Senior Software Engineer, Full-Stack Applications - Ratings Technology (Chicago)

Senior Software Engineer, Full-Stack Applications - Ratings Technology

As one of the world’s top three credit ratings agencies, Fitch Ratings plays a critical role in global capital markets by providing credit analysis, ratings, research, and commentary to financial market participants. For over 100 years, Fitch Ratings has been creating value for global markets through its rigorous analysis and deep expertise, which have resulted in a variety of market leading tools, methodologies, indices, research, and analytical products. Fitch Ratings is part of Fitch Group, a global leader in financial information services with operations in more than 30 countries, which also includes Fitch Solutions. With dual headquarters in London and New York, Fitch Group is owned by Hearst.

Join our fast‑growing Toronto innovation hub, where you’ll help reinvent an industry using decades of deep proprietary data and a modern technology stack. Backed by strong enterprise support, you’ll build reliable, explainable intelligence at real scale within a collaborative, outcome-driven environment. If you’re looking for purposeful work, continuous learning, and a place where your impact and growth can accelerate, this is where you’ll thrive.

Want to learn more about our Toronto Innovation Hub? Visit: https://careers.fitch.group/go/Toronto-Innovation-Hub/9713801/

Fitch Ratings is seeking a Senior Software Engineer to join our organization. This role is about leading the development of what comes next: intelligent applications, full-stack platforms that seamlessly integrate cutting-edge AI capabilities, and user experiences that will fundamentally change how Ratings analysts work and how Fitch delivers insights to global financial markets. 

We need experienced full-stack engineers who understand AI's potential and can lead technical initiatives—not AI specialists, but seasoned technologists who can architect solutions that capitalize on AI-driven development capabilities and intelligent automation. If you're energized by "let's architect this the right way and push what's possible" rather than "this is how we've always done it," this is a high-impact role where you'll drive technical excellence and mentor engineers in one of the most exciting areas of technology today.

What We Offer:

• Lead transformative full-stack applications with AI at the core – Drive architecture and implementation of net-new applications using Java/Springboot, Python, and REACT that integrate cutting-edge generative AI capabilities; own technical decisions that enable elegant user experiences and bring intelligent automation to life
• Toronto as Fitch's AI innovation hub – Be part of our strategic investment in Toronto as a center of excellence for AI-driven innovation; work in one of North America's most vibrant tech ecosystems alongside talented full-stack engineers; establish yourself as a technical leader in this growing innovation center
• Strategic impact and high visibility – Own production applications that analysts and financial professionals use daily; drive systems that change how global financial markets operate; gain visibility through technical leadership and meaningful contributions
• Technical leadership and influence – Drive engineering best practices, mentor team members, participate in architectural reviews, and grow toward principal/architect/leadership tracks; opportunity to establish yourself as a thought leader with influence across teams
• Innovation-first culture with technical ownership – Drive experimentation with emerging technologies and shape technical direction; work with talented engineers who celebrate curiosity, embrace experimentation, and value your technical perspective and experience; environment where your leadership matters.

We'll Count on You To:

• Architect and lead full-stack applications – Design and drive implementation of scalable application features using Java/Springboot, Python, and REACT; own architectural decisions for user interfaces, backend services, APIs, and infrastructure.
• Champion engineering excellence – Establish and enforce engineering best practices, conduct code reviews, mentor engineers on code quality, drive CI/CD pipeline improvements, and lead technical discussions that balance innovation with reliability; own technical debt management and architectural improvements
• Mentor and elevate team capabilities – Provide technical mentorship to engineers, lead knowledge-sharing initiatives, conduct design reviews, drive technical growth through thoughtful feedback, and contribute to building a culture of engineering excellence and continuous learning
• Balance innovation with pragmatic delivery – Drive features that move fast while establishing engineering standards; lead technical discussions on trade-offs; proactively identify and solve complex technical challenges; and own building applications that are both cutting-edge and production-ready
• Own production reliability and technical excellence – Lead troubleshooting of complex issues, drive system performance and scalability improvements, establish monitoring and observability practices, and own operational excellence of systems you architect

What You Need to Have:

• Deep full-stack engineering expertise – 8+ years of hands-on experience building web applications, with expert-level proficiency in Java, Springboot, Python, REACT, and modern web technologies; proven track record of delivering complex, production-quality full-stack solutions at scale
• Polyglot programming mastery – Extensive professional experience with both Java and Python; ability to drive technical decisions across different technology stacks and architect solutions that span diverse codebases
• Strong architectural and design expertise – Proven experience designing maintainable, scalable systems; deep understanding of design patterns, RESTful APIs, microservices, distributed systems; ability to make and own architectural decisions that impact multiple teams
• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or related field (or equivalent experience)
• Mastery of modern development practices – Expert knowledge of software development fundamentals including test-driven development, advanced Git workflows, sophisticated CI/CD pipelines, and driving code quality across teams
• Leadership and collaboration skills – Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams, mentor engineers, influence technical direction, communicate complex technical concepts to diverse audiences, and drive alignment across engineers, product, and stakeholders
• Strategic mindset with AI understanding – Solid understanding and practical knowledge of AI-enabled development practices and how they can improve engineering productivity and software delivery.
• Advanced problem-solving and technical depth – Exceptional analytical skills, experience navigating complex technical challenges, ability to drive multiple strategic initiatives, and proven success tackling sophisticated problems at the intersection of full-stack engineering and AI.

What Would Make You Stand Out:

• Cloud-native architecture expertise – Deep hands-on experience with Docker, Kubernetes/EKS, AWS/Azure, microservices architecture, sophisticated CI/CD pipelines, and architecting cloud-native solutions at scale
• API architecture and system integration expertise – Expert experience designing scalable RESTful APIs, architecting complex integrations, designing asynchronous workflows, and creating robust interfaces between systems
• Advanced frontend architecture – Deep expertise with modern REACT patterns, complex state management, performance optimization, and architecting intuitive user experiences for sophisticated functionality
• Technical leadership in innovation environments – History of leading technical initiatives in fast-paced environments, driving architectural decisions for greenfield products, or owning technical direction in early-stage initiatives built from the ground up
• Mentorship and technical influence – Proven track record of mentoring engineers, driving technical growth across teams, leading code review culture, and establishing engineering best practices; recognized as a technical leader by peers
• Financial services or complex domain expertise – Deep understanding of analytical workflows, financial products, or complex business domains; experience translating business complexity into elegant technical solutions
• Technical thought leadership – Active participation in Toronto's tech community, speaking at meetups or conferences, contributing to open source, or recognized expertise in relevant technical domains
• Passion for engineering excellence and architecture – Drive high standards for architectural practices, clean code, comprehensive testing, and maintainable systems; recognized for technical craftsmanship and establishing quality standards
• Track record of technical evolution – Demonstrated history of driving technology adoption, leading architectural transformations, and expanding technical capabilities across teams and organizations.

If you're ready to lead the development of innovative applications, drive technical excellence, and make strategic impact with cutting-edge technology—this is the moment to join us.

Why Choose Fitch:  

•  Hybrid Work Environment: 2 to 3 days a week in office required based on your line of business and location  

• A Culture of Learning & Mobility: Dedicated trainings, leadership development and mentorship programs designed to ensure that your time at Fitch will be a continuous learning opportunity 

• Investing in Your Future: Retirement planning, financial wellness and tuition reimbursement programs that empower you to achieve your short and long-term goals 

• Promoting Health & Wellness: Comprehensive healthcare offerings that prioritize a healthy body & mind 

• Supportive Parenting Policies: Family-first policies, including a generous global parental leave plan, designed to help you balance career and family life effectively 

• Dedication to Giving Back: Paid volunteer days and support for community engagement initiatives 

At Fitch, AI is embedded in how we work every day—supporting smarter decision-making, streamlining workflows, and enabling new ways to create value for our business and clients. Intelligent solutions are increasingly part of our day-to-day operations, helping teams work more efficiently and think differently as we continue to evolve. We’re looking for colleagues who are comfortable operating in an AI-enabled environment—or who are curious, adaptable, and eager to build their AI literacy over time. We value professionals who embrace technology as part of continuous learning and who are committed to using it thoughtfully to enhance how work gets done.  

Fitch is committed to providing global securities markets with objective, timely, independent and forward-looking credit opinions. To protect Fitch’s credibility and reputation, our employees must take every precaution to avoid conflicts of interests or any appearance of a conflict of interest. Should you be successful in the recruitment process at Fitch Ratings you will be asked to declare any securities holdings and other potential conflicts prior to commencing employment. If you, or your immediate family, have any holdings that may conflict with your work responsibilities, you may be asked to divest yourself of them before beginning work.  

Fitch is proud to be an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, protected veteran status, and other statuses protected by law.  

FOR CHICAGO ROLES ONLY: Expected base pay rates for the role will be between 115,000 USD and 145,000 USD. Actual salaries will be determined on an individualized basis and may vary based on factors including but not limited to education, training, experience, past performance, and other job-related factors. Base pay is one part of Fitch’s total compensation package, which, depending on the position, may also include commission earnings, discretionary bonuses, long-term incentives, and other benefits sponsored by Fitch.