Lead Software Engineer - AI Product Development (Data)

About the role

Clarivate is looking for a Lead Software Engineer for its AI Engineering team in Barcelona, within the LS&H Innovation group focused on AI-driven capabilities. You will report to the Engineering Manager and join a small, highly skilled team of four engineers. The role covers building reliable, scalable AI-powered software using Python, cloud platforms (Azure/AWS), microservices and LLM-based applications.

Key responsibilities

• Shape AI platform initiatives for LS&H products, from early concepts through implementation, influencing technical direction and strategic choices.
• Design, develop and maintain backend services, including APIs, microservices and ETL pipelines in Azure or AWS.
• Turn requirements and problem statements from several teams into reliable code and working proofs of concept.
• Build and iterate LLM-based or agentic AI applications, ensuring reliability and awareness of AI limitations.
• Evaluate and integrate applications written in other languages (e.g. Java, TypeScript) when needed.
• Lead the technical approach on assigned work, from design through implementation, and test, validate and improve solutions with unit tests and automation.
• Progress projects from concept to prototype and contribute to the technical plans needed to reach production.

Required profile

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering or a related field, or equivalent experience.
• At least 7 years of professional software engineering experience, including at least 4 years developing backend systems in Python (APIs, microservices, ETL pipelines).
• At least 5 years in cross-functional, agile teams with Product, Cloud Ops, Architecture, Engineering and SMEs.
• At least 3 years working with LLMs or agentic AI applications.
• Experience mentoring or giving technical guidance to other engineers.

Required skills

• Python backend engineering and data engineering (designing and maintaining data pipelines, large-scale datasets)
• Cloud environments (Azure or AWS), including deploying or integrating backend services
• LLMs and agentic AI; a plus: RAG, vector databases, evaluation techniques, software architecture, mentoring

The position is full-time, primarily during core business hours in CET, with flexibility for other time zones, and hybrid with 2-3 days in the office per week.