Lead Software Developer

Job description

JOB SUMMARY The Lead Software Developer plays a critical role in advancing technology solutions that support Keypath’s mission of unlocking greatness in higher education. This position provides architectural and engineering leadership for Keypath’s technology platforms and helps deliver scalable, secure, and data-driven solutions for students, faculty, and administrators. The role combines hands-on development expertise with team leadership, guiding agile scrum teams, and overseeing CI/CD and DevOps practices through Azure DevOps. It places a strong emphasis on modern capabilities, including AI, machine learning, and Microsoft Copilot, to improve engineering efficiency, velocity, and generate insights that enhance outcomes across the development lifecycle. The Lead Software Developer collaborates closely with product, data, and business stakeholders while managing multiple initiatives simultaneously. This role is ideal for a leader who thrives at the intersection of technology innovation, delivery excellence, and the unique needs of the higher education environment. ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES Lead the architecture, implementation, and operation of scalable, secure, highly available solutions across Microsoft Azure, Power Platform, and related Microsoft technologies. Perform hands-on codebase development for software applications and solutions across the technology and services catalog. Provide leadership to the Product Development team, including daily standups that maintain alignment, momentum, and productivity. Lead the design and implementation of CI/CD pipelines in Azure DevOps to support reliable, repeatable, automated deployments. Provide hands-on prototyping, code review, and mentorship to software engineers across one or more development teams. Champion the adoption and responsible use of Github Copilot and AI-assisted development practices, including agentic designs and processes. Collaborate with product owners and team leads to plan, prioritize, and deliver work across multiple concurrent projects. Ensure security, compliance, performance, and quality standards are met throughout the software development lifecycle. Support the implementation and continuous improvement of automated quality control processes. ACCOUNTABILITY Number of employees supervised: N/A Annual operating budget(s): No direct budget management responsibility Approval authority limit ($) and type: N/A WORK ENVIRONMENT Work Environment : Typical office environment. Extended periods of time sitting and working at a computer are a daily occurrence Special Physical Requirements : Lifting and moving of files and/or lifting objects of 20 to 25 pounds Travel : May require travel occasionally Minimum Requirements: Senior-level experience architecting, developing, and delivering enterprise solutions on Microsoft Azure and Power Platform. Strong hands-on experience with Azure DevOps, including project, team, process, and board configuration. Deep expertise in Azure DevOps CI/CD, deployment automation, and infrastructure as code. Practical experience delivering AI and machine learning solutions in Microsoft Azure, including Microsoft Copilot, Azure AI Foundry, and Azure AI Services. Proven success leading agile and scrum teams and driving iterative delivery. Ability to lead multiple initiatives at once while balancing technical depth, delivery excellence, and stakeholder expectations. Excellent communication, collaboration, and leadership skills, with the ability to influence technical and business stakeholders. Education: Bachelor’s Degree or higher, preferably in a Computer Science, Technology, Mathematics or Statistics related discipline Experience: 7+ years of software engineering experience delivering enterprise solutions, with a proven history of leading successful cloud and platform initiatives that improve outcomes for business and technical stakeholders. 5+ years of experience designing and implementing cloud-based applications, integrations, automation, and platform capabilities using Microsoft Azure, Power Platform, and related Microsoft technologies. 5+ years of experience leading software engineering teams and technical projects, including mentoring engineers, guiding delivery practices, and driving execution across multiple workstreams. Experience applying engineering and solution design practices, including requirements analysis, technical planning, architecture evaluation, troubleshooting, root cause analysis, and development of actionable implementation recommendations. Strong problem-solving and technical leadership skills, with the ability to evaluate complex systems, make sound engineering decisions, and quickly learn and apply new tools, platforms, and development practices. Experience delivering AI, machine learning, and intelligent automation solutions, with hands-on familiarity using Microsoft Copilot, Azure AI Foundry, Azure AI Services, or equivalent modern AI development tools. Experience establishing and maintaining security, governance, compliance, and risk management standards within cloud platforms, CI/CD pipelines, and engineered application architectures. Excellent communication skills, with the ability to translate engineering concepts, architectural decisions, delivery risks, and technical tradeoffs for both technical and business audiences. Technical Skills: Deep knowledge of enterprise application development and cloud engineering technologies, including Microsoft Azure, App Services, Azure Functions, Logic Apps, API integrations, Azure Storage, SQL Server, and Azure SQL. Strong experience with Microsoft Azure DevOps, including boards, repos, pipelines, test plans, release workflows, team configuration, and agile project delivery practices. Hands-on experience with CI/CD and deployment automation technologies, including Azure Pipelines, YAML-based pipeline configuration, Git version control, pull request workflows, and infrastructure as code using tools such as Bicep, ARM templates, or Terraform. Experience with Microsoft Power Platform technologies, including Power Apps, Power Automate, Dataverse, Power BI, Fabric, custom connectors, and environment governance and deployment practices. Experience with Microsoft Azure security, identity, and governance capabilities, including Key Vault, Managed Identity, Microsoft Entra ID, role-based access control, policy management, secrets management, and compliance-oriented design practices. Experience and proficiency in building software solutions with languages and frameworks such as C#, .NET, Python, JavaScript, TypeScript, REST APIs, and modern service integration patterns. Experience with AI, machine learning, and intelligent automation platforms and tools such as Azure AI Foundry, Azure AI Services, Azure Machine Learning, Microsoft Copilot, prompt engineering practices, and agent-based solution design. Management : N/A Special Requirements Specific to Job : Think logically and be able to articulate thoughts in a clear, concise manner. Comfortably work both individually and as part of a group. Take ownership of assignments and see them through completion. Quickly learn and adapt when dealing with unfamiliar systems and applications. Be able to communicate clearly and effectively with Directors and co-workers. Meet deadlines and complete work in a timely manner. Be willing to go the extra mile to get the job done, including occasional overtime. Display exceptional follow-through, personal drive and the desire to make a difference. Contribute to and participate in an open environment with a team that likes to have fun at work. Preferred Qualifications An understanding of the Higher Education and Post-Secondary Education sector At Keypath, our salary structure and compensation philosophy reflect the value we place on our employees. We pride ourselves on offering a competitive and fair total rewards package that considers the market. The salary range for this position is between $125,000 - $146,000. The starting salary will fall somewhere in this range and will be determined by various factors such as experience, location, market conditions, and departmental budgets. You will have the opportunity to discuss your salary expectations during the interview process. Keypath partners with SmartRecruiters and uses AI technology with SmartAssistant to efficiently screen, source, and match candidates using data and algorithms. Benefits Include Competitive array of Medical, Vision and Dental Tuition Reimbursement Partner Degree Program - earn a free degree from one of our partner institutions 401 (k) Retirement Matching Contributions Paid Leave Policies Paid Holiday Week Shutdown in December Family Flex Program 2 Mental Health Days per year Volunteer Time Off Professional Development Programs Remote/Flexible Work Options Want to make a difference in the world? Become a Keypather. Apply today A little bit about us Our people (Keypathers!) are working across North America. Currently, we’re working in many of the United States and provinces of Canada, either in our physical offices (Schaumburg and Toronto) or virtually from home. You can choose where to work if you live near one of our offices. Either way, we’ll support you in doing your best work from your home office. Keypath Education is a leading global edtech company that partners with the world’s leading Universities to create innovative and in-demand online education programs and champion the student journey from enrolment to graduation. We are a rapidly growing, fast-moving international team who value community, collaboration, innovation, and lifelong learning. Certified as a Best Place to Work by the Chicago Tribune, our in-country office is in Schaumburg, Illinois. We’re growing fast, and our US team is now made up of close to 300 full-time employees. We gather teams of experts from digital marketing, course development, web development, finance, and student service backgrounds to support university partners in the US and around the world. Keypath Education is an equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate against applicants or employees and ensures equal employment opportunity for all persons regardless of their race, creed, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy, national origin, age, marital status, disability, citizenship, military or veterans’ status, or any other classifications protected by applicable federal, state or local laws. Keypath’s equal opportunity policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including but not limited to recruiting, hiring, training, promotion, job benefits, pay and dismissal. #INDP Make a world of difference. Want to make a difference in the world? Become a Keypather. From guiding the student experience, to delivering programs that meet the needs of the future-of-work and help solve our global social and economic challenges, every one of our people (Keypathers!) create impact, every day.