Lead Developer

Lead DeveloperSt. Paul, MinnesotaFull-time/Direct Hire PositionJob LocationThis is a hybrid position with time split between the office, remote, and other relevant settings. Some travel may be required.Job DescriptionThe Lead Developer is the technical leader and delivery owner for the .NET Framework to .NET Core platform modernization initiative with our client, a medical device QMS SaaS company serving a growing regulated customer base.This is a hands-on technical leadership role. The Lead Developer drives sprint execution, sets and enforces code quality standards, and serves as the primary bridge between the Lead Application Architect’s designs and the development team’s day-to-day work. This person leads by example through active code contribution and rigorous code review—not through people management.The Lead Developer partners closely with the Lead Application Architect to translate target architecture into well-structured, executable sprint work, ensuring the team delivers with precision and quality against the modernization roadmap.The Lead Developer may also lead cross-functional initiatives related to platform modernization and AI tooling adoption.Duties and ResponsibilitiesPlatform Modernization Delivery - Lead end-to-end delivery of .NET Core modernization initiatives, including migration from legacy frameworks through production release. Translate architectural designs into actionable sprint work while driving agile ceremonies and ensuring alignment with technical standards. Maintain team momentum by proactively identifying and resolving blockers to meet delivery commitments.Hands-On Development and Code Quality - Actively contribute to the codebase while setting and enforcing high standards for code quality, testing, and security. Champion modern engineering practices such as TDD, CI/CD, and automated testing, while managing application-layer pipelines and release processes. Ensure consistency across environments and maintain a clean, well-organized code repository.Technical Mentorship and Team Development - Mentor and guide engineers across experience levels, fostering a culture of technical excellence and continuous learning. Provide hands-on coaching through code reviews, pairing, and direct support, including for remote and offshore team members. Promote effective and responsible use of AI-assisted development tools by establishing clear standards and best practices.Technical Risk and Delivery Support - Identify and mitigate technical risks related to platform modernization, including data integrity, system integration, and environment consistency. Ensure smooth coordination across development, infrastructure, and deployment activities, particularly during complex migrations and cutovers. Support release readiness, troubleshoot issues, and lead application-level triage to maintain system stability.Continuous Improvement - Drive ongoing improvements by staying current with emerging technologies and recommending enhancements to engineering practices.Document technical decisions and processes to support scalability, knowledge sharing, and long-term maintainability. Champion modern development approaches that enable efficient, reliable, and high-quality delivery.Required Experience/Skills7+ years of hands-on software engineering experience with .NET Framework and C#; strong command of object-oriented design and modern architectural patternsProven experience with .NET Core and migration strategies from legacy .NET Framework to .NET Core; working knowledge of .NET 10 and Blazor is a strong plusDemonstrated technical leadership experience: raising team code quality through code review discipline, mentoring, and hands-on example—not through people managementExperience leading technical delivery of complex projects or platform migrations in Agile environments, including sprint planning, story sizing, and dependency managementExpertise in Git and GitLab for source control, code review workflows, and CI/CD pipelines; familiarity with Jenkins in the context of a GitLab CI migrationDeep familiarity with XP practices including pair programming, test-driven development (TDD), and continuous refactoringExperience with code quality and security analysis tooling including SonarQube, static analysis, and dependency scanningProficiency with AI-assisted development tools such as Cursor, GitLab Duo, GitHub Copilot, and CodeRabbit; ability to guide practical team adoptionFamiliarity with SQL and relational database concepts (SQL Server, PostgreSQL)Strong written and verbal communication skills; able to explain complex technical concepts clearly to non-technical stakeholders and collaborate effectively across engineering, architecture, and product teamsPreferred ExperienceExperience with large-scale platform migrations or mission-critical .NET modernization projects including cloud migrationSufficient AWS fluency to reason about deployment targets, environment configuration, and infrastructure dependencies in collaboration with the DevOps/Platform Engineer—this is an active migration and the Lead Developer will be working on AWS-hosted environments from day oneExperience with performance and load testing of distributed .NET systems, including tools such as NBomberExperience with performance optimization, system integration patterns, and high-availability designExperience in medical device, life sciences, or other regulated SaaS environments (e.g., FDA 21 CFR Part 11, ISO 13485); compliance-aware development experience is a strong differentiatorPrior experience partnering closely with enterprise or lead architects to implement target architectures across a development teamFamiliarity with data migration strategies, cutover planning, and validation approaches in the context of a platform modernizationTools.Net Framework, .NET 10, C#BlazorGit, GitLab, GitLab CIJenkins (legacy CI/CD, in active migration to GitLab CI)AI coding assistants: Cursor, GitLab Duo, GitHub Copilot, CodeRabbitSonarQube (code quality and security analysis)AWS (working knowledge; environment actively migrating to AWS)Automated testing frameworks: xUnit, NBomber, PlaywrightSQL Server, PostgreSQLEducationBachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related field; or equivalent combination of education and experiencePay & Benefits SummaryPay is commensurate with experience with a competitive benefits package.