Team Lead, Software Development Engineering (Communications Platform)
About The Position
As a Team Lead on CarGurus’ Communications team, you will be a player-coach leading the vision for the central outbound digital messaging infrastructure. You will own platforms that deliver email, push notifications, and SMS to consumers and dealers. You will drive a multi-channel integration strategy with third-party vendors such as Iterable and Twilio, enabling downstream product groups to use self-service tools and supporting impactful messaging across CarGurus touchpoints. The role combines team leadership with hands-on technical work. You will lead architecture and development of backend systems and APIs, coach a distributed team, partner with Product Managers on roadmaps, and manage vendor integrations. You will also be accountable for messaging delivery performance, system uptime, regulatory compliance, project milestones, and communicating data-informed priorities to cross-functional partners and senior leadership.
Requirements
- At least 5 years of software engineering experience at scale, with a strong emphasis on backend system development.
- One year of people management experience, or experience leading technical direction and project management with a desire to transition into formal people management.
- Deep hands-on knowledge of Java, Java-based frameworks, and API design and management.
- Experience working in an AWS ecosystem and using debugging and monitoring tools such as Grafana and Honeycomb.
- A proven track record of explaining business value to downstream consumers and managing complex third-party vendor relationships.
- Experience with AI coding tools such as Claude.
Nice To Haves
- Direct experience or exposure to frontend technologies such as JavaScript, React Remix, and TypeScript.
- Knowledge of messaging protocols or privacy compliance.
Responsibilities
- Manage a small, distributed engineering team of direct hires and contractors while contributing to architecture decisions and the codebase.
- Lead the design, development, and maintenance of backend systems and APIs that power communication services.
- Coach team members with empathy and active listening, and build inclusive, high-trust partnerships across US-based and offshore engineering talent.
- Build tools and processes that help product teams launch messaging campaigns, and manage technical integrations with third-party platforms.
- Champion message delivery performance, system uptime, and compliance with privacy and marketing regulations.
- Partner with Product Managers to turn concepts into actionable roadmaps and own project milestones within two-week Scrum sprints.
- Use data to inform decisions and advocate for priorities with downstream partners and senior leadership.
Benefits
- Equity for all employees, including at hire and as they grow with the company.
- Career development programs.
- Corporate giving programs.
- Employee resource groups and communities.
- Flexible hybrid model.
- Robust time off policies.
- Daily free lunch.
- New car discount.
- Meditation and fitness apps.
- Commuting cost coverage.
- The role may qualify for discretionary bonuses or incentives and Restricted Stock Units (RSUs).
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Manager
Education Level
No Education Listed
