Developer Lead

Larimer County; Fort Collins (CO); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

A local government entity in Fort Collins is seeking a Developer Lead to oversee software development and mentor a team. This role combines hands-on coding with leadership responsibilities, requiring 6+ years of experience in information systems and a Bachelor's degree in software development. The position offers a hybrid work schedule and comprehensive benefits including medical, dental, and retirement plans.

Benefits

Medical, Dental, and Vision benefits

Generous paid time off

Retirement Plan with employer match

Qualifications

• 6+ years of experience with information systems and technology required.
• Experience leading a development team with technical guidance.

Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor a development team by providing technical guidance.
• Oversee the full software development lifecycle.
• Contribute hands-on to coding and architecture decisions.
• Review and improve development processes and practices.
• Drive innovation through research and new technologies.

Skills

Technical expertise in software development

Leadership and team management

Understanding of the SDLC

Ability to translate business requirements

Experience with code reviews

Problem-solving skills

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's Degree in software development

Job description

This posting is open to current Larimer County employees only.

We believe our values (Collaboration, Customer Focus, Civility, Accountability, Innovation, and Agility) drive our success, and encourage candidates from all identities, backgrounds, and abilities to apply. We know it's important to support each other, and that means having a healthy balance of work and personal time, and benefits that allow us all to have fulfilling lives.

We are seeking a Developer Lead to join our Information Technology department, where innovation and collaboration drive our work. This position serves as a working supervisor, balancing hands-on technical contributions with team leadership. As a Developer Lead, you will play a key role in overseeing the full software development lifecycle through guiding a talented team of developers, ensuring solutions meet both business and technical needs, and driving process improvements that shape the future of our IT systems.

This role is ideal for an experienced individual who is equally passionate about coding and mentoring. You’ll have the opportunity to design, develop, and implement scalable solutions while fostering the professional growth of your team and strengthening the County’s technology infrastructure. If you thrive in a collaborative environment where leadership and technical expertise go hand-in-hand, we’d love to hear from you.

The typical schedule for this position is hybrid, with staff expected to work on-site at least 2-3 days a week at a minimum.

What we're looking for:

• Strong technical expertise in software development, including proficiency with modern programming languages, APIs, and relational databases.
• Leadership and team management skills to supervise, mentor, and guide developers while fostering professional growth.
• Deep understanding of the software development lifecycle (SDLC) and experience applying project management practices such as estimation, scheduling, and resource planning.
• Ability to translate business requirements into technical solutions, using tools like use cases, flowcharts, and process diagrams.
• Experience with code reviews and quality assurance to ensure consistency, scalability, and security of applications.
• Excellent problem-solving and process improvement skills, with a focus on identifying inefficiencies and driving innovation.
• Clear and effective communication skills, both written and verbal, to collaborate with stakeholders and cross-functional teams.

What you'll be doing:

• Lead and mentor a development team by providing technical guidance, coaching, and professional growth opportunities.
• Oversee the full software development lifecycle (SDLC), ensuring projects meet functional, security, scalability, and performance requirements.
• Contribute hands-on to coding and architecture decisions, setting standards for code quality and development practices.
• Review and improve development processes, identifying inefficiencies and implementing best practices to increase team productivity.
• Drive innovation through research and implementation of new tools, technologies, and application environments.
• Demonstrate commitment to being respectful and valuing differences among individuals.

Requirements:

• Bachelor's Degree, or equivalent combination of education and/or experience, in software development required. Related education or experience may be substituted on a year for year basis.
• Six (6) years of experience with information systems and technology required.

Benefits

Here’s what Larimer County offers for all Regular, Limited Term, and Appointed positions:

• Medical, Dental, and Vision benefits
• FSA or HSA (depending on the medical plan)
• Short- and Long-Term Disability
• Employee Assistance Program
• Basic Life/AD&D Insurance
• Accident and Critical Illness Insurance
• Retirement Plan 401(a) with employer match
• 457(b) Deferred Compensation
• Generous paid time off, including vacation, sick leave, and holidays