Software Engineer - AI & Business Solutions

Purpose & Overall Relevance for the Organization:

The Software Engineer I contributes to the design, development, testing, deployment, and support of technology solutions that create business value across adidas. Working under the guidance of senior engineers and technical leads, the role applies software engineering fundamentals, approved AI capabilities, and automation tools to deliver secure, maintainable, and scalable solutions. The position also supports the translation of clearly defined business needs into technical deliverables and develops effective collaboration with business, product, and technology stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities:

Requirements and definition management

• Assists in the elicitation, analysis, specification, validation, prioritization, and documentation of requirements for clearly defined subject areas.
• Participates in discovery sessions, stakeholder discussions, backlog refinement, and requirements workshops.
• Supports the creation and maintenance of user stories, acceptance criteria, process flows, functional and technical specifications, and requirements traceability.
• Assists in establishing requirements baselines and applying authorized changes in line with agreed change management practices.

Software design and development

• Designs, codes, verifies, tests, documents, amends, and refactors moderately complex applications, components, integrations, automations, programs, and scripts.
• Applies agreed standards, patterns, tools, frameworks, and secure development practices to achieve well-engineered results.
• Contributes to the design of components within larger software systems and specifies user or system interfaces for assigned scope.
• Creates appropriate design views for functional and non-functional requirements and supports the evaluation of options and trade-offs.
• Participates in code, design, and documentation reviews and incorporates feedback from peers and senior engineers.

AI-enabled engineering and innovation

• Contributes to AI-enabled solutions using approved adidas platforms, tools, and frameworks under the guidance of senior engineers or technical leads.
• Uses specification-driven development (SPEC coding) and AI-assisted engineering practices to translate approved requirements into clear, testable software outcomes.
• Supports the development of prompts, agents, intelligent automations, and AI-enabled workflows where relevant to the assigned solution.
• Applies adidas AI governance, responsible AI, security, privacy, legal, compliance, human oversight, and evaluation requirements.
• Builds knowledge of the adidas AI framework, Market AI Hub guidance, and emerging engineering practices through continuous learning.

Testing, integration, release and support

• Defines test conditions and designs, executes, and records test cases and supporting data based on approved requirements and project test plans.
• Analyzes and reports test, integration, and build results, identifying and escalating issues, risks, and failures.
• Produces software builds and supports system integration, deployment, release, environment validation, and early-life support activities.
• Assists in investigating and resolving application issues and performs assigned maintenance and operational support procedures.
• Contributes to test automation, observability, documentation, and continuous improvement of engineering and delivery practices.

Information security and compliance

• Applies required security controls, data protection requirements, engineering policies, and operational procedures throughout solution delivery.
• Performs basic risk or vulnerability assessment activities for assigned scope and supports remediation actions.
• Communicates identified security risks and issues to the appropriate technical lead or manager.
• Responds to suspected incidents or security breaches in line with organizational policy and records actions taken.

Business partnership and collaboration

• Collaborates with business stakeholders, Product Managers, Product Owners, architects, engineers, data teams, security teams, and external partners to deliver agreed outcomes.
• Communicates progress, issues, risks, and technical information clearly to technical and non-technical audiences.
• Develops understanding of business processes and user needs and supports the identification of technology, automation, and process improvement opportunities.
• Demonstrates a customer-focused consulting mindset, curiosity, accountability, and learning agility while remaining primarily responsible for high-quality technical execution.

Key Relationships:

• Business stakeholders and process owners
• Product Managers and Product Owners
• Software Engineering, Technology Consultancy, and other Global and Market Technology teams
• Enterprise Architecture, Data & Analytics, Information Security, Privacy, Legal, and Compliance teams
• AI governance, automation, innovation, and engineering communities
• External technology partners and vendors, when applicable

Requisite Education and Experience / Minimum Qualifications:

• Four-year college or university degree with focus on Computer Science, Information Technology, Engineering, Business Administration, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• At least 3 years of experience in IT, including at least 1 year of experience in software engineering, application development, or a relevant technical area.
• Experience with at least one programming language and relevant software development tools or frameworks.
• Working knowledge of the software development lifecycle, testing, integration, release, application support, and Agile delivery practices.
• Ability to analyze clearly defined problems, document requirements and technical information, and deliver assigned work with appropriate guidance.
• Strong collaboration, communication, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Proficient spoken and written command of English.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience developing applications, integrations, automations, or digital products in an enterprise environment.
• Exposure to Generative AI, copilots, agent development, intelligent automation, prompt engineering, AI evaluation, or AI-assisted software development.
• Familiarity with specification-driven development (SPEC coding).
• Awareness of responsible AI, information security, privacy, and governance principles.
• Experience creating user stories, acceptance criteria, process flows, functional specifications, technical documentation, or solution designs.
• Knowledge of APIs, databases, cloud platforms, DevOps, CI/CD, test automation, or system integration.
• Experience working with business stakeholders or an interest in technology consulting and business process improvement.
• Experience within the adidas technology landscape is an advantage.