Senior Java Engineer - ETF Solutions Platform (ESP), VP

About this role

About This Role:
At BlackRock, technology is fundamental to how we serve clients and operate at scale. The ETF Solutions Platform (ESP) powers critical capabilities across ETF servicing, basket management, order processing, settlement, capital flows, and operational workflows supporting one of the world's largest ETF businesses.

We are seeking a Vice President, Software Engineer to serve as a senior technical leader for ESP. This role is designed for an exceptional engineer who combines deep technical expertise, strong delivery capabilities, architectural judgment, and modern AI-enabled engineering practices to solve complex business and technology challenges.

The ideal candidate is a highly hands-on builder with a track record of designing, developing, and delivering large-scale distributed systems. They thrive in ambiguous environments, rapidly learn complex business domains, and consistently transform ideas into production-ready solutions. Experience with ETFs, capital markets, or financial systems is highly desirable but not required.
This is a senior individual contributor role for an engineer who leads through expertise, execution, innovation, and influence rather than organizational authority.

Key Responsibilities:
Technical Strategy & Architecture

• Define and drive the technical vision and long-term architecture of the ETF Solutions Platform.
• Design scalable, resilient, and extensible platform capabilities supporting complex business and operational workflows.
• Shape platform architecture across services, APIs, distributed systems, workflows, and cloud-native infrastructure.
• Establish engineering standards, architectural patterns, and best practices that improve reliability, maintainability, security, observability, and operational excellence.
• Simplify complex business problems through thoughtful system design and reusable platform capabilities.
• Evaluate emerging technologies and identify opportunities to improve platform capabilities, engineering effectiveness, and business outcomes.
• Drive the evolution of ESP as a modern platform capable of supporting future growth, increasing complexity, and new strategic opportunities.

Hands-On Engineering & Delivery

• Personally lead the design, implementation, and delivery of high-impact platform capabilities.
• Contribute directly to architecture, software development, code reviews, debugging, prototyping, performance optimization, and production support.
• Own the successful execution of complex initiatives spanning multiple systems and technology domains.
• Translate ambiguous business requirements into practical, scalable, production-ready solutions.
• Solve the most technically challenging and business-critical platform problems.
• Drive engineering excellence through technical leadership, strong execution, and measurable outcomes.
• Remain actively engaged in software development and production operations of strategic initiatives.
• Lead complex engineering efforts through direct technical contribution rather than delegation alone.

Platform Innovation

• Partner closely with product, operations, and business stakeholders to identify opportunities for modernization, automation, and platform simplification.
• Translate complex operational and business needs into scalable technology solutions.
• Improve platform efficiency, resiliency, and reusability through thoughtful engineering and architecture.
• Drive initiatives that reduce operational risk, improve scalability, and enhance user experience.
• Contribute to the long-term evolution of ESP as a strategic platform supporting critical business capabilities.

AI-Native Engineering

• Champion AI-enabled software engineering practices across architecture, development, testing, operations, and support.
• Demonstrate expert-level proficiency with AI-powered development tools, engineering copilots, autonomous agents, workflow automation platforms, and emerging AI technologies.
• Use AI to accelerate solution development, improve software quality, increase productivity, and enhance operational efficiency.
• Rapidly prototype and validate new ideas using AI-assisted development techniques.
• Identify opportunities where AI can transform engineering workflows, operational processes, and business capabilities.
• Establish practical standards and guardrails for responsible AI adoption.
• Serve as a role model for AI-first engineering and modern software development practices.

Technical Leadership & Influence

• Lead through technical expertise, credibility, and consistent delivery.
• Influence platform direction across multiple teams and stakeholder groups.
• Drive alignment on architecture, engineering standards, and technology investments.
• Represent ESP in architecture reviews, design discussions, and technology forums.
• Serve as a trusted advisor for complex technical and business decisions.
• Mentor engineers through technical guidance, problem-solving, and engineering best practices.

Required Qualifications:
Engineering Excellence

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related discipline.
• 12+ years of software engineering experience building and operating large-scale distributed systems and platforms.
• Proven success delivering complex technology initiatives from concept through production.
• Deep expertise in distributed systems, APIs, cloud-native platforms, event-driven architectures, microservices, and modern software engineering practices.
• Strong hands-on programming experience in Java, Python, or similar technologies.
• Experience designing and operating mission-critical production systems with demanding reliability, scalability, and performance requirements.
• Strong architectural judgment and the ability to balance long-term strategy with pragmatic execution.
• Demonstrated ability to independently drive major initiatives and deliver measurable business outcomes.

AI-Driven Engineering

• Demonstrated experience applying AI to accelerate software development and improve engineering outcomes.
• Expertise with AI-powered development tools, engineering copilots, autonomous agents, and workflow automation technologies.
• Proven ability to use AI to improve productivity, software quality, delivery speed, operational efficiency, and innovation.
• Strong understanding of responsible AI adoption, governance, and risk considerations in enterprise environments.
• Passion for leveraging emerging AI capabilities to solve real-world business and engineering challenges.

Problem Solving & Communication

• Exceptional analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Ability to operate effectively in highly complex and ambiguous environments.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to explain complex technical concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Demonstrated ability to influence technical direction through expertise, credibility, and execution.
• Proven track record of delivering results across organizational boundaries.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with ETFs, asset management, capital markets, trading systems, post-trade processing, or financial services technology platforms.
• Familiarity with operational workflows such as order management, settlement, accounting, cash movements, portfolio management, or asset servicing.
• Experience building platforms that support complex transaction-driven or operationally intensive business processes.
• Knowledge of modern data platforms, workflow systems, operational automation, and enterprise-scale platform architectures.
• Experience applying AI to financial, operational, or business process challenges.

For Atlanta, GA Only the salary range for this position is USD$148,000.00 - USD$200,000.00 . Additionally, employees are eligible for an annual discretionary bonus, and benefits including healthcare, leave benefits, and retirement benefits. BlackRock operates a pay-for-performance compensation philosophy and your total compensation may vary based on role, location, and firm, department and individual performance.

Our benefits

To help you stay energized, engaged and inspired, we offer a wide range of benefits including a strong retirement plan, tuition reimbursement, comprehensive healthcare, support for working parents and Flexible Time Off (FTO) so you can relax, recharge and be there for the people you care about.

Our hybrid work model

BlackRock’s hybrid work model is designed to enable a culture of collaboration and apprenticeship that enriches the experience of our employees, while supporting flexibility for all. Employees are currently required to work at least 4 days in the office per week, with the flexibility to work from home 1 day a week. Some business groups may require more time in the office due to their roles and responsibilities. We remain focused on increasing the impactful moments that arise when we work together in person – aligned with our commitment to performance and innovation. As a new joiner, you can count on this hybrid model to accelerate your learning and onboarding experience here at BlackRock.

Guidance on AI use for candidates

At BlackRock, AI has long been part of how we work – enhancing decision-making, improving operations, and helping us deliver better outcomes for clients. We encourage candidates to use AI thoughtfully to learn, prepare, and work more effectively; but during our interview process, we want to focus on getting to know you through your own experiences, thinking, and judgment. To support you, we’ve provided guidance on when and how to use AI during our hiring process so you can approach each step with confidence and showcase your best self.

About BlackRock

At BlackRock, we are all connected by one mission: to help more and more people experience financial well-being.  Our clients, and the people they serve, are saving for retirement, paying for their children’s educations, buying homes and starting businesses. Their investments also help to strengthen the global economy: support businesses small and large; finance infrastructure projects that connect and power cities; and facilitate innovations that drive progress.

This mission would not be possible without our smartest investment – the one we make in our employees. It’s why we’re dedicated to creating an environment where our colleagues feel welcomed, valued and supported with networks, benefits and development opportunities to help them thrive.

To learn more about BlackRock, please visit Careers.BlackRock.com. We also encourage you to get to know us on LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube, X, and TikTok.

BlackRock is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace. We are committed to equal employment opportunity to all applicants and existing employees, and we evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, creed, color, national origin, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity/expression), sexual orientation, age, ancestry, physical or mental disability, marital status, political affiliation, religion, citizenship status, genetic information, veteran status, or any other basis protected under applicable federal, state, or local law. View the EEOC’s Know Your Rights poster and its supplement and the pay transparency statement.

BlackRock is committed to full inclusion of all qualified individuals and to providing reasonable accommodations or job modifications for individuals with disabilities. If reasonable accommodation/adjustments are needed throughout the employment process, please email Disability.Assistance@blackrock.com. All requests are treated in line with our privacy policy.

BlackRock will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records in a manner consistent with the requirements of the law, including any applicable fair chance law.