Software Engineer - Product

WHO WE ARE

Consumer Reports is an independent, nonprofit organization dedicated to a fair and just marketplace for all. CR is known for our rigorous testing and trusted ratings on thousands of products and services.  We report extensively on consumer trends and challenges, and survey millions of people in the U.S. each year. We leverage our evidence-based approach to advocate for consumer rights, working with policymakers and companies to find solutions for safer products and fair practices.   

Our mission starts with you. We offer medical benefits that start on your first day as a CR employee that include behavioral health coverage, family planning and a generous 401K match. Learn more about how CR advocates on behalf of our employees.

OVERVIEW

We’re seeking a passionate Software Engineer to join our Experimental Engineering team focused on enhancing and developing our AskCR Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) application. This individual will play a crucial role in building intelligent consumer-facing features and seamlessly integrating AI-powered functionalities across our web and mobile platforms. As part of the AskCR team, you'll collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to deliver robust, scalable solutions that leverage modern AI technologies.

This is a remote position. This position is not eligible for sponsorship or relocation assistance. 

How You'll Make An Impact

As a Software Engineer focused on the AskCR product, you will work across the stack to:

• Develop, optimize, and maintain the AskCR chatbot and associated features, ensuring seamless integration across user devices and platforms.
• Collaborate with product, design, and engineering teams to translate user needs and business requirements into innovative features and experiences.
• Write clean, efficient and maintainable frontend code in React
• Implement efficient, scalable APIs and services using Python, FastAPI, and related technologies.
• Integrate and leverage OpenAI's LLMs to enhance the chatbot's conversational and generative capabilities, including through prompt engineering and foundation model experimentation.
• Continuously research, test, and incorporate emerging AI technologies to enhance product experience and maintain competitive edge.
• Promote and adhere to best practices in software development, security, and responsible AI usage.

ABOUT YOU

You’ll Be Highly Rated If:

• You have the degree. Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Data Science, or a related field.
• You have 5+ years of professional software engineering experience with demonstrated expertise in Python and web development frameworks, particularly FastAPI.
• You have integrated and deployed AI solutions using OpenAI’s GPT models or similar LLM technologies.
• You have a strong understanding of cloud services, containerization, and deployment best practices.
• You are an exceptional problem-solver with the ability to clearly communicate technical concepts to cross-functional teams.

You'll Be One of Our Top Picks If:

• You have experience with Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) frameworks and chatbot architectures.
• You have prior experience developing consumer-facing applications, particularly those incorporating AI-driven user experiences.
• You have experience with React Native and mobile app development.
• You are familiar with ethical AI practices, trust & safety, data privacy considerations, and/or compliance standards.

FAIR PAY AND A JUST WORKPLACE

At Consumer Reports, we are committed to fair, transparent pay and we strive to provide competitive, market-informed compensation informed by location, as well as the candidate’s particular combination of knowledge, skills, competencies, and experience. It is expected that most qualified candidates will fall near the middle of the posted salary range. We have three locations: Yonkers, NY, Washington, DC and Colchester, CT. We are registered to do business in and can only hire from the following states and federal district: Arizona, California, Connecticut, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Texas, Vermont, Virginia and Washington, DC.

Salary ranges

• NY/California: $120K-$140K annually
• DMV/Massachusetts: $105K-$125K annually
• Colchester, CT and additional approved CR locations:  $100K-$120K annually

OR

At Consumer Reports, we are committed to fair, transparent pay and we strive to provide competitive, market-informed compensation.The target salary range for this position is $000K-$000K. It is anticipated that most qualified candidates will fall near the middle of this range. Compensation for the successful candidate will be informed by the candidate’s particular combination of knowledge, skills, competencies, and experience.  We have three locations: Yonkers, NY, Washington, DC and Colchester, CT. We are registered to do business in and can only hire from the following states and federal district: Arizona, California, Connecticut, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Texas, Vermont, Virginia and Washington, DC.

Consumer Reports is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in employment on the basis of actual or perceived race, color, creed, religion, age, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, sex or gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, related medical conditions or lactation), gender identity and expression (including transgender status), sexual orientation, marital status, military service or veteran status, protected medical condition as defined by applicable state or local law, disability, genetic information, or any other basis protected by applicable federal, state or local laws.  Consumer Reports will provide you with any reasonable assistance or accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process.