Lead Software Engineer - Research & Innovation Engineering

Location: CHARLOTTE, NC, IRVING, TX, ISELIN, NJ

Time Type: Full time

Job Description

About this role:

• Design, build, and operate a secure, scalable, and modular PoC Lab / evaluation platform that supports multiple concurrent, isolated PoCs.

• Establish and evolve standardized evaluation patterns (templates, success criteria, test scenarios, scoring rubrics, and definition-of-done) to ensure consistent, decision‑grade outcomes across evaluations.

• Provision and maintain PoC environments to spec using Infrastructure-as-Code (IaC), reusable blueprints, and automation to minimize cycle time and maximize repeatability.

• Ensure enterprise-grade security, privacy, and compliance across all PoCs, including least-privilege access controls, data segregation, and audit-ready logging/traceability.

• Partner with technology, business, and vendor teams to define PoC goals, success criteria, and testing plans—ensuring technical feasibility and alignment to strategic outcomes.

• Partner with Enterprise Architecture, InfoSec, and Risk to validate PoC designs and ensure adherence to internal standards and regulatory expectations.

• Apply modern AI/ML and agent-based approaches to automate or accelerate PoC workflows (e.g., environment provisioning, test execution support, scoring assistance, and results analysis) given that evaluated technologies are increasingly AI-enabled.

• Build tooling that extracts insights from PoC outcomes and generates executive-ready summaries (e.g., “whitepaper-light” findings, ratings, and recommendations) for stakeholders and reuse.

• Maintain a centralized artifact and knowledge repository of PoC architectures, execution plans, evidence, and outcomes to drive transparency, comparability, and reuse across future evaluations.

• Provide technical input during vendor assessments and executive readouts to support adoption/investment recommendations grounded in evidence and measurable outcomes.

• Contribute to the evolution of an AI-assisted scouting and intake engine that streamlines evaluation intake, prioritization, and triage.

• Lead and mentor a small team of engineers—setting technical direction, driving execution, and ensuring high-quality outcomes.

Required Qualifications:

Desired Qualifications:

Job Expectations:

• In-office presence: Work from the office in alignment with Wells Fargo in-office expectations (currently a minimum of 3 days per week) and comply with any future changes to firm RTO guidance or business/function requirements.

• Travel: Travel may be required on a limited, business-need basis, subject to approvals and budget guidelines.

• Cross-functional execution: Collaborate effectively with engineering, architecture, security/risk, product, business stakeholders, vendors and service providers.

• Ownership / initiative: Operate as a self-sufficient, proactive leader—independently identify gaps, take initiative, and drive work to exceed expected outcomes with minimal oversight

• This position is not eligible for Visa sponsorship

Pay Range
 

Reflected is the base pay range offered for this position. Pay may vary depending on factors including but not limited to demonstrated examples of prior performance, skills, experience, or work location. Employees may also be eligible for incentive opportunities.

Posting End Date:

*Job posting may come down early due to volume of applicants.

We Value Equal Opportunity

Wells Fargo is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other legally protected characteristic.

Employees support our focus on building strong customer relationships balanced with a strong risk mitigating and compliance-driven culture which firmly establishes those disciplines as critical to the success of our customers and company. They are accountable for execution of all applicable risk programs (Credit, Market, Financial Crimes, Operational, Regulatory Compliance), which includes effectively following and adhering to applicable Wells Fargo policies and procedures, appropriately fulfilling risk and compliance obligations, timely and effective escalation and remediation of issues, and making sound risk decisions. There is emphasis on proactive monitoring, governance, risk identification and escalation, as well as making sound risk decisions commensurate with the business unit’s risk appetite and all risk and compliance program requirements.

Applicants with Disabilities

To request a medical accommodation during the application or interview process, visit Disability Inclusion at Wells Fargo.

Drug and Alcohol Policy

Wells Fargo maintains a drug free workplace.  Please see our Drug and Alcohol Policy to learn more.

Wells Fargo Recruitment and Hiring Requirements:

a. Third-Party recordings are prohibited unless authorized by Wells Fargo.

b. Wells Fargo requires you to directly represent your own experiences during the recruiting and hiring process.