Lead Software Engineer

Objective Partners; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Objective Partners in Chicago or Denver is seeking a Lead Software Engineer for High-Performance Systems to drive architectural direction for a global, high-concurrency video distribution platform with ultra-low latency and reliability.

You will guide cross-functional teams, own the lifecycle from prototyping to deployment, and mentor engineers while pursuing innovative technologies to improve observability and resilience across distributed infrastructure.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in CS or related field.
• 5+ years in software engineering with 3+ years in leadership.
• Expert in Golang and C++ with focus on network programming.
• Strong Linux/Unix fundamentals and data structures.
• Experience with Agile/SDLC and operating large online services.
• Excellent collaboration across time zones.

Responsibilities

• Architectural strategy for a distributed ad-serving framework.
• Develop low-latency networking and multiprocessing in Go/C++.
• Own the full software lifecycle from prototype to deployment.
• Research emerging tech to improve observability and resilience.
• Collaborate with infrastructure and SRE for monitoring and direction.
• Mentor engineers and promote high-quality, testable code.

Skills

Golang

C++

Linux/Unix

Concurrency

Distributed Systems

Architecture Leadership

Cross-functional Leadership

Mentorship

Networking

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s in CS

Job description

Lead Software Engineer (High-Performance Systems)

Location: Chicago OR Denver

About the Opportunity

We are seeking a visionary Technical Lead to drive the evolution of a global, high-concurrency video distribution and monetization platform. This role is at the heart of a massive-scale ecosystem that powers premium content delivery across every major digital and traditional broadcast medium, from mobile devices to connected TVs. You will lead the architectural direction of a mission-critical framework where performance is measured in microseconds and reliability is paramount.

Responsibilities

• Architectural Strategy: Lead the design and continuous optimization of a distributed ad-serving framework, focusing on extreme scalability and system maintainability.
• High-Performance Engineering: Drive the development of low‑latency networking and sophisticated multiprocessing solutions utilizing modern Go and C++.
• Lifecycle Ownership: Oversee the full software development lifecycle, from initial prototyping and design through to deployment, quality assurance, and long‑term technical support.
• Systems Innovation: Research and implement emerging technologies to improve the efficiency, observability, and resilience of globally distributed infrastructure.
• Cross-Functional Leadership: Partner with infrastructure and SRE teams to enhance system monitoring and set the strategic technical direction for product evolution.
• Mentorship: Act as a technical pillar for the engineering organization, guiding junior developers and fostering a culture of high-quality, testable code.

Requirements (Must-have)

• Academic Background: Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science or a related technical discipline.
• Leadership Experience: Minimum of 5 years in software engineering, with at least 3 years dedicated to technical leadership or architectural oversight.
• Backend Expertise: Mastery of Golang and C++, with a deep focus on network programming, concurrency models, and high‑performance distributed systems.
• System Fundamentals: Comprehensive understanding of Linux/Unix environments, including advanced data structures and algorithmic foundations.
• Operational Excellence: Proven track record of designing and operating large‑scale online services within an Agile/SDLC framework.
• Global Collaboration: Excellent communication skills and the ability to coordinate with international teams across multiple time zones.

Preferred Qualifications (Nice-to-have)

• Experience building mission‑critical systems where high availability is essential.
• Professional background within the digital advertising or media technology sectors.
• Demonstrated history of technical innovation and creative problem‑solving in high‑pressure environments.

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate based on race, religion, color, ethnic origin, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.

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