Lead Engineer

About the role

About The Company

8th Light is a renowned technology solutions consultancy committed to transforming complex software challenges into durable, high-quality results. Established in 2006 and headquartered in Chicago, the company collaborates with a diverse range of clients, from innovative startups to global corporations. 8th Light's core mission is to bring ideas to life through exceptional engineering and design, fostering an environment that values continuous learning, innovation, and integrity. The organization emphasizes building agentic products and platforms that serve as reliable foundations for its clients’ digital strategies. Its culture is rooted in honesty, collaboration, and a shared passion for technology, making it a trusted partner in the software development landscape.

About The Role

We are seeking a highly experienced Lead Engineer to join 8th Light’s dynamic team. In this pivotal role, you will serve as a technical leader, guiding projects from inception through deployment while collaborating closely with clients and internal teams. You will be responsible for leading architecture discussions, designing scalable and secure systems, and mentoring junior engineers. Your expertise will help shape innovative solutions across various technologies, including AI/ML integrations, data engineering, and system infrastructure. This role offers an exciting opportunity to work with diverse clients, influence project outcomes, and contribute to the growth and culture of 8th Light. As a lead technologist, you will balance technical excellence with strategic thinking, ensuring projects meet high standards of quality, security, and performance.

Qualifications

The ideal candidate will have over 7 years of proven experience in software development, with a broad skill set that includes proficiency in multiple programming languages such as Java, C#/.NET, Python, TypeScript, JavaScript, and frameworks like React. Experience with AI/ML-powered features, data engineering platforms, and infrastructure as code is highly desirable. Candidates should demonstrate a strong track record of leading high-stakes projects, building maintainable software collaboratively, and integrating automated testing practices. Familiarity with CI/CD pipelines, version control systems like Git, and cloud-based solutions is essential. Additionally, candidates should possess excellent communication skills, leadership capabilities, and a passion for mentoring others. Experience in platform engineering, DevOps, MLOps, or delivering agentic systems such as RAG pipelines and vector search frameworks will be considered a strong advantage.

Responsibilities

As a Lead Engineer at 8th Light, your responsibilities will include:

Making immediate and impactful contributions to client projects, establishing trust and credibility quickly.

Leading architecture and design discussions to develop scalable, secure, and reliable systems.

Collaborating across teams to develop solutions that encompass the full ML lifecycle, from data ingestion to model deployment and monitoring.

Driving technical innovation by proposing new solutions and approaches to complex challenges.

Facilitating formal feedback sessions, retrospectives, and continuous improvement initiatives within teams.

Documenting project outcomes, technical decisions, and next steps clearly and effectively.

Managing project roadmaps, timelines, and deliverables for large engagements, ensuring alignment with client expectations.

Maintaining strong relationships with client technical leaders, providing regular updates, and identifying potential risks and solutions.

Mentoring team members, sharing knowledge, and fostering a collaborative, inclusive team environment.

Supporting business development efforts by representing 8th Light at industry events, workshops, and within the tech community.

Benefits

8th Light values its employees and offers a comprehensive wellness package designed to support their overall well-being and professional growth. Benefits include unlimited access to extensive learning resources via the O'Reilly platform, an annual stipend dedicated to learning and development, and support for coworking spaces to promote collaboration across remote teams. The company offers flexible paid time off, allowing employees to manage their work-life balance effectively. New parents are supported with 12 weeks of parental leave, and the organization encourages continuous learning through internal workshops, mentorship programs, and active participation in the tech community. Other benefits include health insurance options, retirement plans, and a vibrant, inclusive culture that promotes diversity and equity in the workplace.

Equal Opportunity

8th Light is committed to fostering a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace. We believe that a variety of perspectives and experiences enrich our culture and enhance our ability to serve our clients effectively. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and are dedicated to providing equal employment opportunities without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, or any other protected status. Our hiring practices are designed to ensure fairness and transparency, and we strive to create an environment where everyone feels valued, respected, and empowered to succeed.