Lead Backend Software Developer

Job Summary

The Lead Developer oversees the software development of a team. They offer technical guidance and coaching to developers and programmers of all experience levels and routinely assess individual Developer performance. Tech Leads are put in charge of multiple projects to ensure that coding best practices and delivery excellence is being achieved. They are accountable for the retention of the team and satisfaction of the client.

Who You Are

You enjoy working with smaller team sizes, thrive with a large amount of autonomy, and don’t mind some ambiguity.

You value an agile & iterative culture where feedback is given quickly and constructively, collaboration is as easy as breathing, iterations are done swiftly, and integrations are continuous.

You are self-motivated, independent, and are an innovator at heart. You take general direction well and can fill in the gaps. Being biased towards action is hardcoded into your problem-solving techniques and you always have your eye on keeping the team moving forward. You know how to find your way to solutions and raise your hand when you need help. You get fulfillment from providing a WOW experience to clients.

How We Work

We are a collaborative and cross-functional team built on the values of a community and driven by accountability, communication, and creative thinking. We believe in short incremental development cycles so we expect our developers to commit code daily at a minimum. We expect our contributors to work autonomously and with an ability to identify, communicate, and solve problems swiftly.

Necessary Experience:

+5 years of experience as a Backend DeveloperExpertise in Javascript and NodeJS+2 years of experience in a leadership position of team of 5+Experience using relational databases like PostgreSQLCloud experience (AWS, GCP, Azure)English C1Agile & Scrum MethodologiesConflict Resolution and Task ManagementEngineering Best Practices

Nice to have:

Experience using Cloudflare, CassandraExperience in AI-related projects

Role Responsibilities

Technical Activities:

Architectural Design: Design and oversee the architecture of the software, ensuring it meets the project's needs and scales effectively.Problem Solving: Address complex technical challenges, provide solutions, and guide the team through difficult issues.Technical Mentorship: Coach and support developers, fostering growth and knowledge sharing within the team.Technology Evaluation: Evaluate and recommend tools, frameworks, and technologies best suit the project requirements.Process Optimization: Identify areas where the development process can be improved, whether through tools, workflows, or methodologies.Performance Monitoring: Regularly assess the development team's performance, as well as that of individual developers. Provide constructive feedback and support to encourage ongoing improvement.Innovation: Encourage innovation and experimentation within the team, fostering a culture of continuous learning and improvement.

Team Management Activities:

Have experience leading a team of at least 5 (10 preferred) people. Demonstrate strong leadership skills and the ability to manage a diverse team working on various projects. Successfully navigates and resolves conflicts, and maintains team cohesion and morale.Leadership without Micromanagement: Effectively Lead without the need of micromanagement. Empower team members to take ownership of their work and make decisions. Provide guidance and support while allowing autonomy and independence.Code Quality Assurance: Conduct regular and thorough code reviews to ensure high-quality, maintainable, and efficient code. Identify and address potential issues early in the development process. Provide constructive feedback to developers to help them improve their coding skills.Collaboration Encouragement: Foster a collaborative environment by promoting open communication and teamwork. Encourage team members to share knowledge, ideas, and best practices. Facilitate regular team meetings and brainstorming sessions.Culture Building: Contribute to building a positive team culture and prioritize team happiness. Organize team-building activities and events to strengthen team bonds. Promote a healthy work-life balance and support the well-being of team members.KPI Metrics Collection: Gather and analyze key performance indicators (KPIs) for each developer to measure productivity and efficiency. Use data-driven insights to identify areas for improvement and recognize high performers. Report on team performance to the Head of Engineering and other stakeholders. Implement a system for tracking progress and addressing any performance issues.Best Practices Enforcement: Conduct training sessions and workshops to keep the team updated on the latest industry trends and techniques.Growth-Oriented: Provide mentorship and coaching to team members to support their professional development.

Contributions to the Work Environment:

Contributor will abide by Divelement's company policies and advise on areas for improvement to the People Operations teamContributor will uphold and embody the core values of Integrity, Ownership, and Empowerment in all their behaviors and contributionsContributor will follow the published processes and playbooks pertaining to their area of expertise and share feedback on improvements

Total Compensation

We base our compensation on the following factors: location, experience, exposure, & skills. Divelement offers a remote-first work environment where autonomy and accountability go hand-in-hand. In addition to our compensation and work environment, we offer PTO, Holidays, and Medical benefits.

Leader Requirements:

Applied knowledge in Domain Area of Expertise

Strategically understands the value an impact that different technologies can have based on different use cases

Core Values

Embrace: You embrace the value as part of your everyday mission at Divelement and understand its impact on the business and community. You actively look for ways to mature your understanding and use of the value.

Supervision

Does not need supervision but proactively reviews work with Leader and Stakeholders because they understand the importance of information sharing. Mentors the mentors. Provides leadership but also knows when to let others run with their ideas. Allows team members to put their own stamp on their daily work (i.e. avoids technical micro-management) while still providing boundaries to ensure project success through supervision.

Knowledge

Subject Matter Expert - very few employees exist at this level. Possesses deep functional expertise and organizational knowledge to identify, explain, and drive decisions that impact entire function and influence company achievement of goals. This individual has emotional intelligence knowledge to support their team's growth.

Their knowledge expands across the organization's functions so that they transfer and translate complex business needs or goals to their team and other teams.

Productivity

Reports on team productivity and focuses on incremental improvements on an individual and team basis. Designs architectures and develops software for functional areas. Create goals, identify problems, & coordinate solutions across teams.

Applies backstopping: recognizes when work falls beyond scope of project and can decide if the project plan should be adjusted to accommodate additional work or if work belongs in a new project.

Teamwork

Responsible for the satisfaction, work capacity, assignment, development, and retention of the Team. Understands that teamwork is vital and keeps the company operational and marketable.

Communication

Sets long-term vision and is able to communicate it clearly to all levels of the organization.

Has a large network of relationships within the Company and a growing one outside of it.

Key Skills

• Backend
• JavaScript