
Lead Software Engineer
OP Recruiting · Chicago, IL
- On site
- Full-time
- $170,000 / year
- Chicago, IL
Tailored resume — keyword-matched to this role.
Hiring manager — we find who's hiring.
Intro email — drafted to reach them directly.
Job highlights
- Lead high-concurrency video platform architecture.
- Develop low-latency networking and multiprocessing solutions.
- Oversee full software development lifecycle.
- Implement new technologies for efficiency.
- Mentor junior developers and foster quality.
About the role
About The Opportunity
We are seeking a visionary Technical Lead to drive the evolution of a global, high-concurrency video distribution and monetization platform. This role is at the heart of a massive-scale ecosystem that powers premium content delivery across every major digital and traditional broadcast medium, from mobile devices to connected TVs. You will lead the architectural direction of a mission-critical framework where performance is measured in microseconds and reliability is paramount.
Responsibilities
- Architectural Strategy: Lead the design and continuous optimization of a distributed ad-serving framework, focusing on extreme scalability and system maintainability.
- High-Performance Engineering: Drive the development of low-latency networking and sophisticated multiprocessing solutions utilizing modern Go and C++.
- Lifecycle Ownership: Oversee the full software development lifecycle, from initial prototyping and design through to deployment, quality assurance, and long-term technical support.
- Systems Innovation: Research and implement emerging technologies to improve the efficiency, observability, and resilience of globally distributed infrastructure.
- Cross-Functional Leadership: Partner with infrastructure and SRE teams to enhance system monitoring and set the strategic technical direction for product evolution.
- Mentorship: Act as a technical pillar for the engineering organization, guiding junior developers and fostering a culture of high-quality, testable code.
Requirements (Must-have)
- Academic Background: Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science or a related technical discipline.
- Leadership Experience: Minimum of 5 years in software engineering, with at least 3 years dedicated to technical leadership or architectural oversight.
- Backend Expertise: Mastery of Golang and C++, with a deep focus on network programming, concurrency models, and high-performance distributed systems.
- System Fundamentals: Comprehensive understanding of Linux/Unix environments, including advanced data structures and algorithmic foundations.
- Operational Excellence: Proven track record of designing and operating large-scale online services within an Agile/SDLC framework.
- Global Collaboration: Excellent communication skills and the ability to coordinate with international teams across multiple time zones.
Preferred Qualifications (Nice-to-have)
- Experience building mission-critical systems where high availability is essential.
- Professional background within the digital advertising or media technology sectors.
- Demonstrated history of technical innovation and creative problem-solving in high-pressure environments.
Key skills/competency
- Lead Software Engineer
- High Performance Systems
- Go
- C++
- Distributed Systems
- Concurrency
- Network Programming
- System Architecture
- Scalability
- Technical Leadership
Skills & topics
- Lead Software Engineer
- High Performance Systems
- Go
- C++
- Distributed Systems
- Concurrency
- Network Programming
- System Architecture
- Scalability
- Technical Leadership
- Software Engineering
- Backend Development
- Linux
- Agile
- SDLC
How to get hired
- Tailor your resume: Highlight your 5+ years of software engineering and 3+ years of technical leadership, emphasizing Go, C++, and distributed systems experience.
- Showcase leadership: Quantify your impact on architectural design, system optimization, and team mentorship in previous roles.
- Prepare for technical deep dives: Be ready to discuss your experience with high-performance networking, concurrency models, and Linux/Unix environments.
- Demonstrate operational excellence: Be prepared to share examples of designing and operating large-scale online services within an Agile framework.
- Emphasize collaboration: Highlight your ability to work effectively with international teams across different time zones.
Technical preparation
Master Go and C++ concurrency patterns.,Practice high-performance network programming.,Study Linux kernel and system internals.,Design distributed systems on paper.
Behavioral questions
Describe leading a complex system design.,How do you mentor junior engineers?,Share an example of driving innovation.,Discuss a time reliability was paramount.
Frequently asked questions
- What are the key technical skills required for the Lead Software Engineer role at OP Recruiting?
- The Lead Software Engineer role at OP Recruiting requires mastery of Golang and C++, with a strong focus on network programming, concurrency models, and high-performance distributed systems. A comprehensive understanding of Linux/Unix environments, advanced data structures, and algorithms is also essential. You should also have experience designing and operating large-scale online services.
- What is the expected experience level for the Lead Software Engineer position?
- OP Recruiting is looking for a Lead Software Engineer with a minimum of 5 years in software engineering, and at least 3 years dedicated to technical leadership or architectural oversight. This includes experience with full lifecycle ownership and system innovation.
- Does OP Recruiting offer opportunities for mentorship in this Lead Software Engineer role?
- Yes, the Lead Software Engineer role at OP Recruiting includes a mentorship component. You will act as a technical pillar for the engineering organization, guiding junior developers and fostering a culture of high-quality, testable code.
- What kind of systems will I be working on as a Lead Software Engineer at OP Recruiting?
- As a Lead Software Engineer at OP Recruiting, you will be driving the evolution of a global, high-concurrency video distribution and monetization platform. This involves working on a mission-critical framework where performance is measured in microseconds and reliability is paramount.
- Are there opportunities for system innovation in the Lead Software Engineer role?
- Absolutely. The Lead Software Engineer role involves researching and implementing emerging technologies to improve the efficiency, observability, and resilience of globally distributed infrastructure, contributing to systems innovation.
- What is the preferred background for candidates applying for the Lead Software Engineer role?
- Preferred qualifications for the Lead Software Engineer role include experience building mission-critical systems with high availability, a background in digital advertising or media technology sectors, and a demonstrated history of technical innovation and creative problem-solving.
- What is the work arrangement for the Lead Software Engineer position?
- The Lead Software Engineer position is available in Chicago or Denver, suggesting a hybrid or on-site work arrangement depending on the specific team and location. Further details on the exact work arrangement would be provided during the application process.