Lead (AI) Application Engineer

Lead (AI) Application Engineer bij Blue Harvest

About the Role

Do you get a kick out of building systems that are as smart as they are scalable? As a Lead Application Engineer at Blue Harvest, you bridge the gap between robust enterprise engineering and the emerging world of AI. You’ll design and deliver applications for top financial clients, working directly with banks, insurers, and fintechs, where LLMs, RAG pipelines, and agentic workflows are increasingly core features.

You won't just be writing code; you'll be a hands-on leader, translating business goals into technical reality, mentoring the next generation of engineers, and establishing yourself as a local thought leader while growing your market impact.

The Blue Harvest Story

We are a startup within an enterprise, a specialized unit built to move fast and break the 'consultancy' mold. We believe that true engineering leadership isn't about managing tickets, it's about owning the solution and challenging the status quo.

We foster a culture where technical mastery meets emotional intelligence. Whether it's hackathons, building the next 'secret weapon' for our engineering community or Friday afternoon beers, we are a place for those who want to speak, lead, and leave a legacy.

What You'll Do

• Architect and implement backend (or fullstack) solutions, integrating AI models and services where they add value.
• Build and orchestrate microservices, APIs, and event-driven systems that play nicely with both humans and machines.
• Lead by example: write clean, testable code, set the standard for DevOps, and mentor engineers across the team.
• Collaborate with clients to translate business goals into technical roadmaps, spotting opportunities for AI-native innovation.
• When not working on client projects, contribute to internal initiatives, knowledge sharing, or open source.
• Grow with us: benefit from dedicated learning budgets, mentorship, and a culture that celebrates expertise and initiative.

What you bring

• Core Engineering: Strong experience in backend engineering (Java) and familiarity with front-end frameworks (React, Angular, Vue) for a full-stack flavor.
• Distributed Systems: Deep knowledge of API design (REST/gRPC/GraphQL) and cloud-native patterns (Azure/AWS/GCP).
• AI Integration: Hands-on with integrating LLMs, building RAG pipelines, or orchestrating agentic workflows (LangChain, Semantic Kernel).
• Operational Excellence: Familiarity with Infrastructure as Code, Kubernetes, and CI/CD best practices.
• Leadership: Proven ability to lead teams and drive technical excellence.
• Fluent in English; Strong network and market vision.

Nice-to-haves

• Experience as a consultant, working directly with clients to deliver value.
• Experience with financial services, regulatory requirements, or secure data handling.
• Contributions and active participation to open source, tech talks, blogs or developer communities.
• Interest in FinOps, cloud cost optimization, and AI ethics.
• Fluent in Dutch.

Why Blue Harvest?

• Best of Both Worlds: The agility and fun of a startup, with the stability and resources of Capgemini.
• Growth: Clear career paths and a dedicated budget for learning, certifications, and conferences. We support you to become a thought leader and want you on stage, sharing your knowledge.
• Culture: A team that values curiosity, connection, and the occasional octopus-level multitasking
• Rewards: Competitive salary and performance bonuses that reflect your impact.

Our Offer

You’ll receive a competitive salary and benefits — but more importantly, you’ll join a workplace where you can do more than just engineering. Expect opportunities to learn, grow, organize events, and speak at conferences.

(By applying to this vacancy, you agree with a background check if applicable.)