Lead Software Engineer - Austin/Plano
PowerSchool · United States
- Hybrid
- Full-time
- $170,000 / year
- United States
Job highlights
- Lead modernization of reporting platform.
- Build cloud-native, AI-augmented analytics.
- Utilize Python, TypeScript, and AWS.
- Mentor engineers and define standards.
- Partner with cross-functional teams.
About the role
About PowerSchool
At PowerSchool, we are a dedicated team of innovators guided by our shared purpose of powering personalized education for students around the world. From the central office to the classroom to the home, PowerSchool supports the entire educational ecosystem as the global leader of cloud-based software for K-12 education. Our employees make it all possible, and a career with us means you’re joining a successful team committed to engaging, empowering, and improving the K-12 education experience everywhere.
Team Overview
Our Research & Development (R&D) team is the technical talent at the heart of our product suite, overseeing the product development lifecycle from concept to delivery. From engineering to quality assurance to data science, the R&D team ensures our customers seamlessly use our products and can depend on their consistency.
We are open to hiring this position in Austin, TX or Plano, TX.
Responsibilities
Role Overview
We are launching a major modernization effort to transform our legacy single-tenant reporting framework into a multi-tenant, cloud-native, AI-augmented reporting and analytics platform. This role will serve as the technical lead for the initiative, responsible for architecture, design leadership, and hands-on development. The Lead Engineer will drive technical direction, guide the engineering team, and help define how AI is leveraged to migrate business logic and report metadata from the current system to the new platform.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead architecture and design for a new multi-tenant reporting platform built on AWS serverless technologies.
- Provide hands-on development using Python, TypeScript, SQL, and AWS services including Lambda, Step Functions, API Gateway and others.
- Develop AI-driven pipelines that extract, translate, and validate business logic and report parameter screens from the legacy platform.
- Define coding standards, best practices, and development patterns across the engineering team.
- Mentor senior and mid-level engineers; conduct design and code reviews.
- Partner with Product, Data, QA, and Architecture teams to align technical and business requirements.
- Evaluate and recommend emerging AI technologies and frameworks to optimize automation capabilities.
- Ensure platform scalability, security, tenant isolation, and operational excellence.
Qualifications
Required Skills & Experience
- Extensive experience with AWS serverless architectures.
- Expert-level proficiency in Python and TypeScript.
- Prior experience with AI for code generation, metadata extraction, or workflow automation.
- Strong SQL background; Snowflake experience is a plus.
- Demonstrated experience building or integrating AI-driven systems (LLMs, embeddings, AI agents, transformation pipelines).
- Solid experience with distributed systems, data pipelines, or modernizing legacy platforms.
- Proven leadership in technical strategy and mentoring.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience designing or operating multi-tenant platforms.
- Strong knowledge of ETL/ELT architecture patterns.
- Strong documentation, communication, and stakeholder‑management skills.
Compensation & Benefits
Compensation & Benefits
PowerSchool Offers The Following Benefits:
- Comprehensive Insurance Coverage (including Medical, Dental, Vision, Pharmacy benefits, Life Insurance and AD&D)
- Flexible Spending Accounts and Health Savings Accounts
- Short-Term Disability and Long-Term Disability
- Comprehensive 401(k) plan
- Generous Parental Leave
- Unrestricted paid time off (known as Discretionary Time Off - DTO)
- Wellness Program, including ClassPass & Employee Assistance Program
- Tuition Reimbursement
- Optional Benefits: Pet Insurance, Identity Theft Protection, Student Debt Repayment Program and Prepaid Legal coverage
A reasonable estimate of the base compensation range for this position is $92,800 - $170,300 USD. This compensation range is specific to the United States and it incorporates many factors including but not limited to an applicant's skills and prior relevant experience and training; licensures, degrees, and certifications; internal equity; internal pay ranges; and market data/range parameters.
EEO Commitment
EEO Commitment
PowerSchool is committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace. PowerSchool is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, protected veteran status, disability, age, or other legally protected status. Our inclusive culture empowers PowerSchoolers to deliver the best results for our customers. We not only celebrate the diversity of our workforce, we celebrate the diverse ways we work. If you have a disability and need an accommodation regarding our recruiting process, please let us know by emailing accomodations@powerschool.com.
Key skills/competency
- AWS Serverless
- Python
- TypeScript
- SQL
- AI/ML
- Software Architecture
- Distributed Systems
- Legacy Modernization
- Technical Leadership
- Mentoring
Skills & topics
- Lead Software Engineer
- AWS Serverless
- Python
- TypeScript
- SQL
- AI/ML
- Cloud Native
- Distributed Systems
- Software Architecture
- K-12 Education
- Reporting Platform
- Analytics
- Mentoring
- Technical Leadership
How to get hired
- Tailor your resume: Highlight AWS serverless, Python, TypeScript, and AI experience relevant to the Lead Software Engineer role at PowerSchool.
- Showcase leadership: Emphasize your technical strategy, mentoring, and architecture design skills in your application.
- Quantify achievements: Provide data on your impact when modernizing legacy systems or building distributed platforms.
- Prepare for technical interviews: Brush up on AWS services (Lambda, Step Functions), Python/TypeScript coding, and distributed system concepts.
- Understand the mission: Research PowerSchool's role in K-12 education and how your work powers personalized learning.
Technical preparation
Behavioral questions
Frequently asked questions
- What are the main responsibilities for a Lead Software Engineer at PowerSchool?
- As a Lead Software Engineer at PowerSchool, you will lead the architecture and design for a new multi-tenant reporting platform using AWS serverless technologies. You'll be involved in hands-on development with Python and TypeScript, create AI-driven pipelines for data extraction, define coding standards, mentor other engineers, and collaborate with product and data teams. Your goal is to ensure the platform's scalability, security, and operational excellence.
- What technical skills are most important for the Lead Software Engineer role at PowerSchool?
- Key technical skills for this Lead Software Engineer position include extensive experience with AWS serverless architectures, expert-level proficiency in Python and TypeScript, and a strong SQL background. Experience with AI for code generation, metadata extraction, or workflow automation is also crucial, along with a solid understanding of distributed systems and modernizing legacy platforms.
- What does 'AI-augmented reporting and analytics platform' mean in the context of this Lead Software Engineer job?
- This means the new reporting platform will leverage Artificial Intelligence to enhance its capabilities. For the Lead Software Engineer role, this involves developing AI-driven pipelines to migrate business logic and report metadata from the legacy system, and evaluating emerging AI technologies to improve automation. It focuses on using AI to make reporting and analytics more efficient and powerful.
- Can I work remotely for this Lead Software Engineer position at PowerSchool?
- PowerSchool is open to hiring this Lead Software Engineer position in either Austin, TX or Plano, TX. While the description doesn't explicitly state remote work is an option, these are the specified office locations. It's advisable to clarify the work arrangement directly with the hiring team during the application process.
- What is the typical career progression for a Lead Software Engineer at PowerSchool?
- While specific career paths vary, a Lead Software Engineer role at PowerSchool often provides a strong foundation for advancing into senior technical leadership positions, such as Principal Engineer or Architect. It also offers opportunities to move into management roles, overseeing larger engineering teams or specific product areas, leveraging the leadership and technical expertise gained.
- How does PowerSchool utilize AI in its K-12 education software, as relevant to this role?
- In this specific role, PowerSchool is using AI to modernize its reporting and analytics platform. This includes migrating business logic and report metadata using AI-driven pipelines and exploring new AI technologies for automation. Broadly, PowerSchool aims to power personalized education, and AI can contribute to features like adaptive learning and intelligent insights for educators and students.
- What is PowerSchool's approach to technical mentorship for their Lead Software Engineers?
- PowerSchool emphasizes mentorship for their Lead Software Engineers. You will be expected to mentor senior and mid-level engineers, guiding them through design and code reviews. This indicates a culture that values knowledge sharing and the development of engineering talent within the team.