Lead Software Engineer.

Guardian Life; Holmdel Township (NJ); Hybrid; USD 118,980 - 195,465; Full time

Job summary

Guardian Life is seeking a Technical Lead / Lead Software Engineer to shape its customer-facing digital experiences using React, Next.js and Node. You will build scalable web apps in AWS, mentor engineers, and collaborate with product, design, data, and leadership to deliver best-in-class outcomes.

The role offers a hybrid work model with three in-office days across New York, Bethlehem, or Holmdel. A salary range of $118,980–$195,465 is provided with additional incentive opportunities based on

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience building resilient, public-facing web apps with business impact.
• Proficiency in JavaScript/TypeScript with React/Next.js, including architecture patterns.
• Experience with REST/GraphQL APIs and third-party integrations.
• Experience with AWS, CI/CD, and modern web tooling.
• Strong collaboration, communication, and mentoring skills.
• BS/BA in computer science or related field.

Responsibilities

• Shape Guardian’s customer-facing digital experiences using React/Next/Node.
• Collaborate with product, design, data, and leadership to deliver features.
• Lead architecture, code quality, testing, and performance improvements.

Skills

React/Next.js/Node stack

JavaScript/TypeScript

REST/GraphQL APIs

AWS

Microservices/micro-frontend

UI/UX collaboration

Security best practices

Mentorship

Testing/CI/CD

Web performance

Education

BA/BS in Computer Science or related field

Job description

We are seeking a highly motivated Technical Lead / Lead Software Engineer to join our team. In this role, you will shape Guardian’s most critical customer-facing digital experiences, utilizing React, Next.js, and Node. This position requires technical familiarity with building scalable, performant web applications in AWS and collaborating with engineers, business leaders, UI/UX, data, and leadership to create best‑in‑class experiences for our customers.

What you will get to do

• Be Creative – have the freedom to innovate, modernise and create technical solutions to solve complex business problems.
• Be Collaborative – work with product and design to deliver robust user experiences.
• Be Precise – understand the business goals behind every feature and create a solution that can deliver.
• Be Awesome – launch products that you can be proud of.

What you bring to the table

• 10+ years of experience delivering resilient, highly performant, public-facing web applications that have demonstrated business impact.
• Highly proficient in JavaScript/TypeScript (Node/React/Next/NestJS/Jest), including advanced patterns for architecture, maintenance strategies, and mentorship of best practices.
• Extensive experience in API development best practices (REST/GraphQL) and integration with third‑party systems.
• Experience with Redis, micro‑frontends, and micro‑services desirable.
• Mastery of web fundamentals, including vanilla JavaScript, HTML, CSS, and web core vitals performance management.
• Experience developing complex applications in an Agile environment as part of a team of engineers, designers, product experts, marketers, and strategists.
• Experience with modern web application development, including building tools, testing, CI/CD, and AWS.
• Strong problem‑solving skills and attention to detail.
• Working knowledge of security best practices, e.g., OWASP, handling PII data.
• Excitement, energy, and strong people skills including excellent written and verbal communication.
• BA/BS degree in computer science or related field.

Location

• 3 days a week at a Guardian office in New York, NY, Bethlehem, PA, or Holmdel, NJ.

Salary Range

$118,980.00 – $195,465.00. The salary range above is a good‑faith estimate of base pay for the primary location of the position. The final salary will be determined based on the education, experience, knowledge, and abilities of the successful candidate. In addition to salary, this role may be eligible for annual, sales, or other incentive compensation.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Guardian is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regard to age, race, color, creed, religion, sex, affectionate or sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, marital status, disability, military or veteran status, or any other classification protected by applicable law.

Accommodations

Guardian is committed to providing access, equal opportunity and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities in employment, services, programs, and activities. Guardian also provides reasonable accommodations to qualified job applicants (and employees) to accommodate the individual's known limitations related to pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions, unless doing so would create an undue hardship. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact [e-mail].

Visa Sponsorship

Guardian Life is not currently sponsoring employment‑based visas (e.g., H‑1B). Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States without the need for employer sponsorship now or in the future.

Notice Regarding Guardian’s Use of Artificial Intelligence in Recruitment

Guardian may use AI tools to automate the sorting and filtering of applicant information during preliminary screening, to help identify candidates who meet the requirements for the specific job. Hiring decisions are ultimately made by Guardian colleagues. Applicants may opt out of AI tools during the application process by emailing [e-mail] within ten business days of applying.