Lead Full Stack Engineer, Digital Transformation

at  Harvard University

POSITION DESCRIPTION

Be a pioneer in business, education, and global impact by joining the Harvard Business School HBS) Digital Transformation team - a “startup with assets,” where you will have the chance to deploy digital- and emerging-technology education solutions. Where else can you make a difference at the intersection of cutting-edge technology, world-class education, noble purpose, and timeless legacy?
We are building educational and research solutions powered by Generative AI (GenAI) that scale across hundreds of courses and to hundreds of thousands of users. Our products assist educators and students alike with intelligent, adaptive capabilities that make education more accessible, engaging, and effective.
We are seeking a highly skilled and experienced Lead Full Stack Engineer to join our team. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in both front-end and back-end development, with a proven track record of leading projects and mentoring junior developers. As a Lead Full Stack Engineer, you will play a pivotal role in driving innovative digital solutions, combining your expertise in front-end development using React with backend proficiency in Node.js and GraphQL.
As a Lead Full Stack Engineer you will architect, develop, and maintain complex web applications, ensuring seamless integration of front-end and back-end systems, while overseeing the work of contractors to maintain high code quality and performance. This key leadership position is crucial for driving technological innovation, enhancing user experience, and supporting the development of scalable solutions across various HBS departments.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead the development and implementation of robust, user-friendly web applications using modern technologies.
• Oversee and contribute to the development of front-end features using React, Next.js, TypeScript, JavaScript, HTML5, and CSS3, integrating with DTx’ generative AI products
• Design and implement scalable, low-latency backend services using Node.js, GraphQL, and REST APIs.
• Integrate user-facing elements with server-side logic to ensure high availability and data protection measures.
• Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams to architect, develop, and maintain end-to-end solutions.
• Conduct code reviews, provide constructive feedback, and ensure adherence to best practices.
• Mentor and guide junior developers, fostering a culture of continuous learning and improvement.
• Stay updated with emerging technologies and industry trends, and incorporate them into the development process.
• Troubleshoot, debug, and optimize existing systems to enhance performance and user experience.
• Coordinate with DevOps to ensure seamless deployment and integration processes.
• This role is also responsible for other duties as assigned.

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS

• Minimum of seven years’ post-secondary education or relevant work experience

ADDITIONAL QUALIFICATIONS AND SKILLS

Other Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in full-stack development, with a focus on leadership roles.
• Proficiency in front-end technologies such as React, Next.js, TypeScript, JavaScript, HTML5, and CSS3.
• Strong experience with back-end technologies such as Node.js and GraphQL.
• Hands-on experience with building scalable backend services and APIs.
• Experience with Google Analytics.

Familiarity with developing Generative AI products Familiarity with database systems and ORM libraries (e.g., PostgreSQL, DynamoDB).

• Experience with building serverless AWS application infrastructure (e.g., Lambda, Amplify, DynamoDB).
• Familiarity with CI/CD best practices (e.g., pre-commit hooks, GitHub actions, CDK).
• Solid understanding of version control systems, particularly Git.
• Excellent problem-solving skills and the ability to think critically.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work effectively in a team environment.
• Experience with Agile/Scrum methodologies is a plus.
• Consistent focus on quality through observability, error handling, performance monitoring, unit testing, and end-to-end testing. • Prior involvement in developing secure web applications and familiarity with application vulnerabilities.

Desired/Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in Computer Science or a related field.
• Experience with microservices architecture and RESTful API design.
• Knowledge of containerization technologies such as Docker and Kubernetes.
• Experience using GraphQL including a strong understanding and usage of GraphQL queries, mutations, and subscriptions.
• Familiarity with database systems and ORM libraries (e.g., PostgreSQL, DynamoDB) for backend data management.
• Experience with building serverless AWS application infrastructure (e.g. Lambda, Amplify, DynamoDB)
• Familiarity with CI/CD best practices (e.g. pre-commit hooks, GitHub actions, CDK)

ABOUT US

Founded in 1908 as part of Harvard University, Harvard Business School (www.hbs.edu) is located on a 40-acre campus in Boston. The School offers two full-time MBA and PhD programs, more than 175 Executive Education programs, and certificates and courses through Harvard Business School Online. For more than a century, Harvard Business School faculty have drawn on their research, connection to practice, global expertise, and passion for teaching to educate leaders who make a difference in the world. The School and its curriculum attract the boldest thinkers and the most collaborative learners who will shape the practice of business and entrepreneurship around the globe.

• Lead the development and implementation of robust, user-friendly web applications using modern technologies.
• Oversee and contribute to the development of front-end features using React, Next.js, TypeScript, JavaScript, HTML5, and CSS3, integrating with DTx’ generative AI products
• Design and implement scalable, low-latency backend services using Node.js, GraphQL, and REST APIs.
• Integrate user-facing elements with server-side logic to ensure high availability and data protection measures.
• Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams to architect, develop, and maintain end-to-end solutions.
• Conduct code reviews, provide constructive feedback, and ensure adherence to best practices.
• Mentor and guide junior developers, fostering a culture of continuous learning and improvement.
• Stay updated with emerging technologies and industry trends, and incorporate them into the development process.
• Troubleshoot, debug, and optimize existing systems to enhance performance and user experience.
• Coordinate with DevOps to ensure seamless deployment and integration processes.
• This role is also responsible for other duties as assigned