Head of Engineering, Lit

The Head of Engineering at Lit is responsible for leading the technical strategy and execution of our literacy platform. This includes setting the technical direction, managing the engineering roadmap, and overseeing the development of innovative features like speech recognition. The role requires constant collaboration with product and design teams to ensure the platform meets educational goals and delivers measurable impact in classrooms.

A successful candidate for the Head of Engineering at Lit should have at least 8 years of experience in software engineering, particularly in system architecture and backend development. Familiarity with cloud infrastructure, programming languages like Node.js, and agile development methodologies are crucial. Additionally, experience in educational technology or working with diverse learners is a significant plus.

As the Head of Engineering at Lit, you play a crucial role in championing inclusive engineering practices. This involves embedding student-centered values in the development process, ensuring that the platform supports diverse learning environments and addresses the needs of all students, particularly those from marginalized backgrounds.

The Head of Engineering at Lit should expect to travel up to 25% of the year. This travel is essential for supporting partners, collaborating with the team, and fulfilling our mission of enhancing literacy education across the nation.

The compensation for the Head of Engineering at Lit ranges from $163,000 to $191,000 annually. The exact offer is based on relevant experience and location, reflecting the company’s commitment to equity and growth.

In answering this question, highlight specific examples of projects where you designed and implemented systems that could accommodate increasing user demand. Mention the technologies used and the steps taken to ensure system performance and reliability, especially within educational settings.

Discuss your experience with ASR technologies and the methodologies you would use for evaluation and integration. Explain how you would ensure accuracy and performance, especially addressing the diverse needs of young learners.

Outline a framework for inclusivity, such as conducting user research to gather feedback from diverse student populations and educators. Emphasize the importance of accessibility and how it can influence product design and user experience.

Structure your answer by setting the context of the project, detailing the specific challenges faced, and illustrating the solutions you implemented. Highlight your leadership skills and how you inspired your team through difficult phases.

Talk about your approach to prioritization, whether it's based on customer feedback, business impact, or technical feasibility. Share any frameworks or tools you leverage to ensure alignment across teams.

Discuss your experience with data collection and analysis, particularly focusing on performance metrics that influence product improvements. Stress the importance of turning data insights into actionable strategies to enhance learning.

Share your philosophy on leadership, emphasizing collaboration, empowerment, and communication. Provide examples of how your style has positively impacted your teams and project outcomes.

Describe your experience working in agile environments, mentioning specific roles and responsibilities you've held, as well as the outcomes your teams achieved through agile practices.

Provide thoughtful insights into the current landscape of EdTech, addressing issues like equity, access to technology, and the need for effective pedagogical solutions that can keep pace with digital innovations.

Connect your personal values and professional goals to Lit’s mission. Discuss your passion for education and technology, and how you envision contributing to improving literacy for underserved communities.