Software Development Team Lead, Lightspeed

• Experience with LLMs or agent frameworks is welcome, but not required—we’re looking for strong engineering leadership first, with the curiosity and drive to explore AI in real-world use
• Proven experience leading software engineers in a team setting
• Strong backend development skills in either Java (Spring Boot) or Python (FastAPI, Flask)
• Solid understanding of system design, scalable services, and API development
• Experience working with CI/CD, Docker, Kubernetes, and cloud platforms (AWS preferred)
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to collaborate across roles and regions
• Ability to manage complexity, make trade-offs, and keep teams focused
• Curiosity about AI/LLMs and a willingness to explore their practical use on the job
• You care deeply about helping engineers grow and succeed
• You enjoy solving complex problems through clean, maintainable code
• You thrive in environments that are still taking shape and aren’t afraid of ambiguity
• You’re passionate about AI and excited to explore its practical impact
• You’re calm under pressure and able to lead with clarity

Desirable

• We're looking for a talented Software Development Team Lead to guide and grow our Agent OC Squad—a new team focused on building and scaling AI-powered systems using LLMs, agent frameworks, and related technologies
• The team works on a mix of internal tools, product-facing AI features, and enablement efforts that help other teams adopt AI across Lightspeed
• You’ll play a key leadership role while staying hands-on
• You’ll guide a team of backend engineers, work directly on backend systems (Java or Python), and help define and deliver practical AI solutions
• As a leader, your focus will be to grow your team, support clear delivery, and bring solid engineering practices to an evolving and fast-moving domain
• Under your guidance, the Agent OC Squad will design and build intelligent tools, services, and features that support internal teams and extend Lightspeed’s product capabilities
• You’ll shape the squad’s technical direction, lead delivery, and help team members grow their impact
• Be the trusted lead and partner of a development team of 5–6 engineers, supporting their growth and day-to-day work
• Guide the design and delivery of AI-powered tools, APIs, and services that use LLMs and agent frameworks
• Stay hands-on: review code, contribute to system design, and lead by example
• Foster a collaborative, supportive, and inclusive team culture
• Ensure high-quality, maintainable backend systems—primarily in Java (Spring Boot) or Python
• Collaborate closely with product managers, designers, and other engineering leaders to align strategy and execution
• Drive technical decision-making and help define the squad’s roadmap in an emerging domain
• Continuously improve delivery processes, development practices, and team health
• Contribute to hiring by identifying and attracting strong engineering talent