Lead Software Engineer-Debit Card

M&T Bank Corporation; Buffalo, Northern (NY, KY); Hybrid; USD 116,000 - 194,000; Full time

Job summary

M&T Bank Corporation is seeking an experienced senior technical leader to write code, guide architecture decisions, and drive modernization initiatives. You will mentor engineers while delivering scalable API, middleware, and system integration solutions within the SDLC framework.

The role emphasizes coaching, peer reviews, and collaboration across engineering, architecture, and security teams to ensure secure, resilient software delivery for banking platforms.

Qualifications

• At least one programming languageExpert level and proficiency in another language.
• Experience leading technical requirements gathering and solution design.
• Strong experience in API, middleware, and system integration development.

Responsibilities

• Lead technical design and architecture discussions for modernization efforts.
• Review designs, proposals, and PRs; oversee change management processes.
• Coach team members on code quality, patterns, and best practices.
• Ensure secure, resilient, and scalable software delivery within SDLC.

Skills

Programming proficiency

Leadership & mentoring

API & middleware design

SDLC & architecture

Education

Bachelor's degree in CS or related

Associate's degree + 7 years experience

Tools

API development

Middleware systems

Job description

Overview

Responsible at the expert level for writing code and leading the team's technical requirements gathering and solution design activities. This role provides technical leadership for large-scale modernization initiatives, including the design and delivery of API and middleware solutions that integrate internal banking systems with third-party payment processing platforms. Completes work following banking technology standards and contributes to the overall stability and resiliency of banking technology within the Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC) while coaching others and guiding key technical decisions. Primary Responsibilities Develop and coach other team members while also working independently on applications within the boundaries of approved Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) processes, including identification and recommendation of metrics to solve business needs and minimize risks to the Bank through clean and resilient code. Lead technical design and architecture discussions for large-scale modernization efforts, driving the development of scalable API, middleware, and system integration solutions that support business and technology objectives. Review and approve solution designs, technical proposals, and pull requests while overseeing execution through established change management processes. Design and facilitate peer review processes and coach others on code reviews, code quality, engineering best practices, and continuous improvement. Author organized, clean, efficient, and secure source code at the expert level in a minimum of one programming language and moderate proficiency in a minimum of one other language while coaching team members on appropriate data structures, algorithms, and integration patterns to solve complex business problems. Provide hands‑on technical guidance to engineering teams, helping resolve complex technical issues and ensuring successful implementation of modernization and integration initiatives. Oversee source control management activities of team members and perform the merging of code developments into the production deployment path. Review testing methodologies, integration testing strategies, and code coverage to ensure comprehensive testing and high-quality delivery of API, middleware, and payment processing solutions. Drive implementation adherence with patterns and practices for performance testing, resiliency, observability, security, and optimization within their domain. Review and approve requirement plans on behalf of the team in alignment with delivery partners and ensure requirement completeness, accuracy, technical feasibility, and alignment with enterprise architecture standards. Serve as a key partner across engineering, architecture, infrastructure, and third‑party integration teams to deliver complex technology solutions and drive continuous improvement across organizational boundaries. Contribute technical requirements and design recommendations in support of the delivery and maintenance of business‑critical applications, integration services, and payment technology platforms. Understand and effectively communicate architecture, modernization roadmaps, project progress, technical risks, and implementation challenges to business and technical stakeholders. Lead technical decision‑making and establish engineering standards that promote scalability, maintainability, resiliency, and secure software development practices. Contribute ideas and recommendations to the team's application architecture, integration strategy, engineering practices, and technology patterns, presenting solutions at architecture peer groups and architecture review board meetings within their domain. Coordinate with enterprise architecture, infrastructure, security, and external technology partners to ensure successful delivery of integrated solutions. Present team accomplishments and technical solutions at internal meetings and contribute to internal knowledge sharing through presentations, documentation, and blog posts. Understand and adhere to the Company's risk and regulatory standards, policies, and controls in accordance with the Company's Risk Appetite. Identify risk‑related issues needing escalation to management. Promote an environment that supports a culture of belonging and reflects the M&T Bank brand. Maintain M&T internal control standards, including timely implementation of internal and external audit points together with any issues raised by external regulators as applicable. Complete other related duties as assigned.

Scope of Responsibilities

Acts as a senior technical leader responsible for guiding engineering teams through the design, development, and implementation of complex business and technology solutions. Provides expertise in application modernization, API development, middleware technologies, enterprise system integration, and payment processing platforms while influencing technical direction and engineering best practices across multiple stakeholders and delivery teams.

Supervisory/Managerial Responsibilities

No supervisory responsibilities.

Education and Experience Required

Associate’s degree and a minimum of 7 years’ systems analysis and/or application development work experience or Bachelor's degree and a minimum of 5 years' systems analysis and/or application development work experience. In lieu of a degree, a combined minimum of 9 year’s education and/or relevant work experience, including a minimum of 5 years’ system analysis and/or application development work experience. Expert proficiency in a minimum of 1 relevant programming language and professional proficiency in a minimum of 1 additional relevant programming language.

Education and Experience Preferred

Expert analytical skills specific to application development Experience working in a team environment Ability to work autonomously Ability to multitask on multiple complex projects Strong organizational skills Strong time management skills Advanced verbal and written communication skills Experience driving project milestones and delivery dates Proven experience leading a project or initiative Experience partnering with and presenting to multiple stakeholders within technology and business departments Experience leading large‑scale application modernization initiatives Experience designing and implementing API and middleware solutions Experience integrating internal systems with third‑party platforms and services Experience supporting payment processing, transaction, or financial services technology environments Experience collaborating with architecture, infrastructure, security, and external technology partners Strong understanding of enterprise integration patterns, distributed systems, and service‑oriented architectures

M&T Bank is committed to fair, competitive, and market‑informed pay for our employees. The pay range for this position is $116,400.00 - $194,000.00 Annual (USD). The successful candidate’s particular combination of knowledge, skills, and experience will inform their specific compensation.

Location Buffalo, New York, United States of America

Great companies have an enduring sense of purpose. At M&T, our purpose is a simple one: make a difference in people’s lives and uplift the communities we serve. M&T Bank Corporation is a financial holding company headquartered in Buffalo, New York. M&T’s affiliates offer advice, guidance, expertise and solutions across the entire financial spectrum, combining M&T Bank’s traditional banking services with the wealth management and institutional capabilities offered by Wilmington Trust. M&T Bank has a network of over 1,000 branches and 2,200 ATMs that span 12 states from Maine to Virginia and Washington, D.C. For more than 165 years, M&T has strived to take an active role in our communities and build long‑lasting relationships with our customers. We are a bank for communities—combining the capabilities of a large bank with the care of a locally focused institution. As an employer of choice, we are proud to offer competitive benefits ranging from medical and retirement to forty hours of paid volunteer time, each year. Our core values - integrity, ownership, collaboration, curiosity, and candor - drive the work we do. We seek to further build upon our record of success by bringing in top talent and fresh skill sets while continuing to support the growth and development of all our team members. View M&T’s Human Capital Report to learn more.

M&T Bank is unwavering when it comes to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, ethnicity, sex, gender identity, age, disability, citizenship, pregnancy, veteran status, military status, marital status, sexual orientation, genetic information or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state or local laws.

M&T Bank Corporation has policies and procedures in place to promote a drug free workplace.