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AI and Data Engineering Lead

Harnham

New York · Posted October 16, 2026

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About the job

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Engineering Lead – AI & Emerging Technology

Contract Opportunity | 6-Month Engagement | 40 Hours/Week

Location: Hybrid (NYC Office) Duration: 6 Months Utilization: 40 Hours per Week Rate: $110-$130/hr – W2

Overview

We are seeking an experienced Engineering Lead to drive the technical direction and delivery of an innovative AI-focused initiative. This is a hands-on leadership role requiring a strong combination of technical expertise, engineering judgment, and rapid prototyping capabilities.

The ideal candidate will have experience building and deploying AI-powered solutions, working closely with cross-functional stakeholders to transform emerging concepts into functional prototypes and interactive experiences. This role requires someone who enjoys experimenting with cutting-edge technologies while maintaining a practical approach to execution and delivery.

Responsibilities

Lead the technical strategy and engineering execution for an AI and emerging technology initiative.

Design and develop rapid prototypes utilizing technologies such as Microsoft Copilot Studio, Azure AI, Azure OpenAI, Power Platform, and comparable AI development ecosystems.

Build, test, and optimize AI agents, prompt frameworks, and agent-driven workflows.

Design and implement Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) solutions that connect AI applications to enterprise data sources.

Develop integrations between AI applications, APIs, workflows, and third-party systems.

Create interactive prototypes, simulations, proof-of-concepts, and user experiences that demonstrate business value.

Collaborate with product, design, strategy, and business stakeholders to evaluate technical feasibility and delivery approaches.

Make sound architectural decisions balancing speed, scalability, maintainability, and innovation.

Provide technical leadership and mentorship while remaining actively involved in hands-on development.

Rapidly iterate solutions based on testing, stakeholder feedback, and evolving requirements.

Required Qualifications

AI & Microsoft Technology Stack

Experience with Microsoft Copilot Studio

Azure AI Services

Azure OpenAI

Microsoft Power Platform

Comparable enterprise AI development platforms and tooling

AI Engineering & Application Development

Prompt engineering and prompt design

AI agent architecture and development

Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG)

LLM-based application development

Workflow automation

API development and integration

Connecting AI applications with enterprise systems and data sources

Product Development & Prototyping

Developing proof-of-concepts and functional prototypes under tight timelines

Converting ambiguous concepts into tangible technical solutions

Building interactive applications, simulations, or digital experiences

Thriving in fast-paced environments with evolving requirements and priorities

Preferred Qualifications

Experience with agent orchestration platforms and multi-agent architectures.

Background in consulting, innovation labs, venture studios, product development organizations, or similar environments focused on rapid experimentation and iterative delivery.

Experience evaluating emerging technologies and applying them to real-world business challenges.

Desired Attributes

We’re looking for someone who is:

Hands-On: Actively engaged in architecture, development, and problem-solving.

Innovative: Passionate about exploring emerging AI technologies and experimentation.

Business-Oriented: Understands how technical solutions drive business outcomes.

Pragmatic: Knows when to engineer for scale versus when to optimize for speed.

Collaborative: Effective working across technical and non-technical teams.

Adaptable: Comfortable operating in environments with evolving requirements.

Technical Leader: Able to provide guidance, influence decisions, and build stakeholder confidence

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