Lead Software Engineering Intern

Company Description Gatherly is a modern platform designed to help student organizations and alumni communities stay connected and engaged. The platform supports networking, donations, mentorship, events, and long-term organizational continuity. By centralizing these activities, Gatherly enables communities to build stronger relationships and streamline operations. The team is focused on creating intuitive, scalable technology that enhances community impact and long-term engagement for educational institutions and their members. Role Description As a Lead Software Engineering Intern at Gatherly, you will help design, build, and maintain core features that power the platform for student and alumni communities. This unpaid role based in Austin, TX (with hybrid flexibility) involves collaborating with the founding team to implement full-stack services, APIs, and cloud architecture that support networking, events, and community tools. You will participate in technical planning, write clean and maintainable code, review peer contributions, and ensure system reliability and performance. Day-to-day work includes shipping new features, managing database performance, establishing CI/CD automation, and contributing to documentation and coding standards. You will be expected to take absolute technical ownership of specific architectural areas, manage development-to-production parity, and provide strategic input on system design and best practices. Key ResponsibilitiesArchitecture & Implementation: Drive feature velocity by building scalable web applications utilizing React, Node.js, and Next.js. Backend & Database: Design schema relations, optimize complex queries, and implement edge functions natively within Supabase. DevOps & Orchestration: Set up and manage containerized environments using Docker and Kubernetes to ensure seamless deployment. CI/CD Pipelines: Establish automated testing and continuous integration/deployment flows via GitHub Actions. QualificationsStrong foundation in Computer Science, including data structures, algorithms, and software engineering principles. Hands-on experience with full-stack software development, with mandatory proficiency in JavaScript/TypeScript environments (React, Node.js, Next.js). Deep knowledge of Back-End Web Development, including building/consuming APIs, server-side frameworks, and managed data persistence layers (PostgreSQL/Supabase preferred). Practical exposure to cloud-native tools, containerization concepts (Docker, K8s), and automated pipeline workflows (Git/GitHub Actions). Currently pursuing or recently completed a degree in Computer Science, Electrical/Computer Engineering, or a related technical field, or equivalent self-taught portfolio experience. Ability to work 15–20 hours per week (hybrid/on-site in Austin, TX), collaborate effectively in an agile team setting, and communicate technical decisions clearly. Interest in student organizations, Greek life, alumni engagement, or building community-focused products is a plus.