Lead Software Developer

Henderson Companies•Kansas City, MO

About The Position

The Lead Software Developer is responsible for directing and delivering software development efforts within a defined product area. This role owns team-level execution, ensuring that product initiatives translate into clear, sequenced technical work and delivered predictably and with high quality. As both a technical leader and people manager, the Lead Software Developer directs the day-to-day work of developers, develops team capability, and ensures predictable outcomes aligned with product objectives. While remaining hands-on in complex implementation, this role balances scope, quality, timelines, and team performance within their product domain, maintaining alignment with established architectural direction.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in computer science or related field or relevant work experience required.
Minimum 8+ years of progressive professional software development experience, including prior experience operating at a Senior-level or equivalent required.
Demonstrated experience leading technical execution within a product or project team required.
Advanced proficiency in the organization’s core backend, frontend, and data technologies required.
Demonstrated ability to apply AI-enabled tools selectively and critically, validating outputs rigorously and ensuring alignment with engineering standards and delivery commitments required.
Demonstrated ability to balance delivery timelines with technical quality and long-term maintainability required.
Experience in resolving complex production issues and mitigating delivery risk required.
Effective communication skills across engineering and product stakeholders required.
Ability to operate with accountability for team-level delivery outcomes within a defined product area required.
Minimal travel (<10%) required.

Nice To Haves

Experience conducting performance management, coaching, and technical development of team members preferred

Responsibilities

Owns delivery commitments within a defined product area.
Translates product initiatives into sequenced, actionable technical work.
Assigns and coordinates development tasks across the team.
Ensures predictable execution aligned with scope, quality, and timelines.
Identifies and mitigates delivery risks.
Partners with Product team to clarify priorities and sequencing.
Conducts formal performance management and is accountable for the professional and technical growth of assigned team members.
Fosters accountability, collaboration, and professional growth within the team.
Participates in hiring, onboarding, and workforce planning efforts as needed.
Ensures solutions align with established architectural direction.
Maintains high engineering standards through design reviews and code oversight.
Balances delivery timelines with technical quality and long-term maintainability.
Escalates cross-product architectural concerns to Data and Software Development Manager when appropriate.
Designs and implements complex, multi-layered features and subsystems.
Leads technical implementation of high-risk or high-visibility initiatives.
Contributes to architectural decisions while aligning with cross-product standards.
Ensures technical solutions balance performance, scalability, maintainability, and delivery constraints.
Models disciplined development practices through hands-on involvement in critical work.