Lead Software Engineer

∙ Elijah House Foundation; Goodlettsville (TN); On-site; USD 100,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent retail company in Goodlettsville is seeking a Lead Software Engineer to spearhead the development and integration of modern software solutions. The ideal candidate will lead complex projects, mentor junior staff, and guide teams in using advanced technologies such as AI and cloud-based architectures. Candidates should have extensive experience in software development, particularly in enterprise environments, with strong skills in team leadership and project management. This exciting role offers a chance to influence technology initiatives across the organization.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of software development experience in an enterprise IT environment.
• 5+ years of experience with higher-level languages (C, Java, Python).
• Experience modernizing legacy applications to cloud native architectures.

Responsibilities

• Design changes to new and existing applications.
• Develop and debug software.
• Provide support for production applications.

Skills

Software Development

Leadership

Communication

Problem-Solving

Cloud Platforms

Kubernetes

Education

Bachelor’s degree in computer science or related field

Tools

Google Cloud Platform

GitLab

CI/CD Pipelines

Kafka

Job description

Work Where You Matter

At Dollar General, our mission is Serving Others! We value each and every one of our employees. Whether you are looking to launch a new career in one of our many convenient Store locations, Distribution Centers, Store Support Center or with our Private Fleet Team, we are proud to provide a wide range of career opportunities. We are not just a retail company; we are a company that values the unique strengths and perspectives that each individual brings. Your difference truly makes a difference at Dollar General. Dollar General Corporation has been delivering value to shoppers for more than 80 years. Dollar General helps shoppers Save time. Save money. Every day.® by offering products that are frequently used and replenished, such as food, snacks, health and beauty aids, cleaning supplies, basic apparel, housewares and seasonal items at everyday low prices in convenient neighborhood locations. Learn more about Dollar General at www.dollargeneral.com/about-us.html.General. How would you like to Serve? Join the Dollar General Journey and see how your career can thrive.

Company Overview

A Lead Software Engineer (LSE) is recognized as an expert in their strategic functional area and uses a systematic application of advanced technical knowledge to deliver software solutions using modern day technology stacks. The LSE leads large complex projects consisting of on-shore and off-shore resources, uses strong organizational and leadership skills to set and maintain efficient development progress, and defines all software components for large-scale systems with minimal oversight.

Job Details

Duties & Responsibilities:

• Designs changes to new and existing applications 35%
• Develops and debugs software in support of new and existing applications 30%
• Project leadership, cost estimation and task planning 20%
• Mentors/coaches junior team members 10%
• Provides support for production applications (24x7) 5%

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs):

• Collaborate with decision makers, external vendors and stakeholders to define complex business requirements
• Demonstrated ability to communicate complex technical information in a condensed manner both verbally and in writing.
• Take initiative to contact stakeholders and research solutions when problems are encountered
• Understanding of complex Retail and Technology concepts.
• Recognized expert in one strategic domain with advanced knowledge in at least one additional domain
• Generates commitment and enthusiasm from others to set and achieve challenging goals and objectives
• Experience leading teams and demonstrates a mastery in all aspects of software development activities
• Assists in career development, staff mentoring and succession planning for engineers
• Understands and implements architectural vision for performance, extensibility and availability
• Leads scope of work estimation, cost estimates, task planning, forecasting, scheduling and staff requirements definitions
• Leads complex technology initiatives including those that are companywide with broad impact
• Conduct research and make recommendations on products, services, protocols, and standards in support of procurement and development efforts
• Educate team on technology changes applicable to their domain and how to apply them to their business area.
• Act as a key participant in developing standards and companywide best practices for engineering
• Assigns tasks to both on-shore and off-shore team members to leverage strengths or enhance knowledge

Qualifications

Work Experience &/or Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science or related field, trade school or equivalent work experience
• Ability to lead the design and integration of AI and LLM based solutions (agents, RAG, automation) within application architectures.
• Experience providing technical guidance on prompt design, model integration, and AI governance best practices.
• Experience modernizing legacy applications to cloud native or microservices architectures
• Hands‑on experience with Google Cloud Platform (GCP)
• Extensive experience with CI/CD pipelines, telemetry/monitoring, and Kubernetes‑based deployments
• Proficiency with source control, build and quality tools such as GitLab
• 7+ years of software development experience in an enterprise IT environment
• 5+ years of experience with a higher‑level language (C, Java, Python)
• 5+ years of experience as a full stack Java developer
• 3+ years of hands‑on development using PL/SQL, shell scripting
• 2+ years of experience with real‑time streaming platform (Kafka)
• 2+ years delivering software supporting Merchandising or retail‑related applications