Lead Software Engineer

About the Company At Trade Me, we are dedicated to connecting New Zealanders to help them create the life they desire. From significant milestones such as finding a home, securing a job, or purchasing a vehicle, to everyday needs like locating the perfect bedside table or selling unused items, our vision is to be the first choice for Kiwis in all their pursuits. About the Role We are currently seeking two motivated Lead Software Engineers to join our dynamic Platforms team. These are permanent positions where you will play a crucial role in shaping our technical direction and mentoring an accomplished team of engineers. In this role, you will provide direct support to the Platforms team, actively contributing to key projects and becoming a valued member of our supportive engineering community. You will be responsible for creating a long-term vision for the Koru team, ensuring that it remains relevant and aligned with our organizational strategies. You will lead the advocacy and implementation of engineering best practices, including coding standards, design principles, testing methodologies, and development workflows. Collaborating closely with Principal Software Engineers and Technical Product Owners, you will help develop and implement technical roadmaps that drive our initiatives forward. Additionally, you will work with product development teams to communicate technical innovations effectively. Your contributions will also include drafting and implementing governance processes such as Guardrails, Guidelines, Architectural Decision Records, and Tech Radar. Mentoring junior engineers will be an essential part of your role, providing guidance and constructive feedback to enhance their career progression. You will embed within software delivery teams to plan, develop, test, and release complex solutions, while also collaboratively managing and reducing technical debt. You will work with the Technical Product Owner to prioritize solutions and implement, maintain, and drive remediation plans for your platform's Service Level Objectives (SLOs). Requirements To be successful in this role, you should bring the following: - A minimum of 5 years of experience in similar development roles. - Familiarity with Agile software development methodologies is preferred but not mandatory. - A deep understanding of software development principles, architecture, design patterns, and modern technologies. - Strong technical knowledge for designing scalable, reliable, and maintainable applications. - Proven ability to mentor and support junior engineers, fostering their professional growth. - Excellent communication skills, enabling you to convey complex technical concepts to both technical and non-technical stakeholders effectively. - Strong critical thinking and decision-making abilities, particularly under tight deadlines. - An openness to adopting new tools and methodologies to enhance the platform's capabilities. - Practical working knowledge of the technologies and practices that are integral to Trade Me's technical strategy. Our Commitment to Diversity At Trade Me, we believe that diversity drives progress. In our effort to address the existing inequality for women in technical leadership, we will prioritize women when filling these roles. While the successful candidates will need to meet the core criteria for the position, we will also consider skills, experience, future potential, diversity, and the unique contributions you can bring to Trade Me. We understand that some candidates may hesitate to apply if they feel they do not meet every requirement. If you are excited about this opportunity, we encourage you to submit your resume and a brief cover note explaining your interest. Benefits We are committed to fostering a supportive and inclusive environment where you can thrive. We offer: - Flexible work options, including part-time work, job sharing, and flexible hours to help you maintain a healthy work-life balance. We also provide a home office setup and utilities allowance. - Comprehensive parental leave policies that support families. - Dedicated 10% Learning and Development time for continuous learning and skill enhancement. - Wellness resources that prioritize your physical and mental wellbeing. - A strong social culture, including company-paid shared lunches, regular social events, annual awards, employee networking groups, social sports clubs, and more. Trade Me is an Immigration New Zealand accredited employer. We truly value diversity and embrace a flexible workplace that encourages everyone to achieve their potential.