Software Development Team Lead Digital Experience

Okanagan College•Kelowna, BC

5d•CA$81,724 - CA$119,862

About The Position

The Software Development Team Lead leads the design, development, and delivery of software solutions that power Okanagan College's digital ecosystem. Building with AI, this role brings that capability naturally integrating AI-powered features, automation, and intelligent services into software solutions where they add real value. This role is hands-on and technically deeply responsible for guiding a team of developers, setting technical direction, and ensuring the College's applications, integrations, and automated services are reliable, scalable, and built to last. Reporting to the Manager, Digital Experience, the Software Development Team Lead works closely with Senior Product Coordinators to translate product priorities into technical sound, delivery-ready solutions keeping quality high, delivery moving, and the team growing.

Requirements

A four-year degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Information Systems, or a related discipline plus a minimum of 6 years of progressive, hands-on experience in software development, systems integration, cloud platforms, or enterprise architecture.
Demonstrated senior-level experience designing, building, and supporting software systems in production environments including applications, APIs, integrations, and automation platforms.
Proven experience leading or coordinating technical teams setting direction, reviewing work, mentoring developers, and driving delivery in a collaborative environment.
Strong command of modern software development practices, including cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, or GCP), DevOps, CI/CD, and contemporary architecture patterns.
Practical experience integrating AI capabilities such as generative AI, large language models, or AI orchestration frameworks into software products as a developer and technical lead.
A track record of translating product requirements and user needs into practical, well-engineered solutions ideally in a post-secondary, public sector, or similarly complex institutional environment (strongly preferred).
Strong communication skills that bridge technical and non-technical audiences, with the ability to align teams around shared technical direction.

Nice To Haves

An equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.

Responsibilities

Lead the full software delivery lifecycle, including architecture, development, integration, testing, deployment, and ongoing support, and serve as the technical authority for applications, APIs, and systems.
Set and maintain development standards, coding practices, and architectural patterns that keep the codebase clean, maintainable, and scalable.
Oversee and approve changes to production environments, including applications, integrations, configurations, and platform updates.
Drive proof-of-concept initiatives and rapid prototyping to validate new approaches and advance the team's technical capabilities.
Build software that integrates AI and automation capabilities, including generative AI, APIs, and intelligent workflows, where they meaningfully improve the product.
Evaluate AI tools, frameworks, and services for practical fit and implement them as part of modern software solutions, not as standalone initiatives.
Ensure AI-integrated features are well-engineered, tested, and maintainable, held to the same standards as any other part of the codebase.
Identify and build automation solutions that reduce manual effort, streamline institutional workflows, and improve service delivery.
Maintain and optimize live systems through performance tuning, reliability improvements, and proactive monitoring, and leads incident response when issues arise.
Ensure software initiatives connect directly to Okanagan College's digital strategy, advancing priorities around learner experience, operational efficiency, and innovation.
Collaborate with Senior Product Coordinators and Digital Experience leadership to keep technical delivery and strategic direction in sync.
Surface technical constraints, opportunities, and capability gaps that inform product and strategy decisions.
Partner with Senior Product Coordinators to translate product vision and user needs into well-engineered, high-impact solutions, with usability and accessibility considered from the start.
Champions software solutions that make a tangible difference in how students learn, how staff work, and how the institution delivers services.
Lead, mentor, and grow a team of developers by setting technical direction, reviewing work, and building a strong, collaborative team culture.
Coordinate delivery across internal developers, contractors, and technical contributors to keep work aligned and moving.
Promote a culture of continuous learning, quality craftsmanship, and pragmatic innovation within the team.
Elevate development capability across the team and institution through documentation, code reviews, and hands-on technical guidance.