Senior Team Lead

Optibus is looking for an experienced and accomplished engineering leader to take ownership of complex, mission-critical systems and lead teams building software with real-world impact. This role is designed for strong engineers who are already confident technical leaders - people who combine deep hands-on expertise with the ability to guide, mentor, and elevate others.

You will work on a large-scale, production-grade system used by cities around the world, solving complex engineering challenges while setting technical direction and leading a team of engineers. As a Senior Team Lead, you will be accountable for both delivery and technical quality, shaping architecture, engineering standards, and team execution, while remaining meaningfully hands-on.

This is a rare opportunity to own high-impact systems end to end, lead and grow strong engineering teams, and work on AI-driven technology that shapes cities and affects millions of people worldwide.

What You’ll Work On

• Lead & Own: Take end-to-end ownership of key domains within a complex, high-impact system, driving technical decisions, execution, and outcomes.
• Technical Leadership: Lead a team of engineers through design, implementation, and delivery, setting high standards for code quality, architecture, testing, and reliability.
• Build at Scale: Remain hands-on across a modern full-stack environment (Python, TypeScript, Node.js, React, Kubernetes), contributing directly to production systems while guiding others.
• Solve Hard Problems: Tackle non-trivial engineering challenges, influence system architecture, and continuously improve performance, scalability, and maintainability.
• Grow People & Teams: Mentor and coach engineers, support career growth, and foster a culture of ownership, collaboration, and technical excellence.
• Innovate with AI: Apply AI-driven tools and practices to improve development velocity, reliability, and engineering effectiveness.

What We’re Looking For

• Experienced Engineering Leader: A senior engineer with 5+ years of professional experience, including proven experience leading engineers and owning complex production systems.
• Strong Hands-On Background:Deep experience working with modern stacks (Python, TypeScript, Node.js, React, Kubernetes) and the judgment to make pragmatic technical trade-offs.
• Technical Authority & Ownership: Comfortable setting technical direction, making architectural decisions, and being accountable for outcomes across a team or domain.
• People Leadership: Demonstrated ability to mentor, guide, and develop engineers, balancing delivery with long-term team and technical health.
• High Bar for Quality: A strong sense of engineering craftsmanship, with a track record of improving codebases, systems, and engineering practices.

About Optibus:

Optibus is a unified software platform revolutionizing public transportation planning, scheduling, and operations in over 8,000 cities worldwide. Using AI, ML, and optimization algorithms, it empowers agencies to design more efficient, equitable, and sustainable transit networks, enhancing passenger access, reducing emissions, and improving driver conditions. With offices globally and a team of 350+ employees, Optibus fosters a collaborative culture centered on innovation, determination, and impact. As the first unicorn in public transportation technology, Optibus is driving the modernization of mass transit to make it the preferred choice for cities and passengers alike.

Why Join Optibus?

• Be part of a company revolutionizing public transportation with cutting-edge technology.
• Collaborate with global teams passionate about sustainability and innovation.
• Enjoy a dynamic and inclusive workplace culture that values growth and creativity.
• We offer a hybrid work environment, with employees expected to be in the office 3 days a week. The remaining days can be worked remotely to support work-life balance and flexibility.

Optibus is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We hire talented individuals, regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, ancestry, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, cultural background, religious beliefs, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. It is our responsibility at Optibus to provide an inclusive and accessible interview experience for all. We will provide reasonable accommodations for all candidates in need of individualised support during the hiring process.