Engineering Lead

Overview

About the Role & TeamIDC recently launched Quanta, a new AI platform that puts autonomous buyer and seller agents towork on IDC's global technology market-intelligence data — helping tech buyers and vendors makefaster, evidence-backed decisions. It's a genuinely new kind of product for a research company that'sspent decades defining the category, and it's live today for customers outside China.

The Opportunity: Bringing Quanta to ChinaWe're now extending Quanta into China, and it's a real engineering problem, not a copy-paste rollout.China's data-residency requirements mean large parts of the platform have to be independentlyrebuilt to run in-country: user data, uploaded documents, and query handling all need to stay inChina, and some of the AWS and agent infrastructure we rely on elsewhere isn't available there at all.You'd be the engineer who solves that. You'll be the founding member of a new China-basedengineering team: architecting and building the in-country version of Quanta yourself, then running itand growing the team around you. It's an unusual combination — a 0-to-1 build on top of analready-proven product, genuinely hard technical constraints to design around, and long-termownership once it's live.

What You’ll Do

• Architect and build a China-resident version of Quanta's user data platform, including modernizinga 10+ year old access model behind a new API layer
• Get Quanta's AI agents running in China without AgentCore, by adapting or forking the agentorchestration layer to a China-compatible alternative
• Rebuild the document upload, storage, and search/vector-index systems to run independentlyinside China
• Design the data boundary that lets China-based search and agents operate while keeping IDC'sproprietary research and verbatim user queries appropriately separated from crossing in or out of thecountry
• Recruit, hire, and lead the long-term China engineering team, starting as its first member
•  Own the system on an ongoing basis after launch — this is a long-term build-and-run role, not aone-time migration handoff

What You Bring

• 8+ years of full-stack or backend software engineering experience, including ownership ofarchitecture decisions under real infrastructure and regulatory constraints
• Direct experience building or operating systems inside China's infrastructure/data-residencyenvironment
• Experience with API design and migrating legacy systems (databases, access models) onto modernservice layers
• Working knowledge of search/vector-index systems and LLM agent orchestration frameworks
• Experience leading or mentoring engineers — you'll be building a team, not joining one
• Fluency in Mandarin and English
• Comfort operating with real autonomy and ambiguity, including constraints that may still shift asthe project proceedsPreferred Qualifications
• Experience with China-specific cloud providers (Alibaba Cloud, Tencent Cloud, Huawei Cloud) asAWS alternatives
• Prior 0-to-1 or greenfield build experience, ideally in a regulated or data-sovereignty-constrainedmarket
• Experience working on a distributed team across US/EU/China time zones
• Familiarity with MCP (Model Context Protocol), as our broader agent orchestrator migration ismoving that direction

Why This Role Stands Out At IDC, your work helps shape how the world understands technology and where it goes next. You collaborate with curious, high-caliber colleagues who value rigor, integrity, and shared success. As the premier global provider of trusted technology intelligence, IDC equips business and technology leaders with the evidence they need to make confident decisions. Our insights inform strategy, investment, and innovation across industries and regions.

 

Recognized by IIAR as Analyst Firm of the Year for five consecutive years, IDC sets the standard for credibility and impact. With more than 1,000 analysts worldwide and a truly global perspective, we combine deep expertise with practical relevance. Here, your ideas matter, your voice is heard, and your contributions provide the insights leaders rely on every day. It is meaningful work, backed by a culture that supports growth, collaboration, and long-term career development with a globally respected brand.

What We Offer

• Individualized Culture: An environment where you can explore new areas outside your specialtyand stay engaged with work you enjoy.
• Hybrid Working: Hybrid working with 4 days in office per week required.
• Time-off and holidays: On top of your statutory holiday allowance and public holidays, IDC grantsannually reviewed company-wide closures on 19 August (Unplug Day) and 24 December – 1 Januaryinclusive (Global Shutdown) and a volunteering day.
• A position in a highly professional and globally respected market research and advisory firm, whereinitiative leading to results is rewarded.

 

 

Equal Opportunity Employer

IDC is committed to providing equal employment opportunities for all qualified persons. Employment eligibility verification required. We participate in E-Verify. 

 

If this role relocates to a different country, the salary range will be updated to reflect that country's range, rather than a currency conversion of the original range.

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