Lead Software Engineer - Applied AI

Impact the Moment

At McGraw Hill we create best-in-class, next-generation learning platforms that are used by millions of students and educators worldwide every day. We design intuitive and effective tools and experiences that maximize teachers' time and students' learning. And we do all of this in a supportive and collaborative environment where we work alongside brilliant colleagues, touch lives around the world, see the difference our hard work makes, and continue our paths of lifelong learning.

Your Impact on the Team

We are seeking a Lead Software Engineer - Applied AI to spearhead AI enablement across the organization, driving operational excellence and innovation at scale. In this role, you will partner closely with product, content, and operations teams to identify high-impact opportunities for AI enablement, developing scalable solutions that accelerate productivity and streamline workflows. This position requires a blend of deep technical expertise in software engineering and AI, alongside the leadership skills necessary to influence cross-functional strategy and empower teams to leverage AI-driven tools effectively.

This is a remote position open to applicants authorized to work for any employer within the United States.

What You'll Do:

• Lead the design, development, and deployment of AI-powered tools and applications-including generative AI solutions-that drive measurable improvements in productivity and operational efficiency across the organization.
• Partner with product, content, and operations stakeholders to identify and prioritize high-impact AI enablement opportunities, translating business needs into scalable technical solutions.
• Define and champion the technical vision and architecture for applied AI initiatives, ensuring solutions are robust, maintainable, and aligned with organizational strategy.
• Mentor and guide engineers across teams, fostering a culture of technical excellence, knowledge sharing, and continuous learning around AI technologies.
• Evaluate, prototype, and integrate emerging AI technologies and frameworks to keep the organization at the forefront of applied AI innovation.
• Establish best practices for AI solution development, including prompt engineering, model evaluation, responsible AI usage, and performance monitoring.
• Drive CI/CD processes and cloud infrastructure optimization to support the reliable, cost-effective, and secure delivery of AI-enabled applications.
• Implement accessibility standards such as WCAG 2.2 AA across AI-powered tools and experiences.
• Communicate technical strategy, progress, and outcomes to both technical and non-technical audiences, influencing decision-making at the leadership level.

About You:

• 7+ years of experience in software engineering, with a strong track record of full-stack development (Backend/API: Python; Frontend: Angular/React; Databases: MySQL/PostgreSQL or NoSQL databases such as DynamoDB).
• 2+ years of hands-on experience building and deploying generative AI applications or AI-enabled products, with deep familiarity with frameworks such as LangChain, LlamaIndex, or similar.
• Demonstrated experience leading technical projects or teams, including mentoring engineers, conducting design reviews, and driving architectural decisions.
• Strong working knowledge of cloud platforms (AWS or Azure), including infrastructure design, cost optimization, and security best practices.
• Proven ability to partner cross-functionally with product, design, and business stakeholders to translate ambiguous problems into clear technical roadmaps.
• Experience implementing accessibility features in web applications is a plus.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to articulate complex technical concepts to diverse audiences.
• A passion for education technology and a commitment to using AI responsibly to improve learning outcomes.

Why McGraw Hill?

We firmly believe in the mission of educating students and helping them succeed. Our teams operate in a collaborative and safe environment where everyone's input is valued, trusted, and respected.

You'll have opportunity for horizontal and vertical movement and growth throughout the organization, including clear career paths for your long term personal and professional growth.

The pay range for this position is between $124,000 - $180,000 annually, however, base pay offered may vary depending on job-related knowledge, skills, experience, and location.An annual bonus plan may be provided as part of the compensation package, in addition to a full range of medical and/or other benefits, depending on the position offered. Click here to learn more about our benefit offerings.

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