Lead Developer

We're seeking an exceptional Lead Developer to architect and build an internal workflow automation platform that will become a core customer offering, working directly with our CEO and leadership team while operating more like a technical founder than a traditional employee. This is a rare opportunity for someone who thrives on autonomy, moves fast, and isn't afraid to break things in pursuit of progress—you'll build the platform foundation, then deploy into enterprise customer environments to rapidly implement solutions enhanced with AI.
This role demands strong ownership. You'll build the platform foundation, then deploy into customer organizations to understand their workflows and rapidly implement enterprise-grade solutions enhanced with AI. If you're someone who sees problems and solves them without waiting to be told, this role is for you.

Foundation Phase:

- Design and build the core architecture for an enterprise workflow automation platform

- Make critical technical decisions about stack, architecture patterns, and implementation independently

- Create robust APIs, integrations, and workflow engines adaptable to diverse enterprise needs

Deployment Phase (Primary Focus):

- Deploy virtually or on-site into customer organizations across the US

- Conduct discovery sessions to understand workflows and requirements

- Rapidly prototype and build custom solutions tailored to each enterprise

- Iteratively integrate AI capabilities to enhance automation and drive value

- Act as the technical face of the company during customer engagements

Throughout:

- Work autonomously with minimal oversight from CEO and leadership

- Make architectural decisions and push back constructively when needed

- Move fast, ship quickly, and iterate. Success comes through iteration, not upfront planning

• 7+ years building production software across front‑end and back‑end; history of shipping complex systems.

• 2+ years building with Gen‑AI in real products.

• Expert with TypeScript/JavaScript and modern stacks (e.g., Next.js/React, Node/Nest/Express). Comfortable across data layers (Postgres/SQL, caches, vector stores).

• LLM‑assisted development expertise: You’ve materially increased velocity and quality using tools like Cursor, Claude Code, Windsurf, Copilot (or equivalents), and you know how to design prompts, break down problems, enforce tests, and review AI output safely.

• Solid grasp of security and compliance (authN/Z, RBAC/ABAC, audit, data residency, secrets, PII handling).

• Familiar with cloud + DevOps (Vercel/AWS/GCP/Azure), CI/CD, IaC (Terraform/Pulumi), and monitoring/observability.

• Leadership: proven experience guiding senior engineers, establishing patterns, and raising the bar; strong client‑facing communication.

• Domain bonus (nice‑to‑have): retail, hospitality, logistics, healthcare/life sciences.

  
  We value expert builders who are as strong with people as they are with code—clear communicators who set expectations, navigate ambiguity, and lead teams through challenges. Technical excellence matters, and so do leadership and communication.

  • We are remote‑friendly with an East‑coast heartbeat; onsite time varies by engagement.

  • Fast, skills‑first loop: intro → realistic build/architecture working session → panel → references.

  • We optimize for curiosity, proactive learning, and ownership over pedigree.

Flexible PTO, and true remote work—live where you want, work from anywhere. The bigger perk: the type of problems, clients, and impact you’ll have while building with a team that values both pace and polish.

We are Very Big Things, an award-winning Generative AI agency. Over the past seven years, we’ve been redefining the digital landscape with cutting-edge, AI-driven solutions, earning over 140 of the most prestigious awards in our industry. Trusted by forward-thinking clients like Royal Caribbean, Ryder, and Motorola, we’re a team of visionaries and creators who build custom, transformative experiences for companies eager to lead in their fields. We believe that individuals are capable of extraordinary things, and that exceptional teams working together can change the world.