Lead Harness Engineer

Role Responsibilities

Reporting to the Director, AI Technical Renewal, this position plays a leadership role in the design and implementation of AI software solutions. The role explicitly requires strong AI capability, and we are seeking developers who can build, integrate, and optimize AI-driven solutions as a core part of their software engineering practice. This position leads and contributes to iterative, continuous development practices where requirements and solutions evolve through close collaboration with cross-functional teams and users.

The responsibilities of this role include:

• Lead AI development team, guiding teams to deliver AI digital solutions using agile and human-centered design.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to design data-driven, AI-capable solutions, including machine learning and generative AI.
• Lead backlog planning, prioritization, effort estimation, and scope commitment for predictable delivery of features.
• Oversee development of AI tools, integrations, prototypes, and reusable components across systems.
• Mentor developers, providing guidance on AI-enabled development, best practices, and agile delivery approaches.
• Ensure quality, security, reliability, and ethical AI use through testing, governance, and continuous delivery practices.
• Provide technical leadership on AI adoption, resolving complex issues, evaluating risks, and advising stakeholders.

To be successful in this position, you will demonstrate:

• A strategic, analytical mindset for solving complex problems with scalable, elegant solutions.
• A strong focus on efficiency, emphasizing automation, reusability, and simplification of systems.
• Ability to translate evolving business needs into practical, user-centered digital solutions.
• A collaborative approach, working effectively across teams to deliver aligned, high-impact outcomes.
• Strong organizational skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• A growth mindset, continuously exploring new tools, technologies, and approaches to improve outcomes.

The Job Description is provided for Further details on this position. 

APS Competencies

Competencies are behaviors that are essential to reach our goals in serving Albertans. We encourage you to have an in depth understanding of the competencies that are required for this opportunity and to be prepared to demonstrate them during the recruitment process.

Qualifications

Requirements

• A university degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Software Engineering or related field. See below for equivalencies.
• Four (4) year of related progressively responsible experience.

Equivalencies:

• A related two-year diploma in computer technology or a related discipline from a recognized post-secondary institution and six (6) years related experience; or
• A related one-year certificate from a recognized post-secondary institution and seven (7) years related experience.

The successful candidate MUST also have:

• Proven experience designing, developing, deploying, and maintaining scalable enterprise solutions within cross-functional Agile teams, delivering end-to-end product and project outcomes.
• Strong proficiency in application development using modern technologies, including JavaScript and TypeScript, frontend frameworks (Angular, React, Vue.js or similar), backend development (e.g., C# .NET Core, Node.js, .NET, Python or equivalent), relational and NoSQL databases, cloud platforms, and modern authentication/authorization mechanisms (e.g., OAuth2, OpenID Connect, JWT or equivalent).
• Experience with modern software engineering practices and delivery lifecycle, including Git-based source control, CI/CD pipelines, automated testing (unit, integration, and end-to-end), DevOps principles, infrastructure-as-code, production support, and structured application lifecycle and change management processes.
• Demonstrated ability to work across diverse technology stacks and rapidly adapt to new tools, frameworks, and project environments while maintaining high-quality delivery standards.
• Proficiency in the effective use of generative AI and agentic tooling for executive-grade drafting, analysis, structured retrieval, and automation; comfortable with prompt design, retrieval-augmented generation (RAG), and evaluation of AI output for risk, hallucination, accuracy, and sensitivity concerns; able to build AI-augmented routines and workflows rather than only consume AI tools.
• Working knowledge of process automation patterns, including workflow automation, digital forms, and agentic process orchestration, with an understanding of the impacts on staff roles and operational workflows; able to translate technical and process changes into clear, accessible staff-facing communication.
• Experience developing unfamiliar technology stacks and/or adapting to a new team and project.

Assets:

• Familiarity with modern application communication and integration patterns, including REST APIs, GraphQL, gRPC, WebSockets, event-driven messaging, and secure communication over HTTPS/TLS.
• Experience working in DevOps and SRE-style environments, including infrastructure automation, observability, monitoring, and incident response practices.
• Proficiency with modern development and productivity toolsets, including cloud-based collaboration tools, project tracking systems (e.g., Jira/Azure Boards), and scripting languages such as Bash, PowerShell, or Python in Linux/Unix-based environments.
• Experience providing production support across multiple application tiers (L1–L3), including troubleshooting, incident resolution, root cause analysis, and maintaining operational stability of enterprise applications.

Minimum recruitment standards outline the minimum education and experience required for appointment to a job classification.

Notes

Term of Employment: Permanent, Full-time position 

Hours of Work: 7.25 hours daily / 36.25 weekly – Monday to Friday

Location: Alberta

Final candidates will be required to undergo a security screening.

This competition may be used to fill future vacancies, across the Government of Alberta, at the same or lower classification level.

Applicants are advised to provide a cover letter summarizing information that clearly and concisely demonstrates how their qualifications meet the advertised requirements, including education, experience, and relevant examples of required competencies.

Additional Information:

In your resume, please include dates (including months and years) associated with all education and work experience. Also, please indicate whether your work experience is casual, part-time, or full-time. For example, January 15, 2006 - June 25, 2009: Assistant (PT three 8 hrs. shifts/week).

Any costs associated with obtaining the required documents/checks as noted or interview travel expenses will be the responsibility of the candidate. Out-of-province applicants can obtain the required documents/checks from the province they currently reside in.

Links and information on what we have to offer:

• Working for the Alberta Public Service.
• Public Service Pension Plan (PSPP)
• Alberta Public Service Benefit Information.
• Professional learning and development.
• Research Alberta Public Service Careers tool.
• Positive workplace culture and work-life balance.