Lead Full Stack Engineer

Humana Inc; Kentucky; Hybrid; USD 129,000 - 178,000; Full time

Job summary

Humana Inc. is seeking an experienced engineering leader to drive end-to-end technology strategy across UI, APIs, and data platforms.

You will define architectural directions, set quality standards, and lead multiple teams to deliver scalable solutions with a focus on security and reliability. The role combines hands-on technical leadership with strategic planning, cloud modernization, and incident management, offering remote-hybrid work with occasional in-person collaboration.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, engineering, or related field (Master’s preferred)
• 8+ years of progressive IT experience, including senior-level development on large-scale systems
• 2+ years of experience leading engineering teams or major technical initiatives
• Proven experience in full stack development (UI, backend services, APIs, data layers)
• Strong understanding of modern architecture patterns and cloud platforms
• Passion for improving consumer experiences through technology

Responsibilities

• Lead full stack engineering strategy and execution across UI, APIs, and data platforms
• Define architectural direction and ensure high standards for code quality, scalability, and maintainability
• Select frameworks, languages, and platforms across front-end, back-end, APIs, and data layers
• Approve architectural patterns and cloud strategy
• Identify opportunities to refactor, modernize, or retire legacy systems
• Drive consistent delivery across multiple engineering teams through Sprint planning and execution
• Dependency management, risk mitigation, and removal of blockers
• Prioritize feature development, platform investments, and technical debt across teams
• Balance short-term business needs with long-term platform health
• Ensure predictable, high-quality delivery that builds stakeholder confidence
• Define and enforce quality standards including testing, code reviews, and performance benchmarks
• Establish release readiness criteria and approve production deployments
• Guide security, compliance, and data protection strategies
• Mitigate risk and ensure system stability, reliability, and regulatory alignment
• Serve as the senior escalation point for critical system issues
• Diagnose and resolve complex cross-stack production incidents
• Lead decisions during incidents (rollback, hotfix, or root-cause remediation)
• Direct engineering resources during high-severity events
• Drive long-term solutions to reduce incident frequency and improve system resilience
• Partner with Product, UX, QA, Platform teams to shape roadmaps
• Translate business requirements into technical execution plans
• Refine requirements and reduce ambiguity
• Coordinate cross-team dependencies
• Advocate for clarity and feasibility in requirements
• Influence strategic direction, technical investments, and delivery expectations
• Communicate risks, trade-offs, and system impacts to stakeholders
• Drive decisions on automation, tooling, observability, and platform improvements
• Lead initiatives to reduce operational toil and improve developer experience
• Optimize engineering processes to increase efficiency and scalability
• Mentor and develop tech leads and senior engineers
• Provide ongoing coaching, feedback, and performance guidance
• Identify promotion readiness and address performance gaps
• Influence hiring strategies and succession planning
• Build and sustain high-performing, engaged engineering teams
• Lead application rationalization efforts, onboarding to new APIs
• Eliminate vendor-based products
• Guide Cloud 3.0 migration initiatives: lift-and-shift to modern infra
• Support modernization toward cloud-native architectures

Skills

Full stack development

Engineering leadership

Cloud platforms

Architectural design

Cross-team collaboration

Strategic thinking

Education

Bachelor’s degree in computer science, engineering, or related field

Master’s degree preferred

Tools

Cloud platforms

Job description

Location

Louisville, KY or Dallas, TX (Work At Home with occasional office visits)

Key Responsibilities

• Engineering Leadership & Strategy
  • Lead full stack engineering strategy and execution across UI, APIs, and data platforms
  • Define architectural direction and ensure high standards for code quality, scalability, and maintainability
  • Select frameworks, languages, and platforms across front-end, back-end, APIs, and data layers
  • Approve architectural patterns (monolith vs. microservices, cloud strategy, and integrations)
  • Identify opportunities to refactor, modernize, or retire legacy systems
• Delivery Execution & Prioritization
  • Drive consistent delivery across multiple engineering teams through: Sprint planning and execution
  • Dependency management
  • Risk mitigation
  • Removal of technical and organizational blockers
  • Prioritize feature development, platform investments, and technical debt across teams
  • Make trade-offs on scope, timelines, and resource allocation
  • Balance short-term business needs with long-term platform health
  • Ensure predictable, high-quality delivery that builds stakeholder confidence
• Quality, Security & Risk Management
  • Define and enforce quality standards including testing, code reviews, and performance benchmarks
  • Establish release readiness criteria and approve production deployments
  • Guide security, compliance, and data protection strategies
  • Mitigate risk and ensure system stability, reliability, and regulatory alignment
• Production Support & Incident Leadership
  • Serve as the senior escalation point for critical system issues
  • Diagnose and resolve complex cross-stack production incidents
  • Lead decisions during incidents (rollback, hotfix, or root-cause remediation)
  • Direct engineering resources during high-severity events
  • Drive long-term solutions to reduce incident frequency and improve system resilience
• Cross-Functional Collaboration & Influence
  • Partner with Product, UX, QA, Platform teams, Architects, Directors, and VPs to: Shape roadmaps and align priorities
  • Translate business requirements into technical execution plans
  • Refine requirements and reduce ambiguity
  • Coordinate cross-team dependencies
  • Advocate for clarity and feasibility in requirements, addressing risks early
  • Influence strategic direction, technical investments, and delivery expectations
  • Communicate risks, trade-offs, and system impacts to technical and non-technical stakeholders
• Operational Excellence & Investment Decisions
  • Drive decisions on investment in automation, tooling, observability, and platform improvements
  • Lead initiatives to reduce operational toil and improve developer experience
  • Optimize engineering processes to increase efficiency and scalability
• Talent Development & Team Leadership
  • Mentor and develop tech leads and senior engineers
  • Provide ongoing coaching, feedback, and performance guidance
  • Identify promotion readiness and address performance gaps
  • Influence hiring strategies and succession planning
  • Build and sustain high-performing, engaged engineering teams
• Strategic Initiatives
  • Lead application rationalization efforts, including: Onboarding to new APIs
  • Eliminating vendor-based products
  • Guide Cloud 3.0 migration initiatives: Lead lift-and-shift efforts from Cloud 1.0 to Cloud 3.0 infrastructure
  • Support modernization toward cloud-native architectures

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, engineering, or related field (Master’s preferred)
• 8+ years of progressive IT experience, including senior-level development on large-scale systems
• 2+ years of experience leading engineering teams or major technical initiatives
• Proven experience in full stack development (UI, backend services, APIs, data layers)
• Strong understanding of modern architecture patterns and cloud platforms
• Passion for improving consumer experiences through technology

Preferred Qualifications

• AZ-900 or other cloud certification
• Experience with cloud migration and modernization initiatives
• Exposure to large-scale enterprise environments and distributed systems
• Use your skills to make an impact
• Python for scripting, backend development, or data processing (Nice to have)

Interview Format

As part of our hiring process for this opportunity, we will be using an interviewing technology called HireVue to enhance our hiring and decision-making ability. HireVue allows us to quickly connect and gain valuable information from you pertaining to your relevant skills and experience at a time that is best for your schedule.

Work-At-Home Requirements

To ensure Home or Hybrid Home/Office employees’ ability to work effectively, the self-provided internet service of Home or Hybrid Home/Office employees must meet the following criteria: At minimum, a download speed of 25 Mbps and an upload speed of 10 Mbps is required; wireless, wired cable or DSL connection is suggested. Satellite, cellular and microwave connection can be used only if approved by leadership. Employees who live and work from Home in the state of California, Illinois, Montana, or South Dakota will be provided a bi-weekly payment for their internet expense. Humana will provide Home or Hybrid Home/Office employees with telephone equipment appropriate to meet the business requirements for their position/job. Work from a dedicated space lacking ongoing interruptions to protect member PHI / HIPAA information.

#LI-Remote Social Security Task

Humana values personal identity protection. Please be aware that applicants may be asked to provide their Social Security Number, if it is not already on file. When required, an email will be sent from [e-mail] with instructions on how to add the information into your official application on Humana’s secure website.

Limited Geography Remote

This is a remote position but located within a specific geography. Work at Home Requirements: To ensure Home or Hybrid Home/Office employees’ ability to work effectively, the self-provided internet service of Home or Hybrid Home/Office employees must meet the following criteria: At minimum, a download speed of 25 Mbps and an upload speed of 10 Mbps is required; wireless, wired cable or DSL connection is suggested. In certain roles, the minimum recommended internet speed required by Humana may not be sufficient for business needs. Humana reserves the right to require associates to upgrade their internet service if necessary. Work from a dedicated space lacking ongoing interruptions to protect member PHI / HIPAA information. Travel: While this is a remote position, occasional travel to Humana's offices for training or meetings may be required.

Scheduled Weekly Hours 40 Pay Range

The compensation range below reflects a good faith estimate of starting base pay for full time (40 hours per week) employment at the time of posting. The pay range may be higher or lower based on geographic location and individual pay will vary based on demonstrated job related skills, knowledge, experience, education, certifications, etc. $129,300 - $177,800 per year This job is eligible for a bonus incentive plan. This incentive opportunity is based upon company and/or individual performance.

Description of Benefits

Humana, Inc. and its affiliated subsidiaries (collectively, “Humana”) offers competitive benefits that support whole-person well-being. Associate benefits are designed to encourage personal wellness and smart healthcare decisions for you and your family while also knowing your life extends outside of work. Among our benefits, Humana provides medical, dental and vision benefits, 401(k) retirement savings plan, time off (including paid time off, company and personal holidays, paid parental and caregiver leave), short-term and long-term disability, life insurance and many other opportunities.

About us

Humana Inc. (NYSE: HUM) is a leading U.S. healthcare company. Through our Humana insurance services and our CenterWell healthcare services, we make it easier for the millions of people we serve to achieve their best health – delivering the care and service they need, when they need it. These efforts are leading to a better quality of life for people with Medicare and Medicaid, families, individuals, military service personnel, and communities at large. Learn more about what we offer atHumana.comand atCenterWell.com.

Equal Opportunity Employer

It is the policy of Humana not to discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, marital status, genetic information, disability or protected veteran status. It is also the policy of Humana to take affirmative action, in compliance with Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act and VEVRAA, to employ and to advance in employment individuals with disability or protected veteran status, and to base all employment decisions only on valid job requirements. This policy shall apply to all employment actions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, upgrading, promotion, transfer, layoff, recall, termination, rates of pay or other forms of compensation and selection for training, including apprenticeship, at all levels of employment.