Software Engineering Team Lead - Platform Services

As a Software Engineering Team Lead at DRW, your main responsibilities will include leading and mentoring a diverse team of engineers, engaging in hands-on development, driving project ownership from inception to completion, and contributing significantly to system and architecture design discussions. You’ll also foster collaboration with other development teams, ensuring they have a seamless experience with our platform services.

Candidates for the Software Engineering Team Lead role at DRW should have at least 7 years of server-side development experience using popular programming languages such as Java, Ruby, Python, Clojure, or C#. Additionally, 3+ years of leading engineers in technical environments is required, emphasizing mentoring and team management.

Desirable skills for the Software Engineering Team Lead at DRW include experience with Platform as a Service (PaaS), familiarity with Identity Access Management (IAM), and strong problem-solving abilities. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills are also essential to foster effective teamwork across our global locations.

The annual base salary range for the Software Engineering Team Lead position at DRW is between $175,000 to $275,000, depending on your experience, qualifications, and skill set. You'll also be eligible for an annual discretionary bonus and enjoy a comprehensive suite of benefits, including health insurance, 401k with discretionary match, and more.

The Platform Services team at DRW simplifies the complexities of platform integrations and infrastructure, allowing development teams to focus on their value-added responsibilities. By productizing services such as Access Management and Usage insights, they accelerate development by ensuring a consistent and efficient workflow.

When mentoring a team, I focus on fostering an environment of open communication, encouraging engineers to articulate their ideas and challenges. I prioritize regular one-on-one meetings to provide personalized support and feedback, tailoring my approach to the individual needs of team members to help them grow both personally and professionally.

Project ownership is crucial as it empowers the team to take responsibility for the entire lifecycle of their work. It includes defining requirements, setting timelines, and managing resource allocation, which creates a sense of accountability and pride in delivering high-quality results on time. I encourage my team to take initiative and proactively engage in the decision-making processes.

To foster effective communication across global teams, I leverage various tools for collaboration such as virtual meeting platforms and project management software. I also schedule regular sync-ups and encourage an open-door policy for team members to voice concerns and share updates, which helps maintain alignment despite geographical distances.

In my previous roles, I have participated in designing distributed systems, focusing on scalable architecture and ensuring robust data handling. I emphasize collaborative design sessions to challenge ideas, ensure scalability, and address potential bottlenecks early in the design phase. Experience and knowledge from past projects inform my design decisions.

I promote a culture of innovation by encouraging my team to explore new technologies and methodologies. Regular brainstorming sessions, hackathons, and code reviews promote knowledge sharing and allow everyone to contribute ideas without fear of failure. Celebrating small wins also drives motivation and reinforces the value of continuous improvement.

For conflict management, I adopt a proactive approach by addressing issues early before they escalate. I listen to all viewpoints and facilitate discussions to find common ground, focusing on data and project goals. Mediating with empathy while encouraging direct communication among team members helps resolve conflicts effectively and fosters collaboration.

In a past project, I led the development of a new microservice that streamlined our database access layer. By engaging with stakeholders to define clear requirements and establishing a project timeline, I coordinated cross-functional teams, overseeing development and testing phases. Regular feedback sessions ensured we remained on track and met our target delivery date.

To assess team performance, I utilize key performance indicators and regular feedback from peers. I conduct performance reviews that include self-assessments, allowing team members to reflect on their contributions. By identifying areas for improvement, I support tailored professional development opportunities, creating a pathway for growth for each member.

Hands-on development is integral to my leadership style. By actively participating in coding tasks and guiding team members in pair programming, I stay connected with the technical challenges they face. This approach cultivates trust and demonstrates that I am invested in both their success and the overall project goals, leading to enhanced collaboration.

To ensure smooth onboarding, I create a structured onboarding plan that includes introductory sessions, mentorship pairing, and access to essential resources. Regular check-ins in the initial weeks help integrate new members into the team, allowing them to ask questions and settle into the company culture and technology stack effectively.