Lead Software Engineer

Job Description

Job Description

Overview

A well-established, mission-driven nonprofit organization is seeking a Lead Software Engineer to support the modernization of a flagship SaaS platform. This organization is widely recognized, highly regarded, and known for long-term stability, strong retention, and exceptional benefits and retirement programs.

This is a hands-on technical role . The “Lead” title reflects senior-level technical expertise and influence—not people management. The environment values deep technical contribution, thoughtful architecture, and long-term system stewardship.

The platform supports users and institutions globally, operating at significant scale and complexity. Engineers in this role will work on systems that preserve, manage, and deliver critical digital assets and metadata for broad public and institutional use.

Important Requirements (Non-Negotiable)

Candidates must currently live in the Columbus, OH metro area

Hybrid schedule : 3 days per week onsite

No relocation assistance provided

Open to visa sponsorship , including H-1B

This role is best suited for candidates with stable employment history (no frequent job changes)

What You’ll Work On

Revitalization and enhancement of a large-scale SaaS application

Backend systems handling complex metadata, linked data, and asset processing pipelines

High-volume content delivery systems serving millions of requests per day

Search and discovery systems spanning frontend and backend services

Designing reliable, scalable, and cost-effective cloud-based infrastructure

Solving performance, scalability, and maintainability challenges in a mature codebase

Responsibilities

Design and implement complex backend systems and features

Provide senior-level technical guidance and architectural input

Participate in system design and architecture discussions

Conduct code reviews and enforce engineering quality standards

Mentor junior engineers through technical collaboration

Contribute to improving performance, scalability, and reliability across services

Required Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or related field, or equivalent professional experience

7+ years of professional software development experience

Python : Strong to expert proficiency in Python 3.11+

Modern Python idioms, type hinting, dataclasses

Understanding of threading limitations and multi-process architectures

Django : Strong experience with Django, including ORM and framework architecture

Experience with Django Ninja and Pydantic strongly preferred

Experience with Flask or similar frameworks may be considered

API Design :

Strong experience designing secure, performant APIs

OpenAPI specification experience strongly preferred

Familiarity with Pydantic-generated OpenAPI a plus

PostgreSQL :

Advanced experience with JSON fields, full-text search, and complex constraints

Proven ability to optimize queries and support high-scale applications

Strong analytical and problem-solving skills

Deep understanding of database systems

Experience with cloud platforms

Experience with distributed systems and microservices architectures

Exposure to integrating AI tools, frameworks, or concepts into software development workflows

Java experience is a strong plus , but not required

Benefits & Stability

Exceptional health, retirement, and long-term benefits

Stable, low-turnover environment

Mission-driven work with real-world impact

Long-term product investment and technical ownership