Engineering Team Lead

Job description

**Keyloop bridges the gap between dealers, manufacturers, technology suppliers and car buyers.** We empower car dealers and manufacturers to fully embrace digital transformation. How? By creating innovative technology that makes selling cars better for our customers, and buying and owning cars better for theirs. We use cutting-edge technology to link our clients’ systems, departments and sites. We provide an open technology platform that’s shaping the industry for the future. We use data to help clients become more efficient, increase profitability and give more customers an amazing experience. **Want to be part of it?** The Engineering Lead is the first formal step into engineering leadership at Keyloop, bridging the role of a senior individual contributor and the people-focused Engineering Manager. This role is accountable for the technical success of a specific, complex project, establishing the technical vision, breaking complex problems into actionable plans, and guiding a team of engineers through execution. The Engineering Lead remains hands-on, contributing code to the most critical or complex parts of the project, while their primary focus shifts from personal output to the collective technical success of the team they lead, all aligned with Keyloop’s “Experience-First” philosophy. ### Key Responsibilities: Technical Leadership & Innovation - Establish the technical vision and architectural direction for a project - Lead design and code reviews, setting a high bar for quality and consistency - Remain hands-on, writing code for the most critical or complex parts of the project - Make sound technical decisions and clearly articulate the trade-offs involved - Champion the adoption of AI-empowered development tools and ensure the project team leverages them effectively - Stay current with emerging technologies and evaluate their fit for the project Execution & Delivery - Own the technical delivery of the project end to end, accountable for the outcome - Break down complex problems into clear, actionable plans the team can execute - Manage the project’s technical roadmap and track progress against the plan - Proactively identify, surface, and resolve project risks and blockers - Ensure the project consistently meets its commitments on quality and timeline - Optimize the team’s workflow through strategic use of AI and automation tools People Leadership - Provide technical mentorship and guidance, accelerating the growth of engineers on the project - Pair with engineers to solve difficult problems and elevate their capabilities - Build consensus around technical decisions through facilitation, not authority - Set an example of engineering craft that raises the standard for the whole team - Foster a culture of psychological safety, technical rigor, and continuous improvement - Guide engineers in developing AI literacy and effective use of AI tools Communication & Collaboration - Act as the primary technical point of contact for the project, interfacing with the Engineering Manager and Product - Articulate complex technical concepts clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences - Communicate project status, risks, and trade-offs openly to leadership and stakeholders - Facilitate productive design discussions that lead to clear decisions and actions - Write clear, concise technical design documents that anchor the project Product & Business Impact - Collaborate with Product to translate requirements into a coherent technical vision - Ensure the team understands the “why” behind their work and its business value - Propose alternative technical solutions that better meet customer needs or improve user experience - Balance feature delivery, technical debt reduction, and innovation within the project - Identify opportunities where AI can accelerate delivery or improve product quality What We're Looking For - 6+ years of software engineering experience with a strong technical foundation - Proven track record of leading complex, multi-sprint technical projects to successful delivery, typically as a Senior Engineer or Tech Lead