Lead Software Engineer

About Very(Remote – North America)Very is a fully distributed technology firm led by expert problem-solvers who create efficient, scalable solutions that move commercial, industrial, and consumer products from pilot to production in record time.We believe that real innovation happens in the grind — working shoulder to shoulder with clients who are building the future. Our team thrives on that energy. When we’re not helping clients deliver business-critical outcomes, we’re refining our craft and celebrating what it means to do hard things well.We’ve built a collaborative, tight-knit culture that thrives in both remote and in-person settings. We’ve won numerous workplace awards over the years, including Great Place to Work certification and recognition from Parity.org as a Best Company for Women to Advance.Our clients include well-known brands like Vizio, Peloton, Clear, iHeart Radio, and Fellowes — all determined to leverage connected devices and AI to drive meaningful impact. Our job is simple: help them win.About This RoleA Lead at Very is an individual who operates with the highest degree of knowledge and accountability for the delivery of services to our customers. They provide excellent technical leadership and delivery skills, as it pertains to complex, multi-faceted projects at Very. They have a strong executive presence, which gives major client stakeholders the confidence that we will deliver, and gives our team the confidence and accountability to do so.As a Lead Software Engineer, you will serve as the key technical architect across multiple client engagements, ensuring that each system’s design and implementation align with customer goals and business outcomes. You’ll architect modern, scalable software spanning AWS & Azure infrastructure, backend, web frontend, and mobile — and you’ll get your hands dirty in implementation. Your technical skills must meet a very high standard: you’ll set the bar for engineering excellence through high-quality, maintainable, and scalable code.At Very the key distinction between mid, senior and lead roles is the scope and depth of your expertise and responsibility. As a mid you can own and deliver tasks (work packages) with a high level of professionalism and know when to reach out for help. As a senior, you have deep expertise in your area of specialization and can execute independently in your domain while interfacing with other software stacks. As a lead you become a true full stack engineer with the ability to plan, execute and lead a team across the full software stack, while interfacing with non-software aspects of the project.This is not an easy role. You’ll work in complex domains, under real deadlines, and with clients who expect you to bring clarity, confidence, and results. If you find satisfaction in doing hard things well — in solving tough problems, building real systems, and helping others rise to the challenge — you’ll fit right in.What You’ll Be Working OnEvery engagement at Very is different, but they share one common theme: we build things that matter. From connected hardware and data systems to large-scale web and AI-driven platforms, you’ll:Serve as the key technical architect across multiple client engagements, ensuring technical strategy aligns with business goals and measurable outcomesLead architecture design across frontend, backend, and cloud layers, ensuring scalability, maintainability, and performanceContribute directly to implementation — writing production-grade code that demonstrates the standard of craftsmanship expected at VeryCollaborate across disciplines (Hardware, Data Science, and Design) to deliver end-to-end connected and intelligent product ecosystemsPartner with our commercial team as a solutions engineer, supporting pre-sales efforts, technical scoping, and estimation for Statements of WorkEstablish standards for coding, CI/CD, testing, and deployment that enable predictable, high-quality deliveryIdentify and mitigate architectural or delivery risks early through proactive technical leadershipYou’ll operate in a modern, polyglot environment that includes:Frontend: React, Vite, TypeScript, REST API, WebSockets, Progressive Web AppsMobile: React-Native, Native iOS and Android, Expo, EAS, Kotlin, TailwindBackend: Java, Dropwizard, Node.js, Python, FastAPI, DjangoCloud: AWS (Lambda, ECS, Fargate, RDS, CloudFront, CloudWatch, SNS, SQS), AzureDevOps: Docker, Terraform, Pulimi, GitHub Actions, LaunchDarklyDatabases: Postgres, Redis, TimescaleDB, DynamoDBTesting: Playwright, Cypress, PytestObservability: DataDog RUM, DataDog Logging, Request Tracing and CorrelationOutcomesDeliver Successful Programs: Lead 2+ concurrent full-stack client projects to successful, on-time delivery with high client satisfactionAdvance Delivery Standards: Collaborate with Directors and Executives to continuously raise the bar for technical quality and delivery disciplineArchitect for Scale: Define architectures that achieve measurable improvements in system scalability, maintainability, and performanceMentor and Develop Teams: Push others to elevate their technical and delivery maturity — and make them better for having worked with youSupport Growth: Partner with sales and client success teams to secure new opportunities and expand existing engagementsResponsibilitiesLead architecture reviews, ensuring technical integrity, maintainability, and securityPartner with Product Managers and Technical Leads to translate client needs into technical plans and deliverablesContribute high-quality, production-ready code, modeling best practices for implementation and testingEnsure adherence to Very’s standards for code quality, testing, and documentationCreate and maintain automated tests across all layers of the stackDevelop and manage deployments, CI/CD pipelines, logging, monitoring, and alertingSupport project health through proactive technical risk identification and mitigationParticipate in code reviews, offering constructive feedback that improves overall qualityContribute to recruitment, onboarding, and development of engineering talentRepresent Very in client meetings and at industry events as a subject-matter expertLead junior engineers on client programs through developmentRequirementsExperienceRequired experience includes:10+ years of professional software development experience3+ years in a technical leadership role overseeing cross-functional engineering teamsProven success delivering full-stack systems from concept to productionDemonstrated ability to maintain public facing production systems at scaleStrong observability to detect and troubleshoot production issuesSolid understanding of backend-for-frontend patterns and experience with tanstack react-query and axios librariesFamiliarity with feature-flag-driven rollouts, partial releases, and user segmentation strategies; LaunchDarkly experience is a plusExperience leading complex projects involving platform, backend, mobile and frontendStrong client-facing communication and executive presentation skillsProfessional services or consulting experience strongly preferredTechnical SkillsRequired:Strong frontend experience in React, Vite, TypeScript, REST API, WebSocketsStrong mobile experience in React-Native, Native iOS and Android, Expo, EAS, Kotlin, TailwindStrong experience with e2e testing with Playwright or CypressExtensive knowledge in supporting event driven cloud platforms in AWS including security, logging, monitoring, observability and performance at scale including DataDog RUM, DataDog Logging, Request Tracing and CorrelationKnowledge of state management libraries such as Redux, MobX, XState and ZustandNice-to-have:AWS experience in Lambda, ECS, Fargate, RDS, CloudFront, CloudWatch, SNS and SQSExperience working with Kubernetes deploymentsBackend knowledge of Java, Dropwizard, Node.js, Python, FastAPI, and DjangoSkilled in relational and non-relational data modelingProficient in Docker, GitHub Actions and Terraform or PulumiDatabase experience including Postgres, Redis, TimescaleDB, and DynamoDBEducationBS or higher in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or related fieldLocationPrimary residence in the continental USSkillsIn addition to experience and technical skills, these are the critical skills we look for in all technical roles, and how they should be demonstrated at the Lead level.Client Obsessed: Keeps the client’s success front and center. Measures technical choices by their business impactCommunicates Effectively: Expert communicator who informs, engages, and aligns diverse audiencesSets the Bar: Holds themselves and others to exceptionally high technical and delivery standardsThrives in the Grind: Finds energy and satisfaction in complex, high-stakes work — and helps others do the sameLeads Through Complexity: Brings clarity and direction when projects are messy, high-pressure, or uncertainThis Role Is Likely NOT a Fit IfYou prefer working in a highly structured environment where processes rarely changeYou are not comfortable working across the full stack, including cloud infrastructure and frontend componentsYou require constant supervision or detailed task breakdowns rather than owning complex problem domains independentlyYou are not interested in client-facing work or measuring technical success by business outcomesCompensationBase Compensation:USD $175,000–$185,000 per year, commensurate with experience.Variable Compensation:Up to 15% in the first year.Perks & Benefits:401k matchComprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance$200/mo cell/internet stipend$600/yr home office equipment stipendPaid parental leave (95th percentile in the U.S.)Continuing education stipend ($2,500/yr after one year)Loaned MacBook Pro and other necessary equipmentWhy Work for VeryWe do not promise an easy ride — we promise meaningful work.We work hard because our clients’ success depends on it, and we take pride in delivering when others can’t. We collaborate closely, move fast, and stay grounded in results. We take joy in the process — in the problem-solving, the iteration, and the shared wins that come from doing the hard things well.If you’re looking for a place where every project matters, where the standards are high, and where you’ll grow by pushing yourself and others — welcome to Very.IMPORTANT:We don't currently provide Visa Sponsorship. Don't apply if you require thisThis job is remote but if you’re not located in the region or country mentioned in the post’s title, do not continue. Your application won’t be reviewedInterviewing for a new company is a serious time commitment for all parties involved. Please take the time to read this and thoughtfully consider if we would be a good fit for one another. No contractors or agencies. Seriously.Note: To qualify for this role, you must reside in the US and be a US CitizenPowered by JazzHRSK2Wmzpf12