Senior Lead / Principal Software Engineer - Agentic Engineering / Research

Job Description

At IFS Labs, we explore what is next for enterprise software and turn emerging technologies into working capabilities that shape future IFS products. Our focus spans applied AI, agentic systems, next-generation application architectures, data services, strategic technology direction, and technology partnerships.

We are looking for a Senior Lead / Principal Software Engineer with strong software engineering and architectural skills, combined with a product mindset and a passion for solving real-world problems through software and AI.

This is a hands-on technical leadership role focused on building software, validating emerging technologies, creating production-grade prototypes, and influencing future product and technology direction across IFS. The emphasis is on delivering working solutions that can move from investigation and prototype into real product capabilities.

We are particularly interested in candidates who embrace modern AI-driven engineering practices and agentic engineering approaches to accelerate research, architecture, software development, testing, and delivery. The successful candidate will be comfortable using AI as a force multiplier—leveraging agentic workflows to automate routine knowledge work, rapidly evaluate technologies, synthesise architectural insights, and significantly shorten the path from idea to working software while maintaining high standards of engineering quality.

Projects typically run for 6–12 months and are delivered individually or in small teams. Work ranges from evaluating emerging technologies and architectural patterns to building capabilities that influence future IFS products, platforms, and technology strategy.

A key part of the role involves creating compelling demonstrations, proof-of-concepts, and technical showcases for major IFS events, customer engagements, and strategic initiatives. This includes building innovative solutions, validating ideas with customers and partners, and communicating technical vision to diverse audiences.

As a Senior Lead / Principal Software Engineer in IFS Labs, you will identify, evaluate, and apply emerging technologies to real customer and industry challenges, transforming ideas into working capabilities that influence future IFS products, platforms, and technology strategy.

Key Responsibilities

• Identify, evaluate, and validate emerging technologies, architectural patterns, and industry trends relevant to IFS products and customers.
• Design, build, and deliver prototypes, proof-of-concepts, and production-ready capabilities across software engineering, cloud, data, and AI domains.
• Lead technical investigations and architectural studies, producing clear recommendations, reference implementations, and actionable next steps.
• Drive complex technical initiatives from concept through implementation and product handover, applying agentic engineering and AI-assisted workflows to accelerate delivery.
• Collaborate closely with Product Management, Industry teams, Engineering teams, Sales, Presales, customers, and partners to validate ideas, solve real business problems, and shape future IFS products and technology direction.
• Contribute to technical strategy, architectural direction, and engineering practices across IFS.
• Represent IFS in customer engagements, strategic demonstrations, major events, and partner collaborations.
• Mentor engineers and champion engineering excellence, technical curiosity, and high-quality delivery.

Qualifications

Essential

• Bachelor's degree in Software Engineering, Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related field.
• 8+ years of professional experience in software engineering and software architecture, demonstrated through successfully delivered products and platforms.
• Deep expertise in one or more programming languages such as Python, Java, C#, Golang, or TypeScript.
• Extensive experience designing, building, deploying, and operating enterprise-grade software, with strong architectural expertise across distributed, cloud-native, API-driven, and event-driven systems.
• Proven track record of taking ideas from concept and prototype through to production-ready solutions that integrate with enterprise applications, business processes, and data platforms.
• Demonstrated proficiency in AI-assisted research and software engineering, using tools such as GitHub Copilot, Cursor, Claude Code, and modern AI platforms to accelerate technology evaluation, architectural reasoning, and implementation.
• Exceptional ability to rapidly learn and apply new technologies, combined with strong systems thinking, architectural judgement, and a bias towards experimentation and delivery.
• Strong engineering judgement with a relentless focus on code quality, maintainability, security, operational reliability, and fitness for purpose.
• Proven ability to lead complex technical initiatives, influence technical direction, and communicate effectively with technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Ability to connect technology decisions to customer outcomes, business value, and product strategy, combining innovative thinking with pragmatic execution.

Desirable

• Experience with applied AI, agentic systems, LLM-powered applications, or data-intensive platforms.
• Experience applying agentic engineering practices and agentic workflows to accelerate research, architecture, implementation, testing, and documentation.
• Experience with Spec-Driven Development (SDD) or comparable agent-driven engineering methodologies such as BMAD.
• Hands-on experience with cloud platforms, preferably Azure, including CI/CD, containerization, observability, and infrastructure automation.
• Strong full-stack engineering experience across modern backend technologies.
• Experience working directly with customers, stakeholders, and domain experts to validate ideas and deliver business value.
• Experience with enterprise or industrial domains such as ERP, Service Management, Asset Management, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, industrial IoT, robotics, autonomous systems, digital twins, or cyber-physical systems.
• Knowledge of the IFS product portfolio and the industries it serves.

Additional Information

We embrace flexibility and hybrid work opportunities to support diverse needs and lifestyles, while also valuing inclusive workplace experiences. By fostering a sense of community, we drive innovation, strengthen connections, and nurture belonging. Our commitment ensures you can work in a way that suits you best, while also engaging with colleagues to share ideas and build meaningful relationships.