Challenger Limited is an ASX-listed investment management firm managing $128 billion in assets (as at 31 March 2026). Life with us is fast moving and always exciting. Together we’re driving to deliver our vision to provide our customers with financial security for a better retirement.
We achieve this goal by providing a work environment where people from diverse backgrounds, with a range of skills and experiences can contribute and succeed.
Lead Software Engineer – React
The Opportunity
The Lead Software Engineer (React) will help shape Challenger's next generation of digital experiences. Working within the Digital team and supporting the Customer Technology Uplift (CTU) programme, you'll lead the greenfield development of a modern, scalable React platform that delivers intuitive, secure and connected experiences.
As Challenger's React subject matter expert, you'll combine hands-on engineering with technical leadership - building the portal framework, component libraries, engineering standards and CI/CD pipelines that future teams will build on, while staying actively involved in coding, code reviews and solution design. You'll work closely with Product, Architecture, Design and Accenture delivery teams, translating technical decisions into terms the wider business can act on - leading through influence.
This role will set the technical foundations for Challenger's greenfield digital capability - defining the architecture, engineering standards and delivery practices that future portal experiences will be built on.
Key Responsibilities
Architecture & Standards
Lead the design and ongoing evolution of Challenger's React portal architecture, frameworks and engineering standards
Own the technical integrity of the React platform as new capabilities are introduced, partnering with Solution Architects, Designers and delivery teams on scalable, secure, maintainable solutions
Shape decisions on React, micro-frontend architecture, API integration, authentication and platform scalability
Evaluate new technologies and engineering approaches to improve quality, performance and developer productivity
Hands-On Delivery & Quality
Design and maintain high-quality React applications and reusable front-end components, staying actively involved in coding, code reviews and troubleshooting
Review and validate code quality across development teams, including AI-assisted development outputs, ensuring adherence to engineering standards
Establish and maintain shared component libraries and development patterns that enable scalable delivery across multiple portal experiences
Integrate front-end applications with enterprise APIs and Backend-for-Frontend (BFF) patterns, working with identity, security and backend teams to deliver seamless customer experiences
Design and implement CI/CD pipelines and quality controls — testing, code review, security and release management that support secure, automated, reliable delivery
Identify and resolve performance, scalability, accessibility and maintainability issues, and support observability and operational readiness across portal environments
Partnership & Influence
Provide technical leadership and informed challenge to engineering teams and delivery partners, including Accenture, acting as a credible counterpart in design and delivery discussions
Communicate technical trade-offs clearly to Product Owners and non-technical stakeholders, translating architectural decisions into business impact
Lead delivery through influence rather than direct reports — setting direction and standards that Accenture and internal teams build against
Help establish Challenger's internal capability and technical ownership within the portal programme as it matures
The Team
This role reports to the Product Owner, Digital, and forms part of the Digital team and Customer Technology Uplift (CTU) programme. You'll work closely with Product Owners, Solution Architects, UX/UI Designers, Technology Delivery Leads, Integration teams and Security specialists, and partner extensively with our technology partner's engineering teams - operating as an embedded technical lead alongside on and offshore delivery resources.
While the role initially has no direct reports, it is expected to take on responsibility for a developer as the internal React capability grows.
About You
Significant proven hands-on experience designing, building and supporting enterprise-scale greenfield developments of React platforms, establishing the foundational architecture, application framework and reusable component libraries
Deep expertise in modern React architecture, including component composition, custom hooks and local, shared and server-state management, with the ability to select and govern patterns that support scalability, maintainability and performance
Experience establishing front-end frameworks, engineering standards, reusable component libraries and development guardrails
Experience integrating front-end applications with enterprise APIs and Backend-for-Frontend (BFF) architecture patterns
Exposure to AI-assisted software development tools and experience governing or validating AI-generated code
Experience designing and implementing CI/CD pipelines and automated software delivery processes
Experience conducting code reviews and maintaining engineering quality standards
Demonstrated ability to balance hands-on development with technical leadership - influencing technical decisions and providing informed challenge to engineering teams, delivery partners or systems integrators
Experience delivering customer, adviser or self-service digital portal solutions
Experience working within large-scale digital transformation or platform modernisation programmes
Tertiary qualification in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Information Technology or a related discipline, or equivalent industry experience
Why Join Challenger?
You'll join Australia's leading investment management firm - a business with a clear vision to deliver customers financial security for a better retirement. As Challenger's React subject matter expert, you'll set the technical foundations for a brand-new digital capability, with the scope to shape architecture, standards and delivery practices from day one.
For an engineer seeking greater strategic influence, genuine greenfield ownership and the chance to build something that scales, this is a rare opportunity to leave a lasting technical footprint.
We provide access to a range of exclusive employee benefits that will support you both personally and professionally and a hybrid work environment including.
Discretionary bonus scheme
Employee share plan
Eighteen weeks paid leave for all new parents
Flexibility on when, and how, parental leave is taken
Challenger Day – one extra day off every year in recognition of the effort our people make
Subsidised on-site café and fantastic central location a stone's throw from Martin Place Metro
Additional support leave (fertility treatment leave, gender affirmation leave)
Access to Fitness Passport
#LI-KM1
#LI-Challenger
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Challenger's employee value proposition guides how we work: Grow and realise your potential, supporting each other, stronger together and making things happen. Our culture encourages curiosity, considered thinking and meaningful contribution, with opportunities to build a broad and rewarding career.
We are committed to fostering a safe, inclusive and respectful workplace where people of all backgrounds, identities and ways of thinking can thrive, and promoting flexible working to support work-life balance.
Challenger is proud to be a Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA) Employer of Choice for Gender Equality, a Family Friendly Workplace and recognised as a Bronze Employer in the Australian Workplace Equality Index (AWEI), the national benchmark for LGBTQ+ workplace inclusion.
Job type:
PermanentPosting Close Date :
16/10/2026Skills Required
- Significant hands-on experience designing, building and supporting enterprise-scale greenfield React platforms
- Deep expertise in modern React architecture, including component composition, custom hooks, and state-management patterns
- Experience establishing front-end frameworks, engineering standards, reusable component libraries and development guardrails
- Experience integrating front-end applications with enterprise APIs and Backend-for-Frontend architecture patterns
- Exposure to AI-assisted software development tools and experience governing or validating AI-generated code
- Experience designing and implementing CI/CD pipelines and automated software delivery processes
- Experience conducting code reviews and maintaining engineering quality standards
- Ability to balance hands-on development with technical leadership and influence engineering teams or delivery partners
- Experience delivering customer, adviser or self-service digital portal solutions
- Experience working within large-scale digital transformation or platform modernisation programmes
- Tertiary qualification in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Information Technology or a related discipline, or equivalent industry experience
What We Do
Challenger Life is Australia’s largest provider of annuities and provides regular income to thousands of customers. We’re a multi-award-winning Life Company and have $23 billion in assets under management (as at 30 June 2023). Challenger is focused on providing customers with financial security for retirement. We do this by offering investment strategies that exhibit consistently superior performance, and by helping customers in retirement with safe and reliable income streams. As Australia’s largest annuity provider, we provide regular income payments to thousands of Australian retirees. Our lifetime annuities protect retirees from the risk of running out of money late in life. The regular retirement incomes we pay are backed by a high-quality investment portfolio, including fixed income and commercial property investments. These investments generate regular and predictable investment income, which we use to fund retirement incomes paid to our customers. For our social media disclaimer statement, visit: http://www.challenger.com.au/Disclaimer
