Lead Software Architect

LIGHTSPEED TECHNOLOGIES; Tualatin (OR); On-site; USD 140,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Profit sharing bonus

ESOP

Medical, dental, flex spending

PTO accrual from hire

Paid holidays

401(k) with match

Charitable giving match

Job summary

Lightspeed Technologies in Tualatin, Oregon, is seeking a Lead Software Architect to own the software architecture across embedded firmware, application software, and platform‑level systems. This hands‑on role starts as a one‑person team, building toward a small internal group while coordinating with an external development partner.

Reporting to the SVP of Product, you’ll drive technical direction, security posture, release ownership, and close collaboration with hardware, product management and

Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience as a software architect or senior technical lead across embedded/firmware and application‑level software.
• Track record of defining and documenting software architecture for connected/IoT hardware products.
• Direct experience with firmware planning and definition with hardware constraints.
• Comfort operating in ambiguity, building process and structure.
• Experience directing or managing an external/outsourced software development partner.
• Strong collaboration and communication with hardware/EE peers.
• 7+ years of software engineering in architect or senior leadership roles.
• Production‑level experience with a systems language (Go preferred; C/C++ acceptable).
• Experience in IoT, embedded systems or connected hardware; audio experience is a bonus.
• Direct experience mentoring a small team (2–5 people).

Responsibilities

• Software architecture across embedded firmware, application software, and platform‑level systems.
• Release ownership including versioning, code freeze, and production readiness.
• Security ownership: vulnerability management and credential custody.
• Lead external development partner with architecture and timeline accountability.
• Build and grow a small internal software team and collaborate with hardware/EE.
• Coordinate with Product Management and Implementation for roadmap input and testing support.
• Hands‑on coding, architecture reviews, and key design decisions, especially early on.
• Leverage AI‑assisted tooling to augment a lean team without compromising quality.

Skills

Software architecture

Embedded/firmware

IoT hardware

Leadership

External partner management

Go/C/C++

Communication

Tools

Go

C/C++

Job description

Job Details

Location: Headquarters - Tualatin, OR 97062

Position Type: Full Time

Lightspeed Technologies is looking for a Lead Software Architect!

Who We Are and What We Do

Lightspeed Technologies is on a mission to help every student hear every word. Our instructional audio systems create access to improved listening and learning between teachers and students by delivering optimum speech intelligibility, overcoming classroom noise, and providing crystal‑clear sound throughout the classroom. We are headquartered near Portland, Oregon, and serve schools across the United States and beyond.

Lightspeed is a mission-driven, employee-owned company that lives by our Core Values of Integrity, Respect, Innovation, Stewardship, and Humility. These pillars of our company are demonstrated throughout both the employee and customer experience.

Position Overview

Lightspeed is building the next generation of connected classroom audio products, and software is becoming an increasingly central part of that platform. We're looking for a Lead Software Architect to take ownership of our software architecture and lead the growth of our internal software function; starting as a hands-on architect and team of one, building toward a small internal team, while directing an external development partner.

This is a high‑impact, high‑visibility role reporting directly to the SVP of Product, working alongside our hardware engineering team to ensure hardware and software evolve together as one platform. You’ll also work closely with our Product Management team and our Implementation team, bringing in voice‑of‑the‑customer input, feature, and testing support.

Primary Responsibilities

• Software architecture across our embedded firmware, application software, and platform‑level systems; setting the technical direction for how Lightspeed's software stack evolves alongside our hardware roadmap.
• Release ownership - versioning, code freeze discipline, release candidates, firmware bundle creation, and the change‑order process that gates production releases.
• Security ownership - vulnerability management, credential and certificate custody, and the security posture of a product deployed in K-12 schools, including responding to the security reviews our district customers conduct.
• Leadership of our external development partner, holding outsourced work accountable to architecture, quality, and timeline standards, and making calls informing decisions on what should stay outsourced versus brought in‑house over time.
• Building and leading a small internal software team, starting with yourself and growing to include additional engineers.
• Close collaboration with Hardware and EE teams, including firmware planning and definition, to ensure software and hardware/firmware decisions are made together rather than in sequence or in silos.
• Close collaboration with Product Management and Implementation teams, incorporating voice‑of‑the‑customer input, feature definition, and testing support into the software roadmap.
• Hands‑on technical work- this is not a pure management role today. You'll be writing code, reviewing architecture, and making direct design decisions, especially in the first year as the team is small.
• Use of AI‑assisted development tooling to amplify the output of a lean team without sacrificing quality or architectural integrity.

What We Are Offering

• Competitive compensation
• Profit‑sharing bonus
• Employee ownership (ESOP)
• Medical, dental, and flex‑spending programs
• Employer‑paid life and disability insurance
• PTO accrual that begins immediately upon hire
• Up to 12 paid holidays a year
• 401 (k) with employer match
• Opportunities for matched charitable giving

Lightspeed Technologies embraces diversity and is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, religion, color, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, genetic information, age, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected basis. Lightspeed participates in E-Verify.

Qualifications

What We Are Looking For

• Demonstrated experience as a software architect or senior technical lead across embedded/firmware and application‑level software.
• Track record of defining and documenting software architecture for connected/IoT hardware products, not just greenfield app development.
• Direct experience with firmware planning and definition, and a working fluency in how software architecture decisions constrain — and are constrained by — hardware and firmware realities.
• Comfort operating in ambiguity, building process and structure.
• Experience directing or managing an external/outsourced software development partner; holding a vendor accountable to specs, architecture standards, timelines, and quality.
• Strong collaborative instincts and communication skills; this role requires taking input from and coordinating closely with hardware/EE peers and navigating disagreement constructively.
• 7+ years of software engineering experience, including in an architect or senior technical leadership capacity
• Production‑level experience with a systems language. Go is preferred, but strong C or C++ experience is also acceptable.
• Experience in IoT, embedded systems, or connected hardware products strongly preferred; audio‑specific experience is a nice‑to‑have, not a requirement.
• Direct experience managing or mentoring a small team (2-5 people) is expected.