Lead .Net Developer

Contract Length: 6 month, contract to hireEmployment: W-2 only (C2C not available)Visa Sponsorship: Not available for this role, now or in the future**Only candidates local to Charlotte will be considered.** Lead Software Engineer needed to drive the technical direction, architecture, and execution of scalable enterprise software solutions in a cloud-first environment. This person will lead development standards, guide engineering best practices, mentor other engineers, and help deliver AI-enabled solutions using Azure AI Services. The role is heavily focused on .NET, Azure cloud-native development, DevOps, and modern software architecture.Responsibilities:Lead the design, development, and deployment of cloud-native full-stack applications using .NET and AzureEstablish and enforce coding standards, design patterns, and architectural best practicesDrive best practices across automated testing, CI/CD, Infrastructure-as-Code, and documentationArchitect and integrate AI capabilities using Azure AI Services including Cognitive Services, ML, OpenAI, and Bot ServicesConduct code reviews, mentor engineers, and support agile delivery practicesPartner with product, QA, and cross-functional teams to refine requirements and deliver solutionsEvaluate new tools and technologies to improve software quality, security, and productivityEnsure solutions meet enterprise standards for quality, performance, and complianceMust Haves:7+ years of software engineering and architecture experienceStrong .NET experience including C# and ASP.NET CoreDeep experience with Azure cloud servicesAdvanced experience with Azure AI ServicesStrong background with microservices, API-first design, event-driven systems, Docker, and KubernetesExperience with DevOps, CI/CD, and Infrastructure-as-CodeStrong leadership, code review, testing, and problem-solving skillsExperience integrating AI features into business applications through APIs or SDKsNice to Haves:Python experienceFamiliarity with TensorFlow or PyTorchBPM experience, especially PegaExposure to Camunda or AppianFront-end experience with Angular or ReactAdvanced SQLExperience with Kafka or RabbitMQKnowledge of cloud security, compliance, and data privacy requirementsExperience in regulated industries