Lead Engineer

About the role

We are looking for an experienced and motivated Lead Engineer to join our team. In this role, you will leverage your expertise in React.js, Node.js, SQL and (preferred skills NoSQL), and cloud infrastructure to build scalable, high-performance web applications. As the Lead Engineer, you will take the lead on architecture, design, and development, while also mentoring and guiding junior engineers. You will work closely with cross-functional teams to deliver innovative solutions and ensure the optimal performance and scalability of our platforms.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Architecture & Design:
• Lead the design and implementation of scalable, maintainable, and high-performance applications using React.js and Node.js.
• Architect backend systems using Node.js and integrate them seamlessly with front-end components built in React.js.
• Define the architecture for both SQL and NoSQL database systems, optimizing them for performance and scalability.
• Design and implement cloud infrastructure solutions to support the application, ensuring high availability and resilience.
2. Full Stack Development:
• Develop and maintain full-stack applications using React.js for the front end and Node.js for the back end.
• Build RESTful APIs and microservices to support various functionalities of the platform.
• Ensure that the front-end applications are responsive, user-friendly, and integrate smoothly with back-end services.
3. Database Management:
• Design, implement, and manage SQL databases (e.g., MySQL, PostgreSQL) and NoSQL databases (e.g., MongoDB, Redis) for data storage, retrieval, and optimization.
• Create database schemas, manage migrations, and ensure high performance for both SQL and NoSQL solutions.
4. Cloud Infrastructure & DevOps:
• Manage cloud infrastructure using platforms such as AWS, Google Cloud, or Azure, ensuring applications are deployed efficiently and securely.
• Design and implement CI/CD pipelines to enable continuous delivery and deployment of applications.
• Automate deployment, scaling, and monitoring processes for applications and databases in cloud environments.
5. Leadership & Collaboration:
• Mentor junior engineers, fostering a collaborative and growth-oriented team culture.
• Lead code reviews, ensuring adherence to coding standards and best practices.
• Collaborate with product managers, designers, and other engineers to deliver high-quality solutions that meet business requirements.
• Communicate effectively with cross-functional teams to align on project goals, timelines, and deliverables.
6. Performance & Optimization:
• Identify and address performance bottlenecks across the stack, including front-end, back-end, and database layers.
• Implement caching strategies, query optimization, and database indexing to ensure optimal performance.
• Troubleshoot and resolve issues related to application scalability, performance, and security.
7. Security & Compliance:
• Implement best practices for secure coding, user authentication, authorization, and data protection.
• Ensure that applications are compliant with relevant regulations and security standards.
8. Testing & Quality Assurance:
• Write unit tests, integration tests, and end-to-end tests to ensure high code quality and application reliability.
• Ensure that code is well-documented and maintainable.

What you will need to have

Required Qualifications:

• Experience:
• 5+ years of experience in full-stack development with expertise in React.js, Node.js, SQL, and NoSQL.
• 2+ years of experience with cloud platforms such as AWS, Google Cloud, or Azure.
• Proven experience leading development teams and managing projects from concept to delivery.
• Technical Skills:
• Proficiency in React.js (for front-end development) and Node.js (for back-end development).
• Strong experience with both SQL (MySQL, PostgreSQL) and NoSQL (MongoDB, Redis) databases.
• Familiarity with cloud infrastructure and services (AWS, GCP, Azure) including compute, storage, and networking.
• Experience with containerization (Docker) and orchestration (Kubernetes) is a plus.
• Strong understanding of RESTful API design, authentication mechanisms, and best practices.
• Knowledge of version control systems (e.g., Git).
• Soft Skills:
• Strong leadership and mentoring capabilities, with a focus on team development and empowerment.
• Excellent problem-solving, debugging, and optimization skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, agile environment with multiple projects and tight deadlines.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with microservices architecture.
• Familiarity with GraphQL and modern web frameworks.
• Knowledge of serverless architectures (AWS Lambda, Google Cloud Functions, etc.).
• Experience with Agile methodologies (Scrum, Kanban).
• Exposure to infrastructure-as-code tools like Terraform or CloudFormation.

Our Values

Make It Happen

• We strive to deliver results with the highest impact and are committed to following through. We continuously optimise through collaboration to achieve the best collective outcomes.

Be Proactive

• We seize the initiative and are always looking for continual improvement, for ourselves, our team and the cities we serve. We relish the chance for action even if it leads us outside of our normal scope.

Trust Facts Over Opinions

• Our decisions are evidence-based. We assess situations fairly, wherever possible using reason and logic rather than unverified opinions.

Stay Curious

• We ask questions, challenge assumptions, learn from mistakes and are ready to leave behind what we thought we knew.

Do More With Less

• We understand that both time and resources are finite. We balance our priorities and think strategically about how we can maximise our impact and the return on investment.

• If you are passionate about making a real-time impact and want the opportunity to play an instrumental part in our growth story, we want you riding for our team!