Team Lead, Software Engineering (Fullstack) at thinkahead

AHEAD builds platforms for digital business. By weaving together advances in cloud infrastructure, automation and analytics, and software delivery, we help enterprises deliver on the promise of digital transformation. At AHEAD, we prioritize creating a culture of belonging, where all perspectives and voices are represented, valued, respected, and heard. We create spaces to empower everyone to speak up, make change, and drive the culture at AHEAD.  We are an equal opportunity employer, and do not discriminate based on an individual's race, national origin, color, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, religion, age, disability, marital status, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law, whether actual or perceived.  We embrace all candidates that will contribute to the diversification and enrichment of ideas and perspectives at AHEAD.  The Software Engineering Lead is a senior technical leader responsible for defining system architecture, engineering standards, and delivery excellence across full stack platforms. You will lead complex initiatives spanning React/Next.js frontends, Python/FastAPI services, and cloud-native infrastructure in Azure or AWS. In close partnership with Product, AI, Platform, and Data teams, you will drive API-first, automation-driven, and AI-enabled solutions while mentoring engineers and ensuring operational maturity across the full software lifecycle.  Duties/Responsibilities • Own and evolve end-to-end architecture for critical digital and business applications, ensuring scalability, security, performance, and maintainability. • Define and enforce engineering standards, design patterns, and best practice across frontend, backend, and infrastructure layers. • Lead the design, implementation, and operation of backend services using Python, FastAPI, and SQLAlchemy/SQLModel. • Guide the development of high-quality, accessible, and performant user interfaces using TypeScript and React/Next.js. • Oversee CI/CD pipelines using GitHub Actions and deployment strategies using Helm and Kubernetes; partner on infrastructure-as-code using Terraform. • Architect and operate production-grade workloads in Azure or AWS, including networking, gateways, observability, and security controls. • Lead secure REST API design, versioning, authentication, authorization, and rate-limiting strategies. • Guide data modeling and performance optimization for PostgreSQL and Snowflake. • Partner with AI and Data teams on RAG pipelines, vectorization workflows, and intelligent service integration. • Mentor and coach engineers through code reviews, design sessions, and career development. • Support hiring, onboarding, and performance feedback while fostering a culture of quality, ownership, and continuous improvement. • Champion testing strategies (unit, integration, contract), secure coding practices, and production readiness (documentation, runbooks, on-call). Education and Experience • BS/BA in Computer Science, Engineering, or equivalent practical experience. • 10+ years of professional experience in full stack and cloud-native software engineering. • 2+ years in technical leadership, staff, or lead engineer role guiding architecture and team delivery. Knowledge, Skills, Abilities • Expert proficiency in Python, FastAPI, Pydantic, and SQLAlchemy/SQLModel. • Advanced skills in TypeScript/JavaScript and React/Next.js. • Strong experience with CI/CD (GitHub Actions), Kubernetes, Helm, and Terraform. • Deep understanding of Azure or AWS, networking, load balancing, SSL/TLS, and security best practices. • Proven expertise in PostgreSQL and Snowflake, including schema design and performance optimization. • Strong grasp of distributed systems, asynchronous programming, and RESTful/event-driven architectures. • Familiarity with AI integration patterns, RAG concepts, vector databases (e.g., PGVector), and agentic frameworks is a plus. • Excellent communication, stakeholder management, and cross-functional collaboration skills. Success Metrics • On-time, high-quality delivery of strategic engineering initiatives. • System reliability, performance, and security posture across production platforms. • Adoption of engineering standards, documentation, and automation practices. • Growth and retention of engineering talent through mentorship and leadership. • Measurable improvements in development velocity and operational efficiency. Why AHEAD: Through our daily work and internal groups like Moving Women AHEAD and RISE AHEAD, we value and benefit from diversity of people, ideas, experience, and everything in between. We fuel growth by stacking our office with top-notch technologies in a multi-million-dollar lab, by encouraging cross department training and development, sponsoring certifications and credentials for continued learning. India Employment Benefits include:  Comprehensive health insurance coverage for employees, with options to extend coverage to dependents Paid time off and company holidays, along with additional leave benefits as per policy Flexible work arrangements, supporting work-life balance Learning and development opportunities to support continuous growth and upskilling Employee wellness initiatives and programs focused on physical and mental well-being Retirement and statutory benefits in line with India regulations Inclusive and people-first culture, with a strong focus on collaboration and ownership