Regulatory Compliance Engineering Lead

Company: Ares Operations
Location: New York City
Posted on: April 2, 2026

Job Description:

Over the last 20 years, Ares’ success has been driven by our people and our culture. Today, our team is guided by our core values – Collaborative, Responsible, Entrepreneurial, Self-Aware, Trustworthy – and our purpose to be a catalyst for shared prosperity and a better future. Through our recruitment, career development and employee-focused programming, we are committed to fostering a welcoming and inclusive work environment where high-performance talent of diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives can build careers within this exciting and growing industry. Job Description Ares is seeking a Vice President, Regulatory Compliance Engineering Lead to join our Corporate Technology organization, reporting to the Head of Legal Risk and Compliance Technology . This role will lead the engineering delivery, platform health, and ongoing evolution of technology solutions supporting Ares’ Regulatory Compliance functions—most notably our AML/KYC processes. The ideal candidate is a hands-on engineering leader with deep expertise in Regulatory Compliance technology within a complex financial services environment (experience at a large alternative asset manager or similarly regulated firm strongly preferred). This leader will guide a small team of technical resources and partner closely with Compliance stakeholders, Product/Program partners, and cross-functional Technology teams to deliver secure, scalable, and audit-ready solutions. This role requires strong Pega expertise (critical), as Pega underpins key AML/KYC workflows. Familiarity with adjacent compliance platforms and ecosystems—such as Intapp (Conflicts clearance), Archer, Global Relay, and ComplySci/Comply (and comparable tools)—is highly valued. PRIMARY FUNCTIONS AND ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES Lead engineering delivery and operational ownership for the Regulatory Compliance technology portfolio, with primary focus on AML/KYC workflows and supporting controls. Serve as the technical lead and escalation point for the Pega platform implementation supporting AML/KYC, ensuring robust design, performance, security, and maintainability. Partner with Compliance leadership and key stakeholders to translate regulatory needs into clear technical requirements, delivery plans, and measurable outcomes. Own end-to-end solution delivery: technical discovery, design, build, test, release, and production support , aligning with SDLC, change management, and audit expectations. Drive a strong engineering discipline: code quality, peer review, automated testing, CI/CD where applicable, environment management, and release governance. Establish and maintain integration patterns and data flows (APIs, batch, messaging/events as appropriate) to support compliance reporting, auditability, and downstream dependencies. Ensure solutions meet enterprise standards for security, identity/access controls, data governance, records retention, resiliency, and regulatory traceability . Build and lead a small team of engineers/technical resources: hiring input, coaching, task planning, performance feedback, and fostering a culture of accountability and continuous improvement. Collaborate cross-functionally with Enterprise Architecture, Information Security, Data/Analytics, Infrastructure, and adjacent application teams to manage dependencies and deliver cohesive outcomes. Manage vendors/partners as needed: delivery oversight, quality control, prioritization, and ensuring alignment with Ares’ standards and roadmap. Provide transparent, executive-ready reporting on progress, risks, issues, and remediation plans—especially for compliance-impacting items. QUALIFICATIONS 10 years of progressive technology experience, with significant hands-on delivery experience in Regulatory Compliance or adjacent risk/control domains. Demonstrated experience implementing and supporting AML/KYC technology processes and workflows. Experience in complex, regulated financial services; alternative asset management experience strongly preferred. Bachelor’s degree required; Computer Science/Engineering background preferred. Strong written and verbal communication skills; ability to influence and collaborate effectively with senior business and technology partners. Experience Required Pega platform expertise (required/critical) , including hands-on experience designing, developing, and supporting Pega-based enterprise workflows (ideally within AML/KYC or similar regulated processes). Strong software engineering fundamentals and hands-on development experience, including: SQL (required), data analysis/troubleshooting, and comfort navigating complex data/process flows Experience with at least one general-purpose language (e.g., Java, C#, Python, JavaScript) and integration patterns (REST APIs, services, batch) SDLC rigor: testing strategies, release/change management, production support, incident/problem management Domain knowledge across Regulatory Compliance technology ecosystem; experience with one or more of: Intapp (Conflicts clearance / intake workflows) Archer (GRC workflows, controls, issues management) Global Relay (surveillance/communications archiving & supervision) ComplySci / Comply (regulatory compliance monitoring and related workflows) Experience building secure, audit-ready solutions with strong controls: access management, approvals, workflow traceability, evidence capture, and reporting. Demonstrated ability to lead small teams and deliver results through a mix of direct engineering contribution and team oversight. Vendor/SI management experience is a plus. General Requirements Ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment, manage competing priorities, and deliver high-quality outcomes. Strong ownership mindset with disciplined execution and attention to detail. Comfortable operating in ambiguity and translating evolving regulatory needs into durable technical solutions. Collaborative, service-oriented approach; able to build credibility with Compliance stakeholders and partner effectively across Corporate Technology. Willingness to flex hours as needed to support global stakeholders and production needs. Reporting Relationships Head of Business Operations Systems Compensation The anticipated base salary range for this position is listed below. Total compensation may also include a discretionary performance-based bonus. Note, the range takes into account a broad spectrum of qualifications, including, but not limited to, years of relevant work experience, education, and other relevant qualifications specific to the role. $225,000 - $250,000 The firm also offers robust Benefits offerings. Ares U.S. Core Benefits include Comprehensive Medical/Rx, Dental and Vision plans; 401(k) program with company match; Flexible Savings Accounts (FSA); Healthcare Savings Accounts (HSA) with company contribution; Basic and Voluntary Life Insurance; Long-Term Disability (LTD) and Short-Term Disability (STD) insurance; Employee Assistance Program (EAP), and Commuter Benefits plan for parking and transit. Ares offers a number of additional benefits including access to a world-class medical advisory team, a mental health app that includes coaching, therapy and psychiatry, a mindfulness and wellbeing app, financial wellness benefit that includes access to a financial advisor, new parent leave, reproductive and adoption assistance, emergency backup care, matching gift program, education sponsorship program, and much more. There is no set deadline to apply for this job opportunity. Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis until the search is no longer active.

Keywords: Ares Operations, Middletown , Regulatory Compliance Engineering Lead, IT / Software / Systems , New York City, Connecticut