The Role
Lead the technical direction and execution of AI-first products, designing and operating Python backend services, APIs, asynchronous distributed systems, and LLM-powered workflows. Mentor engineers, guide architecture, establish quality and observability standards, collaborate with product and design, and remain hands-on in production development. The role requires ownership of complex systems from design through delivery in a fast-moving, ambiguous environment.
Summary Generated by Built In
About the client
Our client is a global SaaS company building field service management software for trades businesses. This role joins a small, founder-led team that operates at startup speed inside the company, building AI-first products embedded directly in the core workflows customers use every day.
About the role
We are looking for a high-caliber Tech Lead to own the team's technical direction and execution. This is not a maintenance role: from day one you will own backend-heavy production systems and AI-driven workflows, making real architectural decisions with real consequences. You will stay deeply hands-on while helping the team make sound decisions, stay focused and ship. If you have built something from 0 to 1 and already can't stop thinking about the next thing you want to build, this role is for you.
What you'll do
- Technical direction: own the team's architecture, balancing immediate product needs with long-term system design.
- Backend and APIs: design, build and run production backend services and APIs in Python, end to end.
- AI-enabled systems: lead the design and delivery of workflows that integrate large language models and agent-style architectures, with clear ways to evaluate quality, reliability, latency and cost.
- Distributed systems: architect and operate asynchronous, event-driven systems, identifying risks and balancing performance, reliability and delivery speed.
- Team delivery: work with product and design to turn ambiguous goals into technical plans, break down complex work, surface risks early and unblock engineers.
- Mentoring: coach engineers through design, implementation and production challenges while staying an active contributor to the codebase.
- Full stack: contribute to frontend work when needed, with a clear focus on the backend.
- Engineering quality: set practical standards for code quality, testing, observability and production readiness, leading by example in code and design reviews.
Tech environment
Python • Backend services and APIs • LLMs and AI agents • Event-driven and distributed systems • AI-assisted development tools
Requirements
Required
- 5+ years of hands-on production experience with Python and backend system design, including systems you have built, shipped and operated.
- Proven experience leading engineers to deliver complex systems in fast-moving environments with high ownership and minimal process.
- Experience leading a team or a significant engineering initiative from design through production, and owning the technical outcomes.
- Solid understanding of asynchronous architectures and event-driven systems, and of operating distributed systems in production.
- Experience building AI-enabled products, or a demonstrated obsession with LLMs, agent frameworks and AI-powered workflows and the curiosity to go deep fast.
- Daily use of AI-assisted development tools and the ability to help the team use them effectively.
- Comfortable with ambiguity: able to set direction, make decisions and move the team forward without heavy guidance.
- Advanced written and spoken English (CEFR C1 or equivalent), with the ability to lead technical discussions, push back constructively and align engineering, product and design.
Preferred
- Startup or greenfield (0 to 1) experience.
- Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering or a related field.
Benefits
- Permanent contract (contrato a término indefinido) with all legal benefits
- Competitive salary
- Private health insurance (medicina prepagada)
- Relocation bonus to Medellín
- On-site role in Medellín with parking
Skills Required
- 5+ years of hands-on production experience with Python and backend system design
- Experience building, shipping, and operating production systems
- Proven experience leading engineers to deliver complex systems in fast-moving environments
- Experience leading a team or significant engineering initiative from design through production
- Strong understanding of asynchronous architectures and event-driven systems
- Experience operating distributed systems in production
- Experience building AI-enabled products or strong knowledge of LLMs, agent frameworks, and AI-powered workflows
- Daily use of AI-assisted development tools
- Ability to work independently in ambiguous environments and set technical direction
- Advanced written and spoken English at CEFR C1 or equivalent
- Startup or greenfield 0-to-1 experience
- Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field
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The Company
What We Do
Roca Alliances is a consulting agency dedicated to helping global companies build geographically diverse teams and scale their operations by outsourcing or nearshoring to Latin America. With over 15 years of expertise, the company utilizes a proprietary approach to analyze, assess, and identify ideal locations across the Americas, fostering growth and scalability for clients in various industries including technology, media, and marketing.
