Job details

Lead Software Engineer (External Tools)

For over 18 years, Catalist has been a leader in civic data and data science innovation. Our mission is to provide progressive organizations with the data, software, and services needed to better identify, understand, and communicate with the people they need to engage and mobilize. Our clients include the largest, most influential organizations in the U.S. active in civic engagement, advocacy, and political campaigns.

Catalist is home to a dedicated, creative team of technologists, data scientists, and campaign experts committed to using our talents and technology to nurture a vibrant and growing progressive community.

We are looking for a dedicated Lead Software Engineer to project manage our External Tools development team. The successful candidate will play a critical role in leading development efforts, assisting other developers on the team to meet project goals, and ensuring high-quality code standards. You will play a pivotal role in ensuring the quality and consistency of our software development efforts while acting as a key technical resource within the organization.

This position reports to the Director of Software Engineering.

This position is included in our CWA bargaining unit.

Principle Duties & Responsibilities

Assist the team with meeting day-to-day tasks and completing technical aspects of the work
Act as a point of contact for technical issues, providing consultation, assistance, and mentorship to team members
Ensure the team adheres to technical best practices and meets project goals
Carry out management-directed decisions related to technical implementation and task assignments
Resolve immediate technical issues alongside the team
Actively participate in coding, troubleshooting, or designing solutions
Serve as the technical authority for all client-facing tools workflows and processes, providing insights and solutions
Oversee the client facing tools infrastructure as top-tier components: M Tool, Q Tool, CEPI, APIs, Fusion
Ensure code quality through thorough reviews, enforcing best practices, and maintaining high standards across the development team
Maintain an understanding of all tools and applications within their scope of projects
Act as a technical backup for their team
Collaborate closely with the lead developer to ensure consistency across projects and contribute to system-wide implementation decisions
Act as a bridge between their team and management, translating technical challenges into concise updates for managers

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, a related field, or the equivalent in work experience
7+ years of software development experience, with at least 2 years in a project lead role
Strong technical proficiency in relevant programming languages and technologies including Java, Python, Bash, SQL
Strong understanding of software development methodologies and best practices
Excellent problem-solving skills and the ability to work under pressure
Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, with a focus on teamwork, collaboration, and mentorship
Background check required

$114,000 - $122,000 a year

Benefits

Medical, Dental, Vision, Prescription Drug

Catalist offers Medical, Dental, Vision, and Prescription Drug coverage for eligible staff and their eligible dependents. Catalist’s Medical plan is a comprehensive PPO program including Prescription Drug coverage with 85% of the premium paid by Catalist. Dental and Vision coverage is provided at no cost to employees.

Group Term Life Insurance and Long-Term & Short-Term Disability Coverage

Group Term Life Insurance and Long-Term and Short-Term Disability coverage is available for eligible staff. These benefits are provided at no cost to Catalist employees.

401(k) Safe Harbor Plan

A 401(k) Safe Harbor Plan is available to eligible staff with a 3% contribution from Catalist from the date of hire. Employees may contribute pre-tax or post-tax from their salary up to the legal limits set forth by the IRS.

Medical and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)

Catalist offers an FSA Program that gives eligible staff the ability to pay out-of-pocket medical/dental/vision/child care expenses from pre-tax earnings.

Transit Benefits

Catalist also makes available a Transit benefit FSA program to eligible employees using pre-tax contributions with a company match.

Professional Development and Remote Work Expenses

Eligible employees may be reimbursed up to $750 each year for professional development / education and remote work expenses.

Student Loan PayDown or SaveUp

Catalist offers a Student Loan PayDown and College SaveUp benefit for eligible staff.

Vacation, Personal Leave, Sick Leave Benefits

Catalist offers generous vacation benefits to all eligible staff. Eligible employees also receive:

- 14 Paid Holidays

- Personal Days

- Sick Leave

- Parental Leave

Hybrid Office/Remote Work

Certain positions at Catalist are eligible for Office/Remote Hybrid or full Remote status.

Average salary estimate

$118000 / YEARLY (est.)

min

max

$114000K

$122000K

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What You Should Know About Lead Software Engineer (External Tools), Catalist

At Catalist, we're all about transforming civic engagement through cutting-edge data and technology. We have a strong mission to support progressive organizations in connecting with the communities that matter most to them. As we continue to grow our talented team, we're on the lookout for a Lead Software Engineer for our External Tools division in Washington, DC. In this role, you’ll be at the helm of our development team, steering projects and guiding talented developers to ensure that we're not just meeting goals, but exceeding them. With your experience, you’ll help us maintain our high standards of coding excellence while ensuring that everyone involved is growing and learning. Your responsibilities include mentoring your team, participating in hands-on coding and troubleshooting, and serving as the go-to resource for technical insights on all our client-facing tools, such as M Tool and Q Tool. You’ll also play a vital role in collaborating with management to bridge technical challenges and solutions. If you're passionate about technology and keen to lead a dynamic team, we’d love to have you aboard at Catalist – let’s shape the future of civic engagement together!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for Lead Software Engineer (External Tools) Role at Catalist

What are the key responsibilities of the Lead Software Engineer at Catalist?

As a Lead Software Engineer at Catalist, your key responsibilities include overseeing day-to-day development tasks, mentoring your team members, ensuring best coding practices, and acting as a technical authority on client-facing tools. You will also resolve immediate technical issues and collaborate closely with the lead developer to align on project goals. Your role is essential in maintaining high standards of code quality and providing insights on workflows and tools.