Lead API Software Developer (Lead Software Developer)

We’re always looking for diverse, talented, service-oriented people to join our exceptional team.

Lead API Software Developer (Lead Software Developer)

The pay range for this position is listed below. Our pay ranges are built to allow for candidates with various levels of skill and experience to be considered, as well as for room for growth and tenure achieved in a role over time. Typical new hire salary offers fall within the minimum to midpoint of a pay range for many candidates. Any offer extended to a candidate will be based upon their unique set of knowledge, skills, education, and experience as well as internal equity.

Pay Range: $129,880.00 - $214,303.00

Scheduled Weekly Hours:

40

What You’ll Be Doing

Provides technical leadership for the architecture, design, development, governance, security, implementation, and support of enterprise APIs and integrations. Leads complex API initiatives across the full SDLC, establishes reusable standards and API-first practices, and guides developers, project teams, and business partners in delivering secure, scalable, reliable solutions. Evaluates technologies and integration approaches, resolves complex technical issues, and drives quality, observability, documentation, and continuous improvement across the API portfolio.

Leads complex API and software development initiatives across the full SDLC, contributing directly to architecture, design, implementation, testing, deployment, troubleshooting, and production support to ensure successful delivery.

Serves as the technical lead across multiple projects, providing hands-on development, technical direction, code and design reviews, work delegation, coaching, and mentoring to developers in collaboration with the Manager.

Designs, develops, and continuously improves secure, scalable enterprise APIs, application integrations, and reusable patterns that support internal platforms, external partners, and third-party systems.

Champions API-first and contract-first practices by defining clear, consumer-focused RESTful API contracts using standards such as OpenAPI/Swagger and separating API definitions from backend implementation.

Provides technical leadership and recommendations for API architecture, governance practices, standards, and the adoption of a centralized, audit-ready API catalog and reusable API library.

Establishes and enforces API lifecycle controls covering design, testing, approval, deployment, versioning, documentation, deprecation, and retirement to maintain quality and consistency.

Designs defense-in-depth API security using enterprise IAM, OpenID Connect, JWT, mutual TLS, gateway controls, PII encryption, audit logging, threat modeling, and automated security testing in the delivery pipeline.

Develops and supports API enablement capabilities—including developer portals, documentation, SDKs, and sandbox environments—to accelerate adoption and manage APIs as products across free, partner, and enterprise access tiers.

Implements API observability through structured logging, distributed tracing, usage and performance metrics, service-level objectives, and proactive alerting to improve reliability and incident response.

Partners with business units, security, risk, compliance, architecture, and vendors to translate requirements into technical solutions, design integrations and automations, and evaluate build-versus-buy and hybrid gateway strategies.

Plans and coordinates project delivery by prioritizing requests, developing estimates, assigning work, managing schedules and dependencies, and applying Agile/Scrum practices to meet commitments.

Evaluates existing applications, integrations, development processes, and emerging technologies to identify performance, automation, standardization, and modernization opportunities across the IT organization.

Defines and reports project status, API governance metrics, and KPIs—including standards compliance, approval cycle time, catalog adoption, reliability, usage, and security defect trends—to management and stakeholders.

Serves as senior technical resource and project lead, developing estimates, budgets, resources, managing project schedules, deliverables and status reporting to meet approved scope and timelines.

Additional Job Functions

Performs other duties as assigned

Complies with regulatory compliance and assigned training requirements including but not limited to BSA regulations corresponding to their specific job duties. Failure to do so may result in disciplinary and other employment related actions.

Qualifications

High School Diploma or GED required

Bachelor's Degree in a related field or equivalent years of experience required

7-10 years of prior relevant experience required

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Expert knowledge of C# , .NET Core, and modern software development practices

Strong understanding of RESTful API design, integration patterns, versioning, and governance

Experience designing scalable, secure, and maintainable applications, services, and microservices

Proficiency with SQL Server, T-SQL, database design, and performance optimization

Experience with modern web technologies including JavaScript, TypeScript, and HTML5

Experience supporting mobile application platforms utilizing Swift, Java and Kotlin

Experience with cloud platforms, CI/CD pipelines, and DevOps practices

Knowledge of authentication, authorization, API security, and secure coding practices

Proficiency with Azure DevOps, source control, automated testing, and deployment tools

Experience working in Agile and Scrum environments

Strong analytical, troubleshooting, and problem-solving skills

Ability to establish and enforce development standards, engineering best practices, and API governance

Ability to lead technical design efforts, mentor developers, and conduct code reviews

Strong verbal and written communication skills

Ability to manage priorities and deliver results across multiple initiatives

Knowledge of financial services, digital banking, and credit union operations, or the ability to quickly acquire such knowledge

SchoolsFirst FCU is committed to Diverse, Equitable, and Inclusive Hiring

At SchoolsFirst FCU we are dedicated to building and growing a diverse, inclusive, and authentic Dream Team, so if you’re excited about a position or wanting to make a career change but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. Many skills are transferrable and you may be just the right candidate for the position, or for other roles we are working on.

SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union is committed to fostering, cultivating, and preserving a culture of diversity and inclusion. SchoolsFirst FCU is an equal opportunity employer and prohibits discrimination against qualified individuals based on their status as protected veterans or individuals with disabilities and prohibits discrimination against all individuals based on their race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, political affiliation, or genetic information.

This organization participates in E-Verify.