About BLEN
BLENers are passionate about using technology to solve real-world problems. For over 20 years, we've been helping government agencies and businesses transform their digital experience. We bring fresh perspectives to every project, from modernizing legacy systems to building cloud-native applications to experimenting with technology that's just around the corner. We value building long and enduring partnerships to solve complex challenges by putting humans at the center of all the experiences. Our team thrives on turning tricky problems into solutions that are practical, accessible and performant.
About this position
As a Lead Software Developer at BLEN, you will play a crucial role in leading and mentoring our development team, including Senior Software Developers. You will be responsible for overseeing the technical direction of projects, making high-level architectural decisions, and ensuring the delivery of high-quality, scalable solutions. This position requires exceptional technical expertise across the full stack, strong leadership skills, and the ability to drive innovation in areas such as cloud services, AI, and emerging technologies.
What we would like from you
Technical Leadership and StrategyLead the overall technical strategy and architecture for complex, large-scale projectsMake critical decisions on technology stack, frameworks, and methodologiesOversee and approve system designs and architectural choices made by team membersDrive the adoption of new technologies and best practices across the development team
Team Management and MentorshipDirectly supervise and mentor a team of developers, including Senior Software DevelopersConduct performance evaluations and provide career development guidanceLead technical interviews and make hiring decisions for the development teamFoster a culture of continuous learning, innovation, and technical excellence
Project Oversight and DeliveryOversee multiple projects simultaneously, ensuring they meet quality standards and timelinesCollaborate with project managers and stakeholders to define project scopes and timelinesIdentify and mitigate technical risks across projectsEnsure smooth integration between different components and teams
Innovation and R&DSpearhead research into emerging technologies and their potential applicationsLead the development of proof-of-concepts and prototypes for innovative solutionsDrive the integration of AI and machine learning capabilities into our products and servicesEvaluate and implement cutting-edge AI services and APIs from providers such as OpenAI, Anthropic, Cohere, and Google VertexAIGuide the use of high-level AI frameworks such as Hugging Face Transformers, FastAI, or Keras for rapid prototyping and development
Client and Stakeholder ManagementAct as the primary technical point of contact for high-profile clients and partnersPresent complex technical concepts and strategies to non-technical stakeholdersCollaborate with business leaders to align technical strategies with business goals
Basic qualifications
Essential Requirements12+ years of software engineering experience, with at least 5 years in a leadership roleExtensive full-stack development expertise, with mastery in multiple languages such as Python, Fast API, Flask, TypesScript (React, Node.js), Java, or RustProven experience in designing and implementing large-scale, distributed systemsDeep understanding of cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, or GCP) and their advanced servicesStrong background in AI and machine learning, including experience with large language models (LLMs) and modern AI frameworksHands-on experience with AI/ML technologies such as PyTorch, TensorFlow, JAX, or Hugging Face TransformersProficiency in developing working with pre-trained models and fine-tuning for specific tasksExperience integrating AI services and APIs from major providers (e.g., OpenAI, Anthropic, Google VertexAI) into production systemsExpertise in system architecture, design patterns, and software development best practicesExperience with DevOps practices, CI/CD pipelines, and infrastructure as code (e.g., Terraform, Pulumi)Strong understanding of data modeling, both for relational and NoSQL databasesTrack record of successfully leading and mentoring development teams
Preferred Skills and ExperienceExperience in government or highly regulated industry projectsContributions to open-source projects or thought leadership in the tech communityExperience in implementing microservices architectures and event-driven systemsKnowledge of advanced AI paradigms such as RAG, few-shot learning, self-supervised learning, etc
Requirement
Must be a US Citizen or legal resident and able to work domesticallyMust be located in the United StatesMust be able to attain low-level security clearance
Perks
Work from anywhere.Competitive pay.A contribution to your health benefit.The chance to work on high-visibility projects and make a significant impact.
Get to know us
We are a small, creative and highly technical team.Our heroes are the scrappy folks that dare to dream and do great things. We love people that care more about doing the right thing than taking a shortcut.We believe in finishing projects and floor our clients by how much we cared about their project.We believe in integrity and because we're small, we are very selective of our partners and clients.We do not use phrases like 'human resource' because you are NOT a resource. You are a team member and we will treat you like one.
What you should expect from us
We will treat you fairly.We give you space to grow both personally and professionally.We will hear your ideas even when we disagree -- especially when we disagree.We will be equitable with our success and be honest with our challenges.We will always tell you the truth. Even when the truth is difficult.
We participate in E-Verify. Upon hire, we will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S. Due to the nature of our work with the federal government, all roles at BLEN are required to work from the contiguous United States.
