Lead Software Engineer in Chicago, Illinois - #71896 | VanderHouwen

Description

Job Id: 71896

Lead Software Engineer
Our client is seeking a highly hands-on Lead Software Engineer to guide a small engineering team while actively contributing to the development of a mission-critical internal platform. This individual will focus on executing technical direction, building scalable solutions, and driving day-to-day development efforts in close partnership with company leadership. The ideal candidate thrives in a fast-paced environment and enjoys turning defined business needs into reliable, high-impact software.

This role is a hybrid model in Portland, Oregon or Chicago, Illinois.

Lead Software Engineer Responsibilities

• Lead and support a small engineering team through hands-on development, technical guidance, and day-to-day collaboration.
• Design, build, and enhance core application features that support critical business operations.
• Translate business requirements into clear technical solutions and execute on defined priorities.
• Own delivery of key initiatives from development through deployment and ongoing optimization.
• Maintain and improve application performance, scalability, and reliability.
• Troubleshoot production issues and implement sustainable fixes.
• Establish and reinforce best practices across code quality, testing, and deployment.
• Identify inefficiencies in existing systems and implement practical improvements.
• Collaborate closely with leadership to align engineering output with company goals.
• Contribute directly to the codebase, including complex feature development and system design.

Lead Software Engineer Qualifications

• 8–10+ years of professional software engineering experience.
• Strong experience building and maintaining production web applications, ideally within Ruby on Rails or similar frameworks.
• Proven ability to lead technical efforts while remaining deeply hands-on in development.
• Experience working with relational databases such as PostgreSQL or MySQL.
• Proficiency in building and integrating APIs.
• Strong understanding of version control systems and collaborative development workflows.
• Experience supporting live applications, including debugging and resolving production issues.
• Ability to convert non-technical requirements into practical engineering solutions.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to work closely with non-technical stakeholders.
• Comfortable operating in a fast-moving environment with evolving priorities.

Salary: (DOE)

Benefits
Benefits are available to eligible full-time employees and include coverage for medical, dental, vision, life insurance, short and long term disability, and matching 401k.

Meet VanderHouwen
What kind of recruiter do you see yourself working with? One who prioritizes your best interest, no matter what? VanderHouwen does, and we’re in it for the long game! Our recruiters focus on YOU, building meaningful, long-term relationships while developing a deep understanding of companies’ staffing needs and workplace cultures. This approach helps us find an ideal job match that aligns with your unique career aspirations and goals.

VanderHouwen is an award-winning, Women & Diversity-Owned, WBENC certified professional staffing firm. Founded in 1987, VanderHouwen places experienced professionals across the nation! Our recruitment teams specialize in either Technology and IT, Engineering, Human Resources, or Accounting and Finance career markets. Partner with us to land your next exciting career!

VanderHouwen is an Equal Opportunity Employer and participates in E-Verify. VanderHouwen does not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or any other characteristic protected by applicable local, state, or federal civil rights laws.

#LI-Hybrid