Lead AI Engineer

Senior AI/Agent Engineer

IDC is building the next generation of AI-powered intelligence platforms that transform how technology decisions get made. Our platform re-imagines the way decision-makers discover and interact with trusted research and data, and is foundational to IDC's future.

We are looking for a Senior AI/Agent Engineer to serve as the player-coach dev lead for the new Memory / Living Intel Pod. This pod's mission is making the platform remember users and proactively alert them when things change. It starts with memory: persistent, cross-session understanding of each user. It grows into proactive intelligence: monitoring saved artifacts for changes, summarizing what matters, and routing alerts to the right channel. The pod may eventually split into two teams as these capabilities mature.

You will be the first hire and will set the technical direction for a cross-functional team spanning AI/LLM engineering and backend infrastructure. This is a leadership role where you code more than 50% of the time.

What You'll Do

• Lead a cross-functional pod of 4-8 engineers spanning AI/LLM and backend infrastructure disciplines
• Set the technical direction for the pod's memory and proactive intelligence systems
• Build memory capabilities that give the platform persistent, cross-session understanding of each user
• Design proactive intelligence systems that monitor artifacts for changes, summarize what matters, and route alerts to the right channel
• Integrate with the AI agent pipeline and channel adapters built by adjacent teams
• Define interfaces and contracts with adjacent teams
• Write production code. This role is coding more than 50% of the time

What You Bring

• 7+ years of professional Python development experience
• Proven experience building LLM-powered systems in production environments
• Player-coach track record leading teams of 4-8 engineers while remaining a significant code contributor
• Experience leading across disciplines, bridging AI/LLM engineering and infrastructure engineering
• Strong background in asynchronous system design: background jobs, event-driven patterns, scheduled processing
• Quality-minded approach to system design and code
• Comfort with ambiguity and building from scratch

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience building systems that maintain or evolve user context and state over time
• Familiarity with semantic search, embeddings, and vector databases (e.g., Snowflake Cortex, Pinecone, Weaviate)
• Background in event-driven architectures, job scheduling, and change detection patterns
• Experience with LLM observability tools (e.g., Langfuse, LangSmith, Weights & Biases)
• Track record of standing up new teams from zero

Why This Role Stands Out

At IDC, your work helps shape how the world understands technology and where it goes next. You collaborate with curious, high-caliber colleagues who value rigor, integrity, and shared success. As the premier global provider of trusted technology intelligence, IDC equips business and technology leaders with the evidence they need to make confident decisions. Our insights inform strategy, investment, and innovation across industries and regions.

Recognized by IIAR as Analyst Firm of the Year for five consecutive years, IDC sets the standard for credibility and impact. With more than 1,000 analysts worldwide and a truly global perspective, we combine deep expertise with practical relevance. Here, your ideas matter, your voice is heard, and your contributions provide the insights leaders rely on every day. It is meaningful work, backed by a culture that supports growth, collaboration, and long-term career development with a globally respected brand.

What We Offer

• Hybrid/remote work model (about 1-2 days in the office per month).
• A position in a highly professional and globally respected market research and advisory firm, where initiative leading to results is rewarded.
• Individualized culture: an environment where you can explore new areas outside your specialty and stay engaged with work you enjoy.

Equal Opportunity Employer

IDC is committed to providing equal employment opportunities for all qualified persons. Employment eligibility verification required. We participate in E-Verify.