Federal tax advisory - software engineer senior analyst

Location: Anywhere in Country

At EY, we’re all in to shape your future with confidence.

We’ll help you succeed in a globally connected powerhouse of diverse teams and take your career wherever you want it to go. Join EY and help to build a better working world.

The opportunity

As an EY STEM Senior Analyst, you will partner with other STEM team members as well as EY Tax professionals from across the globe to assist clients in identifying and documenting activities and expenses that qualify for various R&D and innovation-related incentives. Our clients span all industries and are performing some of the most cutting-edge research on the planet. If you want to be exposed to exciting research and development initiatives in product development, manufacturing, natural resources, pharmaceutical, and other high-tech engineering fields, this role is for you! This opportunity is ideal for individuals with relevant qualifications or experience in engineering, science and/or technology who wish to leverage and apply their technical skills in a new way. This role will suit experienced and enthusiastic individuals who are driven to learn about new technologies and industry trends, widen their technical knowledge and have broader client and commercial exposure.

The successful candidate will get the opportunity to work as part of a growing and dynamic specialist practice with a diverse team of highly successful tax and science/engineering/technology specialists

Your Key Responsibilities

As an EY STEM Senior Analyst focused on Software & Technology, you will engage with industry leaders across the software ecosystem to discuss cutting-edge digital products, cloud architectures, platform engineering, AI/ML models, cybersecurity solutions, data-driven systems, and modern software development methodologies. You will collaborate with startups, mid-market innovators, and large public technology companies to evaluate and help prepare their R&D and innovation-related incentives.

Many of these incentives, such as the U.S. Research Credit, are designed to encourage companies to invest in innovation and research-driven software activities. To qualify, clients must demonstrate that their work involved technical uncertainty, experimentation, and iterative software development. As an EY STEM Senior Analyst, you will leverage your software engineering background and industry experience to help clients document and substantiate their qualifying activities.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Applying your knowledge of software engineering, including application development, cloud services, data engineering, systems architecture, DevOps, AI/ML, testing frameworks, and platform optimization, during client discussions to identify qualifying R&D activities.
• Drafting detailed technical narratives that clearly explain clients’ software development objectives, constraints, technical challenges, design alternatives, and iterative testing activities.
• Collaborating within a multidisciplinary team of tax professionals, attorneys, scientists, engineers, and technologists across the globe.
• Reviewing technical write-ups prepared by junior team members, providing detailed feedback to ensure accuracy, clarity, and alignment with IRS guidance and industry best practices.
• Analyzing complex technical documentation—such as architecture diagrams, user stories, sprint records, design docs, API specifications, test reports, version control histories, and development roadmaps, to extract relevant information and assess the qualifying nature of software activities.
• Supporting our Tax colleagues during IRS audits by preparing clear and defensible technical documentation and participating in discussions with IRS engineers and technologists.
  
  

Skills And Attributes For Success

• Strong understanding of software engineering principles and practices, including application development, systems design, cloud architectures, SDLC methodologies (Agile/Scrum), prototyping, testing frameworks, DevOps, and modern software development tools.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with a strong emphasis on clear and structured technical documentation.
• Creative problem-solving and technical writing abilities that allow you to identify, articulate, and explain clients’ software R&D and innovation-related activities.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to collaborate effectively within cross-functional teams, including engineers, data scientists, and tax professionals.
• Ability to offer practical and solution-oriented approaches when navigating complex technical environments.
• Strong critical thinking skills, including the ability to ask targeted, probing questions to uncover detailed information and ensure the delivery of high-quality technical work products.
• Ability to manage client expectations and communicate project needs, timelines, and constraints clearly.
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to multi-task, balancing multiple engagements while meeting deadlines.
  
  

To qualify for the role, you must have

• A STEM undergraduate or master’s degree in computer/software engineering, or computer sciences.   
• 2+ years of experience in research and innovation-related incentives or 3+ years of leveraging your STEM background in industry, or a combination of both.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Strong organizational and time management skills with a demonstrated ability to work independently while simultaneously managing multiple projects.
• Strong proficiency in Microsoft Office, including Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and Teams. 
  
  

Ideally, you will also have 

• Professional licenses, master’s degrees in related fields (e.g., information systems, science, engineering, green incentives, accounting, valuation, business administration, law etc.).
• Professional designations, including Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design Accredited Professional (LEED AP); Professional Engineer (PE) or Registered Architect (RA) from the National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE®); Engineer in Training (EIT); Professional Software Engineering Master (PSEM) Certification; Professional Software Developer (PSD) Certification; Project Management Professional (PMP)® from Project Management Institute (PMI); or Lean Six Sigma Green Belt.
• MBA or Master of Taxation degrees.
• Enrolled Agent.
  
  

What We Look For

• Accelerate your technical capabilities and transformative leadership skills with future-focused courses and development programs.
• Broaden your horizons by working on highly integrated teams across the globe and collaborate with people of diverse backgrounds — both professionally and culturally.
• Bring out the best in yourself with continuous investment in your personal well-being and career development.
• Develop your own personal purpose and help us create a positive ripple effect on our teams, our business, clients, and society – building a better working world, together.
  
  

What We Offer You

At EY, we’ll develop you with future-focused skills and equip you with world-class experiences. We’ll empower you in a flexible environment, and fuel you and your extraordinary talents in a diverse and inclusive culture of globally connected teams. Learn more.

• We offer a comprehensive compensation and benefits package where you’ll be rewarded based on your performance and recognized for the value you bring to the business. The base salary range for this job in all geographic locations in the US is $81,500 to $134,600. The base salary range for New York City Metro Area, Washington State and California (excluding Sacramento) is $97,800 to $153,100. Individual salaries within those ranges are determined through a wide variety of factors including but not limited to education, experience, knowledge, skills and geography. In addition, our Total Rewards package includes medical and dental coverage, pension and 401(k) plans, and a wide range of paid time off options.
• Join us in our team-led and leader-enabled hybrid model. Our expectation is for most people in external, client serving roles to work together in person 40-60% of the time over the course of an engagement, project or year.
• Under our flexible vacation policy, you’ll decide how much vacation time you need based on your own personal circumstances. You’ll also be granted time off for designated EY Paid Holidays, Winter/Summer breaks, Personal/Family Care, and other leaves of absence when needed to support your physical, financial, and emotional well-being.
  
  

Are you ready to shape your future with confidence? Apply today.

EY accepts applications for this position on an on-going basis.

For those living in California, please click here for additional information.

EY focuses on high-ethical standards and integrity among its employees and expects all candidates to demonstrate these qualities.

EY | Building a better working world

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EY is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities including veterans with disabilities. If you have a disability and either need assistance applying online or need to request an accommodation during any part of the application process, please call 1-800-EY-HELP3, select Option 2 for candidate related inquiries, then select Option 1 for candidate queries and finally select Option 2 for candidates with an inquiry which will route you to EY’s Talent Shared Services Team (TSS) or email the TSS at [email protected].