Software Developer - Stealth Startup

Do you want to work for a big company in the valley, but like 15 years ago? Before it became a giant slow moving barge… back when it was just a group of excitable housemates in a kitchen?

Prepare yourself for endless problem solving and fun (if problem solving is fun to you). We actually have more than beer and a kitchen to offer (we’ve been funded and can actually pay you a real salary w/ benefits), but otherwise this is as ground floor as it gets. 

We are making an app that combines media streaming, e-commerce, social media, and social good stuff. Vague? Because there is private information about the company, regarding who is involved, we are protecting most information about the company at this stage. Once we are working together though, you will know everything. Then together, we shall change the world forever and ever and ever. 

About the opportunity:

The Lead Engineer position is vital to our company’s growth strategy, setting the course for our backend technology and how it impacts a large market on a global scale. The Lead Engineer must not only be our lead software developer, but also the bridge between the product plan and the technical implementations. 

As a leader of this company, the Lead Engineer will play an integral role in ensuring the company’s products are built with excellence, predictability, and transparency.  

Primary Responsibilities include:

• Build and maintain the Technology Roadmap
• Make the strategic technology decisions and plan how they will be executed over time.
• Align the Technology Roadmap with the Product Plan and Release Plan.
• Build excellent products using superior software craftsmanship.
• Strive for simplicity and maintaining a code base that has a low total cost of ownership that remains low over time, as the system grows.
• Build scalable infrastructures (We must be prepared for sporadic overnight surges of tens of thousands of users. Our business model is built specifically around these surges.)
• As the company grows, hire the best engineering team possible.
• Ensure the engineering team is equipped and well motivated to execute the Release Plan in the context of the Technology Roadmap.
• Be a hands-on implementer (Software Developer), leading the team from the front
• Build using skills honed by the learnings of industry leaders, making their craft your team’s: Clean Code, Clean Architecture, SOLID, etc.
• Create and feed a culture in line with the Agile Manifesto, faithful to the Agile Principles. 

About you:

The ideal candidate will bring a unique blend of hands-on high-energy, technological expertise, leadership, and strategic vision, including many of the following:

Technology:

• Experience designing, developing, and launching software products and/or services in a public cloud environment using state-of-the-art web, mobile, and n-tier technologies.
• Deploying and operating in cloud infrastructures, such as AWS or Azure.
• React, React Native, Javascript, HTML, CSS for client-side development.
• First-class languages and frameworks for service development (Python, Java, Scala, Spring, etc.). Ruby on Rails a plus.
• DevOps mindset and experience developing, deploying, and operating products.

Leadership:

• Strategic Vision: Natural ability to see the big picture, and to derive a concrete plan to shape the future. 
• Relationship Management: Aptitude to build strong relationships and bonds with the team, both on the business side as well as tech.  
• Influence Skills: Experience and great skill in leading through influence. A great listener and collaborator, you are a force for unity.