Lead Software Developer

Role Overview

• Define and own the end-to-end technical architecture for SANS’s next-generation e-learning platform, including content delivery, learner experiences, virtual labs, and commerce infrastructure.
• Make binding architectural decisions on system decomposition, API design, data modeling, event-driven patterns, and cloud-native infrastructure—with full accountability for outcomes.
• Establish and enforce architectural standards, design review processes, and technical governance across multiple engineering teams.
• Lead build-vs-buy evaluations and vendor technical assessments for platform components (LMS, CMS, payment systems, identity providers).
• Integrate APIs and tools that support SCORM, xAPI, LTI, and other interoperability standards for learning management systems (LMS).
• Directly lead and mentor a team of senior and mid-level engineers, with accountability for their technical growth, career development, and performance.
• Conduct architecture reviews, code reviews, and design critiques that raise the engineering bar across the organization.
• Recruit, evaluate, and onboard senior engineering talent; actively shape the team’s composition and capabilities.
• Foster a culture of engineering excellence: rigorous testing, observability, documentation, and continuous improvement.
• Serve as a technical escalation point for complex engineering problems across teams.
• Partner directly with Product, UX, Cybersecurity SMEs, and executive leadership to translate business strategy into technical roadmaps.
• Communicate architectural decisions, trade-offs, and technical risk to non-technical stakeholders with clarity and conviction.
• Drive alignment across competing priorities between product, infrastructure, security, and operations teams.
• Present technical strategy and progress to VP/C-level audiences; build confidence in the engineering organization’s ability to deliver.
• Navigate organizational complexity—influence without authority, build consensus, manage technical debt negotiations.
• Architect scalable, maintainable, and secure systems that support thousands of concurrent learners and complex content delivery pipelines.
• Enhance user engagement through interactive course features, virtual labs, and real-time feedback mechanisms.
• Implement robust data and security practices, including encryption, authentication, zero-trust patterns, and compliance with privacy standards.
• Champion DevOps maturity: CI/CD automation, infrastructure as code, containerization (Docker/Kubernetes), and deployment best practices.
• Drive analytics capabilities to measure learner progress, engagement, platform performance, and business outcomes.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related technical field.
• 10+ years of professional experience in software development, with at least 5 years in a senior architect, principal engineer, or equivalent technical leadership role.
• Demonstrated experience building and shipping e-learning platforms, EdTech products, or content commerce platforms from 0→1 at meaningful scale.
• Track record of leading platform-level technical transformations—migrating monoliths to microservices, re-platforming, or building greenfield systems that replaced legacy infrastructure.
• Expertise in full-stack development using technologies such as JavaScript/TypeScript, React, Node.js, and Python.
• Strong understanding of learning content standards (SCORM, xAPI, LTI) and integration with LMS and CMS environments.
• Hands-on experience with cloud-based architectures (AWS, Azure, or GCP) and scalable containerization technologies (Docker, Kubernetes).
• Proven track record of building secure, high-availability web applications.
• Deep understanding of database systems, API design, and microservices architecture.
• Strong knowledge of secure coding principles, including data protection and authentication mechanisms.
• Proven ability to manage, mentor, and develop engineering teams of 5+ engineers, including performance management, career development, and hiring.
• Experience operating as a technical partner to product and executive leadership—translating business objectives into architectural decisions.
• Demonstrated stakeholder management skills: presenting to VP/C-level audiences, navigating competing priorities, and building cross-functional alignment.
• Must have unrestricted authorization to work in the USA, as no visa sponsoring is available.

Tech Stack

• AWS
• Azure
• Cloud
• Cyber Security
• Docker
• Google Cloud Platform
• JavaScript
• Kubernetes
• Microservices
• Node.js
• Python
• React
• TypeScript

Benefits

• Competitive base salary, bonus opportunities, and a 401(k) plan with company match.
• Robust medical, dental, and vision plans; company-provided short term disability; optional long-term disability, supplemental life and AD&D insurance for employees and dependents; voluntary benefits including accident insurance and identity theft protection; fitness and wellness programs; and a company paid employee assistance program (EAP).
• Generous paid time off, including volunteer time.
• Access to professional development and SANS training opportunities.