Software Engineer AI, United Kingdom

Determining compensation for this role (and others) at Vaco depends upon a wide array of factors including but not limited to the individual's skill sets, experience and training, licensure and certifications, office location and other geographic considerations, as well as other business and organizational needs. With that said, as required by local law, Vaco believes that the following salary range reasonably estimates the base compensation for an individual hired into this position in geographies that require salary range disclosure: [$60/Hr - $65/Hr]. The individual may also be eligible for discretionary bonuses.]


Role Overview:
We are seeking a creative and detail-oriented software engineer to support our Technical Architect in building and maintaining AI-powered FinTech systems. Develop computer vision, exception handling, and conversational AI services using modern microservices architecture. Work across the full stack from AI model integration to cloud infrastructure deployment.

Key Responsibilities:
AI Systems Development:
Develop and maintain AI services for check processing, exception handling, and chat agents
Integrate multi-modal AI models (vision + language) with business logic
Implement dual client architecture (REST API + MCP chat interfaces)
Build human-in-the-loop workflows and confidence threshold systems
Support AI model validation, testing, and deployment processes
Infrastructure & Integration:
Deploy and maintain cloud infrastructure using Azure services and Terraform
Implement microservices architecture with Dapr service mesh
Build containerized applications with Docker and Kubernetes
Integrate AI systems with client applications and frontend interfaces
Support CI/CD pipelines and automated deployment processes
Technical Execution:
Collaborate with Technical Architect on system design and implementation
Develop Python services using FastAPI, Pydantic, and Instructor frameworks
Build React/Next.js frontend applications for AI system interfaces
Implement self-hosted AI deployments with Ollama and open-source models
Support testing, validation, and performance optimization efforts
Qualifications:
Core Development:
5+ years professional software engineering experience
Strong Python expertise with FastAPI, Pydantic, and modern frameworks
Proficiency with AI development tools (Cline, Cursor, Windsurf, GitHub Copilot)
Understanding of microservices architecture and API design
AI & Infrastructure:
Experience with AI/ML systems and model integration
Knowledge of containerization (Docker, Kubernetes) and cloud platforms
Understanding of Model Context Protocol (MCP) and AI agent frameworks
Experience with Azure cloud services (AKS, ACR, related resources)
Familiarity with CI/CD pipelines and DevOps practices
Technical Skills:
Strong understanding of structured prompt engineering principles
Experience with distributed systems and service mesh architectures
Knowledge of database systems and caching (Redis)
Version control and collaborative development practices (Git)
Ability to work effectively with technical architects and cross-functional teams
Preferred:
Advanced AI/ML:
Experience with self-hosted AI systems (Ollama)
Knowledge of multi-modal AI models and computer vision systems
Understanding of exception handling and financial document processing
Experience with AI model monitoring and performance optimization
Infrastructure & Domain:
Experience with Terraform and infrastructure-as-code
Knowledge of Dapr service mesh and sidecar patterns
Background in financial services or regulated industries
Experience with performance optimization and scalability challenges
Understanding of security requirements for sensitive data processing
Leadership & Communication:
Experience mentoring junior developers
Strong communication skills with technical and non-technical stakeholders
Ability to work independently and manage multiple technical tasks
Experience with Agile development methodologies
What makes this role Unique:
Work with cutting-edge self-hosted AI systems in production
Build both programmatic APIs and conversational chat interfaces
Contribute to mission-critical financial document processing systems
Support complete AI system lifecycle from development to deployment
Collaborate closely with technical architect on innovative AI solutions