Lead Full-Stack Software Engineer

Core Responsibilities

• Architecture & Technical Leadership
• Own system architecture across multiple concurrent client projects.
• Define and enforce architectural standards, design patterns, and non-functional requirements.
• Make final technical decisions on stack selection, integrations, and trade-offs.
• Design scalable, resilient systems spanning frontend, backend, cloud, and hardware-adjacent integrations.
• Delivery & Execution
• Lead technical planning and execution for large, high-stakes client engagements.
• Remain hands-on in critical code paths while delegating effectively.
• Drive engineering rigor: code reviews, CI/CD, automated testing, observability.
• Own technical outcomes, including production stability and incident response.
• Agency & Client Leadership (Required)
• Operate comfortably in a software agency model: shifting priorities, parallel clients, fixed timelines.
• Translate ambiguous client requirements into concrete technical plans.
• Act as senior technical authority in client meetings.
• Balance delivery speed with long-term maintainability under real-world constraints.
• Team Leadership & Mentorship
• Lead and mentor senior and mid-level engineers.
• Raise the bar on system design, code quality, and technical communication.
• Guide engineers through architectural reasoning and trade-off analysis.
• Support hiring, onboarding, and technical evaluation.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration
• Partner with product, design, and executive leadership.
• Communicate complex technical concepts clearly to non-technical stakeholders.
• Align technical execution with business goals and experiential outcomes.

Required Experience & Qualifications

• 10+ years professional software engineering experience.
• Demonstrated leadership as a Lead Engineer, Tech Lead, or Architect.
• Prior experience working at a software agency or consultancy delivering client projects.
• Proven ownership of end-to-end system architecture.
• Strong client-facing communication skills.
• Deep experience delivering production systems under deadlines.

Ideal Mindset

• Cares deeply about quality without over-engineering.
• Comfortable operating in ambiguity and evolving problem spaces.
• Equally excited by clean architecture and unconventional interactive systems.
• Values collaboration, humility, and clear communication.
• Naturally curious and eager to get hands-on—exploring unfamiliar software stacks, hardware platforms, and tools in service of building novel, real-world experiences.

Technical Skill Set

• Modern frontend frameworks (React preferred).
• Backend systems (Node.js, TypeScript, or comparable).
• API design (REST, real-time systems).
• Cloud infrastructure (AWS strongly preferred).
• CI/CD, automated testing, monitoring, logging.
• Performance, security, and fault-tolerant system design.

Work Location & Travel

• Fully remote position.
• Occasional travel required (client sites, installations, planning).
• San Diego–based candidates may work from our headquarters optionally.

What Success Looks Like

• Clear, durable architectures supporting evolving client needs.
• High-quality delivery across multiple concurrent engagements.
• Engineers growing in autonomy, judgment, and technical depth.
• Clients confident in technical direction and execution.

Preferred Experience

• Experience with interactive installations, IoT, or real-world systems.
• Background in experience design, spatial computing, or hardware-adjacent software.