Lead Software Engineer

Lead Software EngineerMastercard is a global technology company in the payments industry, focused on powering an inclusive, digital economy that makes transactions safe, simple, smart, and accessible. Using secure data and networks, our innovations enable individuals, financial institutions, governments, and businesses worldwide to realize their greatest potential.About the RoleWithin Mastercard's Builders Enablement Program (ONE Division), we are building a standardized, secure, cloud first software delivery ecosystem and delivering a world class developer experience.We are seeking a Lead Software Engineer to design, build, and advance internal developer platforms through modern, data-driven user interfaces. This role requires deep technical expertise, end-to-end ownership, and the ability to lead complex engineering initiatives across architecture, development, and operations.Software Design & ArchitectureLead end-to-end software design and architecture, translating business and system requirements into scalable, reliable, and maintainable solutionsDefine high- and low-level design artifacts, including APIs, data models, system interactions, and component boundariesEstablish and enforce architecture standards, design patterns, and engineering best practices across teamsApply deep knowledge of data structures, algorithms, and distributed system design to solve complex performance and scalability challengesSoftware Development ExcellenceOwn delivery of robust, secure, and high-performance software across backend platforms and frontend applications (React, TypeScript)Drive engineering excellence in coding standards, modular design, and maintainabilityBuild and enhance internal developer platforms using Backstage or similar frameworks, leveraging plugin-based architecturesDevelop data-driven user interfaces that surface observability and operational insightsTesting Strategy & Quality EngineeringDefine and implement comprehensive testing strategies, including Unit testing, Integration testing, and Functional/end-to-end testingEmbed automated testing within CI/CD pipelines to enforce quality gates and prevent regressionsEnsure systems meet correctness, reliability, and backward compatibility requirements at scalePerformance EngineeringLead performance engineering initiatives, including system benchmarking, load testing, and capacity planningAnalyze system bottlenecks and optimize latency, throughput, and resource utilization across distributed architecturesEnsure applications meet strict performance SLAs in high-volume, mission-critical environmentsSecure Coding & ComplianceEnforce secure coding practices and integrate security into every phase of the SDLCDesign systems that meet enterprise security, regulatory, and compliance requirementsPartner with security teams to proactively identify and remediate vulnerabilitiesTroubleshooting & Incident ManagementServe as a senior escalation point for complex production issues across distributed systems and user-facing platformsLead root cause analysis, incident resolution, and postmortem activitiesDrive systemic improvements to prevent recurring issues and improve system reliabilityCode Review & Technical LeadershipLead rigorous code reviews, ensuring adherence to best practices in design, performance, security, and maintainabilityMentor engineers and elevate team capability in software design, testing, debugging, and operational excellenceProvide hands-on guidance in solving high-complexity technical problems across system layersCollaboration & OwnershipPartner with product, platform, and business stakeholders to shape technical roadmaps and delivery prioritiesOwn and deliver cross-functional initiatives spanning frontend, backend, and platform engineeringContribute to the Software Engineering Guild by sharing reusable frameworks, patterns, and innovationsAll About YouWe are looking for someone who demonstrates strong experience:Across software development, system design, and architectureIn data structures, algorithms, and distributed systemsWorking across backend platforms and frontend applicationsLeading with a quality-first mindset, emphasizing testing, security, and performanceExcelling at troubleshooting complex systems and driving resolution under pressureProactively improving operability, reliability, and developer experienceInfluencing technical direction and mentors engineers across teamsUnit, Integration, and Functional Testing frameworks and strategiesPerformance Engineering and system optimizationSecure coding practices and application security principlesCode reviews and engineering quality standardsOperability engineering (observability, monitoring, reliability)Qualifications:Extensive experience in software development and system design, with demonstrated ownership of large-scale distributed systemsProficiency in modern programming languages (e.g., Java, C#) and frontend development using React and TypeScriptExperience building internal developer platforms (Backstage or similar)Experience with plugin-based architectures and integrating DevOps toolsProven ability to build data-driven user interfacesHands-on experience with AWS (Azure a plus), Kubernetes, and cloud-native technologiesStrong experience with CI/CD pipelines and Infrastructure as Code (Terraform, CloudFormation)Experience with observability platforms (e.g., Splunk or equivalent)Excellent communication and technical leadership skillsBachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field is preferredMastercard is a merit-based, inclusive, equal opportunity employer that considers applicants without regard to gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, disabled or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. We hire the most qualified candidate for the role. In the US or Canada, if you require accommodations or assistance to complete the online application process or during the recruitment process, please contact View email address on click.appcast.io and identify the type of accommodation or assistance you are requesting. Do not include any medical or health information in this email. The Reasonable Accommodations team will respond to your email promptly.Corporate Security ResponsibilityAll activities involving access to Mastercard assets, information, and networks comes with an inherent risk to the organization and, therefore, it is expected that every person working for, or on behalf of, Mastercard is responsible for information security and must:Abide by Mastercard's security policies and practices;Ensure the confidentiality and integrity of the information being accessed;Report any suspected information security violation or breach, andComplete all periodic mandatory security trainings in accordance with Mastercard's guidelines.Pay RangesO'Fallon, Missouri: $140,000 - $231,000 USD