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

Description

Job Id: 71896

Lead Software Engineer
Our client is seeking a high-impact, senior-level engineering leader to take full ownership of our core software platform and engineering function. This role is designed for someone who can lead, architect, and execute – not just contribute.

You will serve as the technical leader of the organization, responsible for driving platform evolution, leading a small team, and directly contributing to the codebase. This individual will play a critical role in modernizing infrastructure (Heroku ? AWS), integrating AI into development workflows, and owning end-to-end system performance and delivery.

What You’ll Do
Technical Leadership & Ownership

• Own the end-to-end delivery of the core Ruby on Rails platform (architecture, performance, reliability, and scalability)
• Lead and mentor a small team of engineers while remaining hands-on in development
• Drive technical direction, system design, and engineering best practices
• Balance coding, coordination, and strategic decision-making

Platform & Infrastructure

• Lead migration from Heroku to AWS, including infrastructure design and implementation
• Own DevOps practices including CI/CD pipelines, deployments, environments, and monitoring
• Take responsibility for production systems, incident response, and system health

AI & Innovation

• Champion AI as a core part of the development process
• Lead efforts around implementing, integrating, and debugging AI-driven code
• Help establish structured workflows that incorporate AI tools into engineering practices

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner with founders and business stakeholders to translate needs into technical solutions
• Improve operational workflows across purchasing, fulfillment, warehouse operations, and reporting
• Identify and execute on opportunities to increase efficiency, visibility, and automation

Hands-On Development

• Contribute directly to the codebase, especially for complex features and system design
• Troubleshoot production issues and optimize performance
• Modernize legacy components while maintaining business continuity

What We’re Looking For
Core Requirements

• 10+ years of software engineering experience
• Strong background in Ruby on Rails (7+ years in production environments)
• Proven experience leading teams and owning delivery (not just contributing)
• Deep experience with AWS and DevOps practices (deployments, infrastructure, CI/CD)
• Experience with or exposure to platform/infrastructure migrations
• Strong experience with Postgres or MySQL
• Ability to operate with full ownership in a complex, production environment

Leadership & Working Style

• Demonstrated ability to lead small teams and mentor engineers
• Comfortable balancing hands-on coding with coordination and leadership
• Adaptable and effective in a fast-paced, evolving startup environment
• Open to and experienced with AI-assisted development workflows

Nice to Have

• Experience with logistics, warehouse, or inventory systems
• Background in React or modern frontend frameworks
• Experience modernizing legacy systems
• Exposure to hardware integrations (barcode scanners, automation, etc.)
• Experience working with large datasets

Salary: $165K/year. (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.

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