Senior Software Engineer - WGU Labs

WGU; Salt Lake City (UT); On-site; USD 144,000 - 223,000; Full time

Job summary

WGU in Salt Lake City is seeking a Senior Software Engineer to design, build, and support scalable software across front-end React/Next.js and back-end Python services. You will collaborate with engineers, architects, and product leaders to deliver robust solutions for students and faculty.

This role emphasizes leadership, mentorship, and quality through testing, automation, and modern data layers like PostgreSQL.

Responsibilities

• Design, build, and support scalable, secure, and high-performing software solutions using React/Next.js on the front end and Python on the back end.
• Lead the delivery of complex initiatives from concept through implementation, balancing speed, quality, and long-term maintainability.
• Mentor and develop engineers through technical guidance, code reviews, and knowledge sharing.
• Partner with cross-functional teams to translate business requirements into technical solutions.
• Drive continuous improvement in software quality, reliability, observability, and operational excellence.
• Explore modern data layers and cloud-native development, including Docker, Kubernetes, Terraform, and PostgreSQL.

Skills

Full-stack development

Technical leadership

Mentoring

Cross-functional collaboration

AI-assisted development

Code reviews

System architecture

Observability

Tools

React

Next.js

Node.js

Python

PostgreSQL

Docker

Kubernetes

Terraform

Job description

If you're passionate about building a better future for individuals, communities, and our country-and you're committed to working hard to play your part in building that future-consider WGU as the next step in your career.

Driven by a mission to expand access to higher education through online, competency-based degree programs, WGU is also committed to being a great place to work for a diverse workforce of student-focused professionals. The university has pioneered a new way to learn in the 21st century, one that has received praise from academic, industry, government, and media leaders. Whatever your role, working for WGU gives you a part to play in helping students graduate, creating a better tomorrow for themselves and their families.

The salary range for this position takes into account the wide range of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions including but not limited to skill sets; experience and training; licensure and certifications; and other business and organizational needs.

At WGU, it is not typical for an individual to be hired at or near the top of the range for their position, and compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case. A reasonable estimate of the current range is:

Grade: Technical 410

Pay Range: $143,700.00 - $222,700.00

Job Description

The Senior Software Engineer is responsible for the research, design, development, analysis, testing, and implementation of software operating or application systems. They communicate project information to client, project manager, or other design personnel working on projects. They maintain good working relationships with clients and staff. They write and maintains complete documentation. They support team members and ensures established goals and deadlines are met. They keep management informed of status and significant problems.

What You'll Do

As a Senior Software Engineer, you'll play a critical role in shaping the future of our technology platforms while helping drive innovation across the organization. You'll partner with talented engineers, architects, and business leaders to solve complex technical challenges and deliver solutions that directly impact students, faculty, and the broader educational experience.

In this role, you will:

• Design, build, and support scalable, secure, and high-performing software solutions using modern full-stack technologies - including React, Next.js, and Node.js on the front end and Python (FastAPI, Flask, or similar) on the back end - that power critical business capabilities.
• Serve as a technical leader and trusted advisor, influencing architecture, engineering standards, and best practices across teams.
• Lead the delivery of complex initiatives from concept through implementation, balancing speed, quality, and long-term maintainability.
• Mentor and develop fellow engineers through technical guidance, code reviews, design discussions, and knowledge sharing.
• Partner with cross-functional teams to understand business objectives and translate requirements into thoughtful technical solutions.
• Identify risks, dependencies, and opportunities early, helping teams navigate challenges before they impact delivery.
• Drive continuous improvement in software quality, reliability, observability, and operational excellence.
• Contribute to modernization initiatives, including cloud-native development, containerization and orchestration ( Docker, ECS, Kubernetes ), Infrastructure as Code ( Terraform, CloudFormation ), application integrations, and system scalability.
• Design and work with modern data layers, including PostgreSQL and ORMs such as Drizzle, Prisma, or SQLAlchemy .
• Apply AI-assisted development practices to accelerate delivery, and integrate AI/ML services into applications to create smarter, more capable platform experiences.
• Lead troubleshooting and resolution efforts for complex production issues, improving service stability and customer experience.
• Champion engineering excellence through thoughtful testing strategies, automation, and data-driven decision making.
• Explore emerging technologies and innovative approaches - including real-time collaboration tools ( WebSockets, Y.js ) and evolving AI/ML capabilities - that can improve platform capabilities, developer productivity, and organizational outcomes.
• Foster a collaborative engineering culture where knowledge sharing, innovation, and continuous learning thrive.

Why Engineers Love This Role

• Architectural Influence: Help drive technical direction and shape platform strategy.
• Meaningful Impact: Build solutions that directly support higher education and student success.
• Complex Technical Challenges: Work on integrations, scalability, cloud modernization, AI/ML-powered features, and enterprise-scale systems.
• Modern Toolset: Build with a contemporary stack - React, Next.js, Node.js, Python, PostgreSQL, Docker/Kubernetes, and Terraform - alongside AI-assisted development tools.
• Leadership Without Management: