Lead Software Engineer $200,000 USD/year Pay is set based on global value, not the local market.
Most roles = hourly rate x 40 hrs x 50 weeks
Description
We're expanding platforms that support thousands of students and teams worldwide:
- TimeBack: Learning platform driving Alpha School's 2-hour educational model (99th percentile test outcomes).
- Incept: Content creation platform generating all customized educational materials for several learning tools deployed at Alpha School.
- Crossover: AI-driven recruitment platform handling tens of thousands of candidates monthly, supplying talent to schools and organizations globally.
You'll take ownership of one platform and dedicate most of your time to constructing the intricate components of the codebase with a lean team (3-5 seasoned engineers, no junior members). Your architectural choices will dictate whether other teams can swiftly develop new applications, integrate seamlessly, and deliver value to students. Execute well and you unlock enormous leverage. Poor decisions generate integration chaos and destroy momentum across multiple teams.
You design, build, and run what you create. You define quality standards and technical patterns for your platform. We operate spec-first: you plan before implementation, always design before execution. Significant autonomy, no committees, no approval panels. Compact, focused team where you own what you deliver.
What you will be doing
- Technical Leadership: Drive strategic architectural choices and define technical standards for the team.
- AI Leadership: Champion new AI workflows and develop impactful playbooks.
- Implementation: Construct the sophisticated, critical components of the codebase with your team.
- Quality Reviews: Verify your team adheres to established standards and maintains quality benchmarks.
What you will NOT be doing
- Acting as architect without hands-on implementation
- Being trapped in continuous meetings
- Managing personnel (this is a technical leadership position, not a people management role)
- Maintaining legacy systems or internal IT infrastructure
Candidate requirements
- At least 5 years of professional software development experience building software products
- At least 3 years as either a lead engineer (reviewing others' work) or architect (making key technical decisions)
- Experience working on platform-level products where other teams consumed your APIs
- Deep engagement with AI tools, actively experimenting and pushing boundaries
Meet the hiring manager
Applying for a role? Here’s what to expect.
Crossover's skill assessment process combines innovative AI power with decades of human research, to take the guesswork, human bias, and pointless filters out of recruiting high-performing teams.
Chat-style
screening interview.
Cognitive 
aptitude test.
Prove real-world 
job skills.
Interview with the hiring manager.
Accept job offer.
Pass
proctored test.
Frequently asked questions
About the role
Reviews
Meet some people who've landed similar jobs
Recruitment sucks. So we’re fixing it.
The Olympics of work
It’s super hard to qualify—extreme quality standards ensure every single team member is at the top of their game.
Premium pay for premium talent
Over 50% of new hires double or triple their previous pay. Why? Because that’s what the best person in the world is worth.
Shortlist by skills, not bias
We don’t care where you went to school, what color your hair is, or whether we can pronounce your name. Just prove you’ve got the skills.
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AI-first remote workers.