Platform Tech Lead

Generate KiwiSaver Scheme; Auckland; On-site; NZD 140,000 - 200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

KiwiSaver contribution

Gym discount

Corporate benefits

Wellbeing committee

Training & development

Central Auckland office

Job summary

Generate is seeking a Tech Lead in Auckland to balance leadership with hands-on backend engineering expertise. You will lead the squad, guide architectural decisions, and collaborate with Design and Product Managers to translate requirements into deliverables.

The role emphasizes secure and scalable API development and production support. You will mentor team members, conduct code reviews, and contribute to technical documentation while driving continuous improvement in an agile environment.

Qualifications

• Degree in Computer Science or a related field.
• 7+ years of software development experience across front-end and back-end.
• 2+ years in a leadership or management role.
• Hands-on experience with agile methodologies and Jira.

Responsibilities

• Lead the squad and provide technical guidance to ensure effective delivery.
• Collaborate with Design and Product Managers to translate business needs into actionable development plans.
• Lead code reviews and maintain thorough technical documentation.
• Support production applications, APIs, and incident management.

Skills

Leadership

Agile methodologies

Team management

Problem solving

Documentation

Education

Degree in Computer Science or relevant field

Tools

Jira

Vue.js

Nuxt 3

NodeJS

Typescript

Job description

About Us

We are a proudly New Zealand-owned, award-winning KiwiSaver and wealth manager. Our mission is to educate and empower our customers to make sound financial decisions and achieve strong long-term performance. With a relentless focus on these goals, we are dedicated to growing Kiwis' wealth and helping them attain better financial outcomes in retirement. At our core, we are a purpose-driven business, caring deeply about making a difference. Our passionate team plays a crucial role in bringing our mission to life. We foster a culture of idea-sharing and empowerment, encouraging our people to lead initiatives that positively impact our business, community, and members.

The Role

The Tech Lead is responsible for balancing leadership responsibilities with hands‑on technical expertise of a Senior Backend Engineer through to delivery. This will be achieved by initially leading the Squad, ensuring the delivery of high-quality software products, and fostering a collaborative work environment. The Tech Lead provides technical guidance and contributes to the development and support of applications, while actively participating in technical tasks to drive project delivery and overall success in partnership with the Product and other cross‑functional squads.

Technical Roadmap & Execution

• Provide insights and feedback from a Technology lens to support the Platform Squad in developing the technical roadmap.
• Lead the implementation of technical initiatives outlined in the roadmap, ensuring alignment with squad capabilities and goals.
• Lead the squad ensuring understanding and commitment to objectives.

Squad Operations

• Lead the squad, providing technical guidance and leadership to ensure effective execution through agile methodologies and modern development technologies.
• Work closely with the Design and Product Managers to understand business needs and product requirements, translating these into actionable development plans that align with business objectives.
• Take responsibility for the applications and platforms developed and supported by the squad, utilising a robust incident management process to support and address questions and production issues promptly.
• Assign tasks and responsibilities using Jira to streamline workflow, monitor progress, and ensure timely delivery of milestones.

Technical Delivery

• Collaborate with the Design and Product Managers to build applications and new functionality on the supported platforms.
• Provide comprehensive support for production applications and APIs, including performance monitoring, troubleshooting, and addressing user inquiries, in partnership with Product.
• Develop secure and efficient APIs following industry best practices to ensure robust and scalable integration solutions.
• Conduct thorough testing to ensure software responsiveness, efficiency, and reliability, supporting the full lifecycle from development to production.
• Support acceptance testing and ensure seamless software releases.
• Actively participate in design and planning sessions, offering technical insights and ensuring alignment with Platform Squad's objectives and timelines.
• Lead code reviews to uphold high-quality coding standards, identifying areas for improvement and fostering continuous technical enhancement.
• Create and maintain detailed technical documentation, ensuring all system and process changes are clearly recorded and accessible.

Leadership

• Lead by example, consistently role modelling the Generate values and leadership behaviours.
• Provide leadership and guidance to direct reports, building and developing a high-performing squad engaged with the company vision.
• Identify resourcing needs to support the squad/business strategy, including recruitment and onboarding for high performance.
• Identify and deliver opportunities to share functional knowledge with the wider Generate team, fostering a one-team mindset and cross‑functional understanding.
• Provide timely and constructive feedback to squad members and engage in courageous conversations when necessary.
• Build squad capability, ensuring successors are developed for key roles and supporting individuals in achieving their career aspirations.
• Ensure regular and effective performance management and active development of the team.

Qualifications (or equivalent level of learning)

• Degree in Computer Science or relevant field.

Experience

• 7+ years' software development experience, with a strong understanding of both front-end and back-end technologies.
• 2+ years' experience in a leadership or management role.
• Hands‑on experience with agile methodologies and tools such as Jira.
• Experience in developing, deploying, and maintaining web and mobile applications.

Skills & Knowledge

• Technical Proficiency: Deep understanding of software development principles, including secure coding practices, API development, and software testing.
• Programming Languages & Frameworks: Proficiency in programming languages and frameworks, specifically Vue 2 or 3, Nuxt 3, NodeJS, Typescript.
• Cloud Services: Experience with AWS services (e.g., API Gateway, Lambda, Connect).
• Serverless Frameworks: Experience with Serverless frameworks such as Serverless, SAM, or SST.
• Source Control: Proficiency with source control tools like GitHub.
• Infrastructure as Code: Solid understanding of Terraform.
• Project Management: Strong skills in project management, task prioritisation, and resource allocation.
• Problem Solving: Excellent problem‑solving skills, with the ability to troubleshoot complex issues effectively.
• Documentation: Strong documentation skills to create and maintain comprehensive technical documentation.

What's in it for you?

Our culture is what sets us apart. We set ourselves high standards, ensuring our work environment is one where people thrive and also have fun. We invest significantly in the well‑being of our people and are intentional about celebrating wins.

In return for your hard work, you can also expect many great benefits working at Generate:

• A rewarding role with ongoing growth.
• Competitive base salary + bonus package.
• Competitive benefits package including health insurance, discounted gym membership, additional KiwiSaver contribution, corporate benefits and more!
• Proactive Health & Wellbeing Committee who organise a full calendar of events and initiatives.
• Ongoing training and support.
• Comfortable and central Auckland CBD office location.