Senior Back-end Tech Lead

About the Role

AppWork builds the platform that multifamily maintenance teams run on every day: work orders, inspections, make readies, and the data that powers smarter decisions for property operators across the country. We're growing fast, and we're looking for a Senior Back-End Tech Lead who wants to shape both the platform and the team building it.

This is a hands-on role. You'll write code, make architecture calls, and solve hard problems alongside the team, while also growing the engineers around you. You'll be instrumental in driving technical excellence and a collaborative environment. Reporting directly to the VP R&D, you'll help set the technical bar for AppWork's R&D organization and build the kind of engineering culture that lets our startup move incredibly fast without breaking things.

This is a hybrid role, with in-office collaboration expected.

What you'll do

• Lead by doing: write code, design architecture, and work through the hard problems yourself. You'll set the standard for quality, scalability, and reliability by example.
• Grow the team: mentor engineers, build a culture of ownership and continuous improvement, and help AppWork's R&D team to continuously level up, being 1% better every day.
• Turn ideas into systems: translate business needs into solid technical solutions, improve how the team ships, and lead real life initiatives.
• Work across teams: partner closely with Product, Design and CS teams to turn business requirements into technical plans, and keep engineering work aligned with AppWork’s north star.

Qualifications

We're looking for a builder: someone with an entrepreneurial spirit who leads through technical work and significantly contribute to our engineering culture and output

• 10+ years in software development, including 3+ years in an engineering leadership role
• Bachelor's degree in Software Engineering, Computer Science, or equivalent.
• Exceptional, hands-on experience in Python, Java, C#, Node.js, or Elixir.
• Experience driving adoption of AI coding tools like Claude Code and Cursor across a team, including setting KPIs and building them into everyday workflows.
• Deep knowledge of high-performance SQL and NoSQL database design.
• A track record of designing architecture that is built to scale.
• Strong command of AWS, with experience architecting solutions across a range of AWS services.
• Experience with message queue technologies (Kafka, SQS, RabbitMQ, or Oban) for building scalable data pipelines.
• Solid understanding of CI/CD pipelines supporting at least daily production releases.
• Experience scaling R&D teams in dynamic fast-moving startups.
• Comfort with ambiguity, a bias toward quick execution, and high accountability, whether you're leading or coding
• Strong ownership, a partner mindset, and real hunger to build great features
• Fluent English, spoken and written, for documentation and team communication

Why Work for AppWork

• Competitive compensation package
• Stock options
• Unlimited PTO
• Travel pay and in office meals
• Recognition and rewards programs
• A collaborative, upbeat environment with company events throughout the year