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Lead Software Engineer

VML

Department: Technology

Expertise: Technology

Location: Atlanta, GA, United States

Who We Are:

At VML, we are a beacon of innovation and growth in an ever-evolving world. Our heritage is built upon a century of combined expertise, where creativity meets technology, and diverse perspectives ignite inspiration. With the merger of VMLY&R and Wunderman Thompson, we have forged a new path as a growth partner that is part creative agency, part consultancy, and part technology powerhouse. 

Our global family now encompasses over 30,000 employees across 150+ offices in 64 markets, each contributing to a culture that values connection, belonging, and the power of differences.  Our expertise spans the entire customer journey, offering deep insights in communications, commerce, consultancy, CRM, CX, data, production, and technology. We deliver end-to-end solutions that result in revolutionary work. 

Who we are looking for: 

VML is seeking a highly skilled and experienced Lead Software Engineer to join our team. As a Lead Software Engineer, you are responsible for building and guiding the development of complex, large-scale applications. Our enterprise applications must adhere to rigorous architecture principles, high security specifications and compliance standards that exceed or meet federal government mandates.  This role requires a deep understanding of software development best practices and patterns and the ability to lead a team in implementing these principles. Knowledge of, and experience in, Scaled Agile Framework for Enterprises (SAFe) is highly desirable.

What you’ll do:  

  • Create | Utilize development patterns to create scalable, maintainable, and efficient applications. Manage project timelines and deliverables, ensuring all projects meet quality standards and are delivered on time. Troubleshoot and resolve complex technical issues. 
  • Collaborate | Lead a team of software engineers in designing, developing, testing, and deploying high-quality software solutions. Collaborate with stakeholders to understand their requirements and translate them into technical specifications. Mentor other software engineers, fostering a culture of continuous learning and improvement. 
  • Compliance | Implement and enforce best practices in software development, including code reviews, testing, and documentation. Stay current with emerging trends and technologies in software engineering and introduce them to the team when appropriate. 

Who you are: 

  • A builder | Entrepreneurial attitude coupled with strong technical skills. Ability and appetite to bring people together. Innate ability to marshal people and create gravity around ideas.
  • Open and collaborative | Our team is close-knit and supportive, and we’re working with a lot of unknowns – you must champion team environments that are comfortable and encouraging. You have an aptitude to learn new technologies and testing approaches.
  • Optimistic and resilient | Digs in and figure out how to work around problems. "Yes" and "why not" posture. Takes care of self and team. Balances the need to maintain stamina and positivity.
  • Ego-less | We all wear the hats that need wearing- it’s a mentality that makes the team successful.

What you’ll need:  

  • 10+ years of experience in software quality and engineering, primarily working with existing codebases for a large application and able to use debugging tools. Agency or government environment preferred. 
  • Mastery of Backend technologies (Node.js, Java, C#, SQL, REST)
  • Mastery of Frontend technologies (HTML/CSS/JS and ReactJS/Vue.js) 
  • Experience in Engineering Technologies (Cloud Development: Azure, AWS)
  • Authentication Experience (OAUTH, LDAP, OpenID) 
  • Experience in Testing Automation, data mapping, and data management processes  
  • Experience creating and deploying API driven applications and backend services
  • Experience developing headless backend functionality by creating and maintaining unit test suites
  • Self-motivated and detail-oriented work ethic with a willingness to challenge assumptions and chartering forward directions
  • Good communication skills and an eagerness to work tightly with an experienced and diverse set of team members
  • Experience in low code platform is preferred
  • Familiarity with NIST RMF 800-53 & NIST RMF 800-171 and /or FedRAMP & DoD impact levels is desired
  • DoD clearance and/or Common Access Card is desired

At VML, we are committed to fostering an all-inclusive work environment that is both rewarding and career-forward. Our Inclusion, Equity & Belonging initiatives, alongside the VML Foundation, reflect our dedication to giving back and making a positive impact in our communities and beyond. Our people are the heartbeat of our organization—creators, doers, innovators, makers, and thinkers—who drive not just marketing, but meaningful experiences that resonate in every action and interaction. 

VML is a WPP Agency. For more information, please visit our website, and follow VML on our social channels via Instagram, LinkedIn, and X. 

When you click "Submit Application", this will send any information you add below to VML. Before you do this, we think it's a good idea to read through our Recruitment Privacy Policy. California residents should read our California Recruitment Privacy Notice. This explains what we do with your personal data when you apply for a role with us, and, how you can update the information you have provided us with or how to remove it.

When you click "Submit Application", this will send any information you add below to VML. Before you do this, we think it's a good idea to read through our Recruitment Privacy Policy. California residents should read our California Recruitment Privacy Notice. This explains what we do with your personal data when you apply for a role with us, and, how you can update the information you have provided us with or how to remove it.