Morningstar
Overview
About the Role We are looking for a
Lead Software Engineer
to drive the design and delivery of scalable, enterprise-grade software solutions as part of our
Workplace Engineering
team. In this hands-on leadership role, you’ll guide a cross-functional team through the full software development lifecycle—from concept to production—while championing high-performance architecture, modern engineering practices, and AI-enabled development workflows. We’re building modern, cloud-native systems with a focus on
quality, scalability, and speed , and we’re augmenting our workflows with
AI tools for code review, documentation, test generation, and development productivity . As a Lead Engineer, you’ll have the opportunity to shape both the technical direction and the engineering culture of a fast-moving team solving real-world business challenges. To foster continuous collaboration, we follow a hybrid policy in which you will work onsite a minimum of 4 days per week in our Chicago office. Job Responsibilities
Lead the design and implementation of scalable client-side and server-side architectures, promoting clean code, modularity, and long-term maintainability
Develop secure, high-performance APIs and backend systems using Java 17+, Spring Boot, and modern microservices design
Guide and mentor a team of engineers through code reviews, pull requests, and architecture discussions — using AI-assisted tools to accelerate quality checks and reduce manual overhead
Champion best practices in software engineering, including secure coding, CI/CD, test automation, and performance optimization
Collaborate with product managers and technical stakeholders to define requirements, align engineering efforts with business strategy, and prioritize feature delivery
Use AI/ML-powered development platforms to auto-generate documentation, detect code smells, and suggest refactoring opportunities
Architect and support cloud-native systems in AWS, leveraging tools like Lambda, API Gateway, ECS, DynamoDB, and infrastructure-as-code solutions
Maintain clear and comprehensive technical documentation to support alignment, handoffs, and long-term sustainability
Promote a culture of continuous learning, experimentation, and engineering excellence
Requirements
10+ years of experience as a backend or full-stack engineer, with at least 3 years in a technical leadership or lead engineer role
Expert-level skills in Java (Java 17+) and the Spring ecosystem
Strong background in designing and building RESTful APIs, microservices, and distributed systems
Proven experience with front-end to back-end integration, ensuring end-to-end system performance and reliability
Proficiency in relational databases such as Microsoft SQL Server and PostgreSQL, including schema design and query optimization
Hands-on experience with AWS cloud services, including serverless architecture (Lambda, API Gateway, DynamoDB) and cloud-native deployment
Deep familiarity with Agile practices and leading engineering teams through sprints, planning, reviews, and retrospectives
Strong communication and cross-functional leadership skills; able to bridge the gap between technical and business needs
Preferred Qualifications
Experience with or interest in integrating AI/ML tools into engineering workflows
Hands-on use of AI-assisted development platforms (e.g., GitHub Copilot, Amazon CodeWhisperer, or internal AI-based tools for code review, documentation, or test generation)
Background in financial services or other regulated industries is a plus
Why Join Us?
Lead high-impact projects that drive business transformation across a growing platform
Work in a team that embraces AI-enhanced software development, letting engineers focus on solving complex problems while automating the rest
Shape modern engineering standards and mentor the next generation of top-tier engineers
Build in a cloud-native, serverless environment designed for scalability and resilience
Collaborate in a hybrid, high-trust culture that values innovation, quality, and long-term thinking
Total Compensation Range: $110,775-188,325 Inclusive of annual base salary and target incentive Compensation and Benefits At Morningstar we believe people are at their best when they are at their healthiest. That’s why we champion your wellness through a wide range of programs that support all stages of your personal and professional life. Here are some examples of the offerings we provide:
Financial Health
75% 401k match up to 7%
Stock Ownership Potential
Company provided life insurance - 1x salary + commission
Physical Health
Comprehensive health benefits (medical/dental/vision) including potential premium discounts and company-provided HSA contributions
Additional medical Wellness Incentives - up to $300-$600 annually
Company-provided long- and short-term disability insurance
Emotional Health
Trust-Based Time Off
6-week Paid Sabbatical Program
6-Week Paid Family Caregiving Leave
Competitive 8-24 Week Paid Parental Bonding Leave
Adoption Assistance
Leadership Coaching & Formal Mentorship Opportunities
Annual Education Stipend
Tuition Reimbursement
Social Health
Charitable Matching Gifts program
Dollars for Doers volunteer program
Paid volunteering days
15+ Employee Resource & Affinity Groups
Morningstar’s hybrid work environment gives you the opportunity to work remotely and collaborate in-person each week. While some positions are available as fully remote, we’ve found that we’re at our best when we’re purposely together on a regular basis, typically three days each week. A range of other benefits are also available to enhance flexibility as needs change. No matter where you are, you’ll have tools and resources to engage meaningfully with your global colleagues.
#J-18808-Ljbffr
About the Role We are looking for a
Lead Software Engineer
to drive the design and delivery of scalable, enterprise-grade software solutions as part of our
Workplace Engineering
team. In this hands-on leadership role, you’ll guide a cross-functional team through the full software development lifecycle—from concept to production—while championing high-performance architecture, modern engineering practices, and AI-enabled development workflows. We’re building modern, cloud-native systems with a focus on
quality, scalability, and speed , and we’re augmenting our workflows with
AI tools for code review, documentation, test generation, and development productivity . As a Lead Engineer, you’ll have the opportunity to shape both the technical direction and the engineering culture of a fast-moving team solving real-world business challenges. To foster continuous collaboration, we follow a hybrid policy in which you will work onsite a minimum of 4 days per week in our Chicago office. Job Responsibilities
Lead the design and implementation of scalable client-side and server-side architectures, promoting clean code, modularity, and long-term maintainability
Develop secure, high-performance APIs and backend systems using Java 17+, Spring Boot, and modern microservices design
Guide and mentor a team of engineers through code reviews, pull requests, and architecture discussions — using AI-assisted tools to accelerate quality checks and reduce manual overhead
Champion best practices in software engineering, including secure coding, CI/CD, test automation, and performance optimization
Collaborate with product managers and technical stakeholders to define requirements, align engineering efforts with business strategy, and prioritize feature delivery
Use AI/ML-powered development platforms to auto-generate documentation, detect code smells, and suggest refactoring opportunities
Architect and support cloud-native systems in AWS, leveraging tools like Lambda, API Gateway, ECS, DynamoDB, and infrastructure-as-code solutions
Maintain clear and comprehensive technical documentation to support alignment, handoffs, and long-term sustainability
Promote a culture of continuous learning, experimentation, and engineering excellence
Requirements
10+ years of experience as a backend or full-stack engineer, with at least 3 years in a technical leadership or lead engineer role
Expert-level skills in Java (Java 17+) and the Spring ecosystem
Strong background in designing and building RESTful APIs, microservices, and distributed systems
Proven experience with front-end to back-end integration, ensuring end-to-end system performance and reliability
Proficiency in relational databases such as Microsoft SQL Server and PostgreSQL, including schema design and query optimization
Hands-on experience with AWS cloud services, including serverless architecture (Lambda, API Gateway, DynamoDB) and cloud-native deployment
Deep familiarity with Agile practices and leading engineering teams through sprints, planning, reviews, and retrospectives
Strong communication and cross-functional leadership skills; able to bridge the gap between technical and business needs
Preferred Qualifications
Experience with or interest in integrating AI/ML tools into engineering workflows
Hands-on use of AI-assisted development platforms (e.g., GitHub Copilot, Amazon CodeWhisperer, or internal AI-based tools for code review, documentation, or test generation)
Background in financial services or other regulated industries is a plus
Why Join Us?
Lead high-impact projects that drive business transformation across a growing platform
Work in a team that embraces AI-enhanced software development, letting engineers focus on solving complex problems while automating the rest
Shape modern engineering standards and mentor the next generation of top-tier engineers
Build in a cloud-native, serverless environment designed for scalability and resilience
Collaborate in a hybrid, high-trust culture that values innovation, quality, and long-term thinking
Total Compensation Range: $110,775-188,325 Inclusive of annual base salary and target incentive Compensation and Benefits At Morningstar we believe people are at their best when they are at their healthiest. That’s why we champion your wellness through a wide range of programs that support all stages of your personal and professional life. Here are some examples of the offerings we provide:
Financial Health
75% 401k match up to 7%
Stock Ownership Potential
Company provided life insurance - 1x salary + commission
Physical Health
Comprehensive health benefits (medical/dental/vision) including potential premium discounts and company-provided HSA contributions
Additional medical Wellness Incentives - up to $300-$600 annually
Company-provided long- and short-term disability insurance
Emotional Health
Trust-Based Time Off
6-week Paid Sabbatical Program
6-Week Paid Family Caregiving Leave
Competitive 8-24 Week Paid Parental Bonding Leave
Adoption Assistance
Leadership Coaching & Formal Mentorship Opportunities
Annual Education Stipend
Tuition Reimbursement
Social Health
Charitable Matching Gifts program
Dollars for Doers volunteer program
Paid volunteering days
15+ Employee Resource & Affinity Groups
Morningstar’s hybrid work environment gives you the opportunity to work remotely and collaborate in-person each week. While some positions are available as fully remote, we’ve found that we’re at our best when we’re purposely together on a regular basis, typically three days each week. A range of other benefits are also available to enhance flexibility as needs change. No matter where you are, you’ll have tools and resources to engage meaningfully with your global colleagues.
#J-18808-Ljbffr