Lead R&D Engineer (Hybrid)

About Nitro Software

Nitro is a leading global SaaS provider specializing in digital document solutions including PDFs, eSigning, identity verification, and analytics. With over 3 million licensed users and more than 13,000 business clients across 157 countries, Nitro serves 67% of the Fortune 500 companies. The company fosters a collaborative culture based on five core principles aimed at empowering employees and ensuring excellence in execution.

Role Overview

We are seeking a Lead R&D Engineer who excels in fast-paced prototyping and innovation. This role involves heading a small, autonomous team dedicated to rapid experimentation blending AI and document workflow technologies. The key focus is to build proof-of-concept products, engage with users for feedback, and iterate swiftly to identify impactful solutions. The role requires a builder mindset prioritizing hands-on creation over theoretical perfection.

Responsibilities

• Lead a focused R&D group creating experimental document workflow tools, advancing ideas from concept to functioning prototypes.
• Reimagine document workflows by quickly producing and launching prototypes, gathering user insights, and refining solutions accordingly.
• Develop cloud-based AI services utilizing modern frameworks and generative AI techniques.
• Construct various solutions such as AI assistants, intelligent document pipelines, workflow automations, and MCP servers.
• Employ AI-assisted development tools extensively to enhance team productivity.
• Guide the technical strategy of the team while maintaining active development involvement.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with engineering, product management, design, and customer teams to target high-value problems.
• Assess and adopt emerging technologies that can be integrated into Nitro's platform to generate value.
• Promote new concepts within the organization and facilitate the transition of successful experiments to production.

Candidate Profile

• Strong builder mentality with passion for rapid software creation.
• Proficient full-stack developer skilled in JavaScript/TypeScript frameworks and Python.
• Hands-on experience delivering AI or large language model-enabled products, not limited to experimentation.
• In-depth knowledge of AI development patterns including embeddings, Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG), prompt engineering, tooling, and agent structures.
• Experience with cloud-native application deployment on AWS or Azure platforms.
• Ability to prototype and release functional solutions swiftly within tight deadlines.
• Balanced architectural judgment emphasizing pragmatism and efficiency.
• Comfort working in ambiguous scenarios without detailed instructions.
• Leadership experience in mentoring engineers and setting team technical directions.
• Excellent communication skills capable of rallying teams and articulating prototype value to varying stakeholders.
• Regularly utilizes AI-driven coding tools to accelerate development and pursues further capabilities.

Preferred Qualifications

• Background in innovation, research & development, or startup environments.
• Proven track record of building widely adopted software solutions from inception.
• Familiarity with machine learning model development using TensorFlow or PyTorch, from data preparation to production deployment.
• Experience integrating large language models with APIs, automation platforms, or developer environments.
• Development of agent-based AI systems or smart assistants.
• Understanding of vector databases, embeddings, and RAG pipelines.

Additional Information and Benefits

Nitro offers comprehensive benefits including health, dental, vision insurance, and retirement plans. Additional initiatives include flexible time off to support work-life balance and a hybrid working model featuring three onsite days and two remote workdays weekly at locations such as Dublin, Toronto, and Antwerp. The company promotes inclusivity and encourages applications from candidates of all backgrounds and identities. Accommodations are available throughout the interview process as needed.