Technical Lead in Portland, Oregon - #71086 | VanderHouwen

Description

Job Id: 71086

Technical Lead
Our client is seeking a hands-on Technical Lead to shape the architecture, infrastructure, and delivery of a new web platform powered by an advanced retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) search experience. This role combines strategic technical leadership with active engineering contributions, guiding a small cross-functional team to build a secure, scalable, and high-performance AI-driven application.

This role is fully remote.

Technical Lead Responsibilities

• Define the overall technical vision and system architecture for a next-generation web platform featuring an AI-enhanced, RAG-based search experience.
• Architect cloud infrastructure and platform components on Google Cloud, including AI search capabilities, vector retrieval, and supporting services.
• Develop the data ingestion, embedding, and indexing pipelines that enable accurate and efficient search functionality.
• Build and maintain DevOps foundations such as CI/CD pipelines, automated builds, environment management, IAM strategies, and deployment workflows.
• Partner closely with backend developers to design and validate API contracts, integration points, and middleware layers that interface with AI services.
• Lead architectural reviews, set engineering standards, mentor team members, and ensure consistent code quality across the development team.
• Collaborate with technical leadership and production partners to translate strategy into actionable plans, estimates, and delivery milestones.
• Troubleshoot and resolve complex technical blockers to keep development moving smoothly.
• Prioritize system performance, scalability, monitoring, and security throughout the design and implementation process.

Technical Lead Qualifications

• 7+ years of hands-on software engineering experience, including leading technical direction on cloud-based application builds.
• Strong expertise with Google Cloud Platform services, including AI tooling, search components, storage solutions, service accounts, IAM management, and core networking concepts.
• Demonstrated experience architecting or implementing RAG workflows, vector search, or similar AI-powered search technologies.
• Exceptional system design capabilities with the ability to translate ambiguous goals into well-defined technical architectures.
• Proficiency in DevOps practices, including CI/CD automation, deployment pipelines, and modern cloud infrastructure operations.
• Ability to mentor engineers, conduct code reviews, and guide teams toward delivering high-quality, production-ready solutions.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to partner effectively across engineering, design, and production functions.
• Experience with Brightspot CMS—custom models, integrations, or frontend delivery workflows—is a plus.

Compensation: Up to $55-$75/hr. (DOE)

VanderHouwen Contractors Enjoy Exceptional Benefit Perks!
As an eligible contract employee with VanderHouwen, you’ll have access to a full suite of benefits designed with your well-being in mind. Our comprehensive package includes medical, dental, vision, life insurance, short- and long-term disability, and a matching 401(k) to help secure your future.

Meet VanderHouwen
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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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