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Morningstar, Inc.

Lead Software Engineer

Morningstar, Inc., Chicago, Illinois, United States, 60290

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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

Compensation and Benefits

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 (up to $500‑$2,000 annually) for specific plans and coverages.

Additional medical Wellness Incentives – up to $300‑$600 annual.

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 collaborate in‑person each week as we’ve found that we’re at our best when we’re purposely together on a regular basis. In most of our locations, our hybrid work model is four days in‑office 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.

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