushing the envelope to enhance, build, and deliver top\-notch technology products.

As a Lead Software Engineer at JPMorgan Chase within the Commercial and Investment Banking team, you will play a pivotal role in an agile team, enhancing and delivering secure, stable, and scalable technology products. As a core technical contributor, you will drive critical technology solutions across multiple technical areas, supporting the firm’s business objectives.

Job Responsibilities

  • Lead the design, development, and troubleshooting of software solutions, applying innovative approaches to complex technical challenges.
  • Write secure, high\-quality production code and maintain algorithms integrated with firm systems.
  • Produce architecture and design artifacts for advanced applications, ensuring compliance with design constraints.
  • Analyze and visualize large, diverse data sets to improve software applications and systems.
  • Identify and resolve hidden issues and patterns in data to enhance code quality and system architecture.
  • Collaborate with software engineering communities to explore and adopt emerging technologies.
  • Guide system design and architecture discussions, focusing on reliability and scalability.
  • Optimize deep learning models for production inference, including quantization and batching.
  • Deploy and manage GPU workloads in Kubernetes environments.
  • Build scalable, low\-latency systems using web services and APIs.
  • Partner with product and program management teams to deliver business\-driven solutions.

Required qualifications, capabilities, and skills

  • Formal training or certification on software engineering concepts and 5\+ years applied experience
  • Professional software development experience, with emphasis on ML systems.
  • Strong proficiency in Python and experience with ML frameworks (TensorFlow, PyTorch, or similar).
  • Experience with cloud technologies (Docker, Kubernetes, EKS) and public clouds (AWS, GCP).
  • Hands\-on experience with ML model serving frameworks (TorchServe, TensorFlow Serving, Triton Inference Server).
  • Experience deploying and managing GPU workloads in Kubernetes.
  • Familiarity with scalable, low\-latency systems based on web services and APIs.
  • Experience with NoSQL databases (Cassandra or equivalent) for high\-throughput data access.
  • Understanding of GPU resource management and cost optimization.
  • Experience with modern microservices architecture.
  • Ability to lead the design of large\-scale systems and evaluate tradeoffs.

Preferred qualifications, capabilities, and skills

  • MS/PhD in Computer Science, Machine Learning, or a related field.
  • Proficiency in Java, Python, Scala, or C\+\+.
  • Experience with graph neural networks and graph processing frameworks (DGL, PyTorch Geometric, NetworkX).
  • Knowledge of GPU programming (CUDA) and performance optimization.
  • Experience with model monitoring, A/B testing, and ML observability tools.
  • Familiarity with MLOps tools and practices (MLflow, Kubeflow, SageMaker).
  • Experience serving large\-scale models and optimizing for performance.

FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE ACT:

This position is subject to Section 19 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act. As such, an employment offer for this position is contingent on JPMorgan Chase’s review of criminal conviction history, including pretrial diversions or program entries.

ABOUT US

JPMorganChase, one of the oldest financial institutions, offers innovative financial solutions to millions of consumers, small businesses and many of the world’s most prominent corporate, institutional and government clients under the J.P. Morgan and Chase brands. Our history spans over 200 years and today we are a leader in investment banking, consumer and small business banking, commercial banking, financial transaction processing and asset management.

We offer a competitive total rewards package including base salary determined based on the role, experience, skill set and location. Those in eligible roles may receive commission\-based pay and/or discretionary incentive compensation, paid in the form of cash and/or forfeitable equity, awarded in recognition of individual achievements and contributions. We also offer a range of benefits and programs to meet employee needs, based on eligibility. These benefits include comprehensive health care coverage, on\-site health and wellness centers, a retirement savings plan, backup childcare, tuition reimbursement, mental health support, financial coaching and more. Additional details about total compensation and benefits will be provided during the hiring process.

We recognize that our people are our strength and the diverse talents they bring to our global workforce are directly linked to our success. We are an equal opportunity employer and place a high value on diversity and inclusion at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of any protected attribute, including race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, marital or veteran status, pregnancy or disability, or any other basis protected under applicable law. We also make reasonable accommodations for applicants’ and employees’ religious practices and beliefs, as well as mental health or physical disability needs. Visit our FAQs for more information about requesting an accommodation.

JPMorgan Chase \& Co. is an Equal Opportunity Employer, including Disability/Veterans

ABOUT THE TEAM

J.P. Morgan’s Commercial \& Investment Bank is a global leader across banking, markets, securities services and payments. Corporations, governments and institutions throughout the world entrust us with their business in more than 100 countries. The Commercial \& Investment Bank provides strategic advice, raises capital, manages risk and extends liquidity in markets around the world.

Salary Context

This $152K-$215K range is below the median for AI Software Engineer roles in our dataset (median: $189K across 518 roles with salary data).

Role Details

Company JPMorganChase
Title Lead Software Engineer - AI/ML Deep Learning & GPU ML Serving
Location Palo Alto, CA, US
Category AI Software Engineer
Experience Senior
Salary $152K - $215K
Remote No

About This Role

AI Software Engineers build the applications and systems that AI models run inside. They own the API layers, data pipelines, frontend integrations, and infrastructure that turn a model into a product users interact with. Every AI company needs engineers who can build the software around the AI.

The challenge is building reliable systems around inherently unreliable components. Models are probabilistic. They'll give different answers to the same question. They hallucinate. They're slow. They're expensive. Your job is to build an application layer that handles all of this gracefully while delivering a product that users trust and enjoy.

Across the 26,159 AI roles we're tracking, AI Software Engineer positions make up 2% of the market. At JPMorganChase, this role fits into their broader AI and engineering organization.

AI Software Engineer roles are among the most numerous in the AI job market. Every company deploying AI needs software engineers who understand AI integration patterns. The demand is broad, spanning startups to enterprises, across every industry adopting AI capabilities.

What the Work Looks Like

A typical week includes: building API endpoints that serve model inference with caching and fallback logic, designing the data pipeline that feeds context to a RAG system, implementing streaming responses in the frontend, debugging a race condition in the async inference pipeline, and optimizing database queries for the vector search layer. It's full-stack engineering with AI at the center.

AI Software Engineer roles are among the most numerous in the AI job market. Every company deploying AI needs software engineers who understand AI integration patterns. The demand is broad, spanning startups to enterprises, across every industry adopting AI capabilities.

Skills Required

Aws (34% of roles) Docker (4% of roles) Gcp (9% of roles) Kubernetes (4% of roles) Mlflow (1% of roles) Python (15% of roles) Pytorch (4% of roles) Rag (64% of roles) Rust (29% of roles) Sagemaker (1% of roles)

Full-stack engineering skills with AI integration experience. Python and TypeScript are the most common requirements. You'll need to understand API design, database architecture, and how to build reliable systems around probabilistic outputs. Experience with streaming, async processing, and caching patterns is increasingly important as real-time AI applications proliferate.

Knowledge of vector databases, embedding APIs, and LLM integration patterns (function calling, structured outputs, retry logic) differentiates AI software engineers from general software engineers. Understanding cost optimization (caching strategies, model routing, batched inference) is valuable since inference costs can dominate application economics.

Strong postings describe the product you'll be building, the AI integration patterns you'll work with, and the scale requirements. Look for companies that have existing AI features and need engineers to improve and expand them, not companies that are 'planning to add AI' someday.

Compensation Benchmarks

AI Software Engineer roles pay a median of $235,100 based on 665 positions with disclosed compensation. Senior-level AI roles across all categories have a median of $227,400. This role's midpoint ($183K) sits 22% below the category median. Disclosed range: $152K to $215K.

Across all AI roles, the market median is $184,000. Top-quartile compensation starts at $244,000. The 90th percentile reaches $309,400. For comparison, the highest-paying categories include AI Engineering Manager ($293,500) and AI Architect ($292,900). By seniority level: Entry: $76,880; Mid: $131,300; Senior: $227,400; Director: $244,288; VP: $234,620.

JPMorganChase AI Hiring

JPMorganChase has 192 open AI roles right now. They're hiring across AI/ML Engineer, AI Software Engineer, Data Scientist, AI Agent Developer. Positions span Columbus, OH, US, New York, NY, US, San Francisco, CA, US. Compensation range: $62K - $500K.

Location Context

Across all AI roles, 7% (1,863 positions) offer remote work, while 24,200 require on-site attendance. Top AI hiring metros: Los Angeles (1,695 roles, $178,000 median); New York (1,670 roles, $200,000 median); San Francisco (1,059 roles, $244,000 median).

Career Path

Common paths into AI Software Engineer roles include Software Engineer, Full-Stack Developer, Backend Engineer.

From here, career progression typically leads toward Staff Engineer, AI Architect, Engineering Manager.

If you're a software engineer, you're already 80% there. Learn the AI integration patterns: RAG, streaming inference, function calling, structured outputs. Build a project that demonstrates you can wrap an AI model in a production-quality application with proper error handling, caching, and user experience. That's the portfolio piece that gets you hired.

What to Expect in Interviews

Technical screens look like standard software engineering interviews with an AI twist. Expect system design questions about building reliable applications around probabilistic models: handling streaming responses, implementing retry logic for API failures, and designing caching strategies for LLM outputs. Coding rounds test standard algorithms plus practical integration patterns like async processing and rate limiting.

When evaluating opportunities: Strong postings describe the product you'll be building, the AI integration patterns you'll work with, and the scale requirements. Look for companies that have existing AI features and need engineers to improve and expand them, not companies that are 'planning to add AI' someday.

AI Hiring Overview

The AI job market has 26,159 open positions tracked in our dataset. By seniority: 2,416 entry-level, 16,247 mid-level, 5,153 senior, and 2,343 leadership roles (Director, VP, C-Level). Remote roles make up 7% of the market (1,863 positions). The remaining 24,200 roles require on-site or hybrid attendance.

The market median for AI roles is $184,000. Top-quartile compensation starts at $244,000. The 90th percentile reaches $309,400. Highest-paying categories: AI Engineering Manager ($293,500 median, 28 roles); AI Architect ($292,900 median, 108 roles); AI Safety ($274,200 median, 19 roles).

AI Software Engineer roles are among the most numerous in the AI job market. Every company deploying AI needs software engineers who understand AI integration patterns. The demand is broad, spanning startups to enterprises, across every industry adopting AI capabilities.

The AI Job Market Today

The AI job market spans 26,159 open positions across 15 role categories. The largest categories by volume: AI/ML Engineer (23,752), AI Software Engineer (598), AI Product Manager (594). These three account for the majority of open positions, though smaller categories often have higher per-role compensation because of specialized skill requirements.

The seniority mix tells a story about where AI teams are in their maturity. Entry-level roles (2,416) are outnumbered by mid-level (16,247) and senior (5,153) positions, reflecting that most companies are past the 'build a team from scratch' phase and need experienced engineers who can ship production systems. Leadership roles (Director, VP, C-Level) total 2,343 positions, representing the bottleneck between technical execution and organizational strategy.

Remote work availability sits at 7% of all AI roles (1,863 positions), with 24,200 requiring on-site or hybrid attendance. The remote share has stabilized after the post-pandemic correction. Senior and specialized roles (Research Scientist, ML Architect) are more likely to be remote-eligible than entry-level positions, partly because experienced hires have more negotiating power and partly because these roles require less hands-on mentorship.

AI compensation is structured in clear tiers. The market median sits at $184,000. Top-quartile roles start at $244,000, and the 90th percentile reaches $309,400. These figures include base salary with disclosed compensation. Total compensation (including equity, bonuses, and sign-on) runs 20-40% higher at companies that offer those components.

Category matters for compensation. AI Engineering Manager roles lead at $293,500 median, while Prompt Engineer roles sit at $122,200. The spread between highest and lowest-paying categories reflects the premium on specialized technical skills versus broader analytical roles.

The most in-demand skills across all AI postings: Rag (16,749 postings), Aws (8,932 postings), Rust (7,660 postings), Python (3,815 postings), Azure (2,678 postings), Gcp (2,247 postings), Prompt Engineering (1,469 postings), Openai (1,269 postings). Python dominates, appearing in the vast majority of role descriptions regardless of category. Cloud platform experience (AWS, GCP, Azure) is the second most common requirement. The newer entrants to the top skills list (RAG, vector databases, LLM APIs) reflect the shift from traditional ML toward generative AI applications.

Frequently Asked Questions

Based on 665 roles with disclosed compensation, the median salary for AI Software Engineer positions is $235,100. Actual compensation varies by seniority, location, and company stage.
Full-stack engineering skills with AI integration experience. Python and TypeScript are the most common requirements. You'll need to understand API design, database architecture, and how to build reliable systems around probabilistic outputs. Experience with streaming, async processing, and caching patterns is increasingly important as real-time AI applications proliferate.
About 7% of the 26,159 AI roles we track offer remote work. Remote availability varies by company and seniority level, with senior and leadership roles more likely to offer location flexibility.
JPMorganChase is among the companies actively hiring for AI and ML talent. Check our company profiles for detailed breakdowns of open roles, salary ranges, and hiring trends.
Common next steps from AI Software Engineer positions include Staff Engineer, AI Architect, Engineering Manager. Progression depends on whether you lean toward technical depth, people management, or product strategy.

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