Freelance/Contract - Technical Lead

Heady Technologies; United States; On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Heady Technologies is seeking a Senior Technical Lead to oversee backend infrastructure for a suite of high-visibility mobile applications for a leading U.S. retailer. You will guide architectural decisions, ensure secure and scalable delivery, and collaborate with product managers, clients, and vendors.

You will lead backend teams, define standards, and maintain CI/CD pipelines, while mentoring engineers and driving continuous improvement across engineering.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience in Computer Science.
• 6+ years in backend engineering roles, including 2+ years in technical leadership.
• Proven experience with mobile backend systems and API development.
• Deep knowledge of AWS, Node.js, Salesforce OCAPI/API, third-party mobile integrations, and CMS-backed content systems.
• Experience with backend deployment processes and CI/CD management.
• Strong problem-solving skills to deliver scalable backend solutions.
• Excellent client-facing communication and cross-functional collaboration.

Responsibilities

• Provide end-to-end technical direction for backend services powering a multi-app mobile ecosystem.
• Lead architectural decisions and implementation for consumer-facing and store associate-facing apps.
• Maintain high-quality, performant, and maintainable code through oversight and hands-on development.
• Maintain and evolve technical documentation reflecting current systems and processes.
• Address backend security concerns and data deletion protocols.

Skills

Backend leadership

Mobile backend systems

API development

AWS

Node.js

Salesforce OCAPI/API

CI/CD

Security best practices

Agile teamwork

Client communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science

Tools

AWS

Node.js environment

CI/CD tooling

Job description

About Heady: Heady is a digital product consultancy that provides full-service strategy, design, full-stack development, and growth marketing services for retail and lifestyle brands — and we do it all with heart. Our team partners with Fortune 500 brands to deliver impactful technology and design solutions. We seek a Senior Technical Lead to oversee the backend infrastructure supporting a suite of high-visibility mobile applications for one of our biggest clients - a leading U.S. retailer.

About the role: As a Lead Engineer, you will provide end-to-end technical direction for backend services powering a multi-app mobile ecosystem. You’ll collaborate with both engineers, Product Managers, clients, and vendors. You will guide architectural decisions and ensure the secure, scalable, and maintainable delivery of mobile backend solutions.

Key Responsibilities

Technical Leadership & Execution

• Define and document backend technical requirements for mobile features.
• Lead architectural decisions and implementation for Consumer-facing and Store associate-facing apps
• Ensure high-quality, performant, and maintainable code through technical oversight and hands-on development.
• Maintain and evolve technical documentation to reflect current systems and processes.
• Strategize and address backend security concerns, including real-time mitigation of malicious activity and compliance with data deletion protocols.

Client & Vendor Collaboration

• Serve as a key technical liaison for client and vendor teams (e.g., website platform, payment providers).
• Provide responses to non-emergency technical issues during ET business hours (9am–3pm).
• Lead emergency support during designated off-hours (weekday evenings and weekends).
• Represent engineering in cross-functional calls.

Team Leadership & Mentorship

• Provide project leadership and operational oversight for backend developers in collaboration with product managers.
• Set and enforce backend coding standards, review code, and maintain the CI/CD pipeline.
• Mentor engineers, foster a collaborative culture, and drive continuous improvement across the engineering team.

Security & Compliance

• Enforce secure coding and architectural best practices across backend systems.
• Oversee client-driven data deletion workflows and protect against vulnerabilities.

Required Skills & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience in Computer Science with minimum 6 years in backend engineering roles, (incl. 2+ years in technical leadership.)
• Proven experience with mobile backend systems and API development.
• Deep knowledge of:
  • AWS
  • Nodejs
  • Salesforce OCAPI/API
  • Third-party integrations for mobile
  • CMS-backed content systems
• Demonstrated experience with backend deployment processes and CI/CD management.
• Exceptional ability to analyze and resolve technical issues with scalable solutions.
• Strong client-facing communication and cross-functional team collaboration skills.
• Experience working in Agile product teams.
• Strong business proficiency in English and adept at delivering both confidence and humility in communication.
• Exposure to high-scale consumer-facing mobile apps.
• Familiarity with e-commerce security standards and architecture patterns.
• Availability across US Eastern Time business hours and emergency support windows.