Senior Software Design Engineer
HybridAmes, Iowa, United States or Fort Myers, Florida, United States
Job Summary
Write clean, maintainable, and scalable production code while actively participating in code reviews and core repository development. Design robust software architectures, API contracts, and data models that align with long-term product strategy. Own the technical implementation lifecycle by translating architectural designs into comprehensive Jira Epics, stories, and tasks with clear acceptance criteria. Lead backlog grooming, technical spikes, and sprint readiness to ensure dependencies and architectural runway are mapped and prioritized. Partner with Product Managers and Solution Architects to evaluate feasibility and decompose initiatives into bite-sized sprint items. Provide guidance on engineering principles, mentor junior engineers, and assist with onboarding while continuously improving team routines. This hands-on role bridges abstract product vision with concrete execution for mission-critical programs at Kingland.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree and requisite experience in Computer Science, Software Engineering or Computer Engineering
- 4+ years of hands-on software engineering experience delivering production-grade applications
- Exceptional experience utilizing Jira as a primary work management tool
- Ability to structure a board for maximum engineering velocity, track work components seamlessly, and maintain a pristine backlog
- Strong background in software design patterns, system architecture, API design, and data modeling
- Ability to write precise technical documentation, architectural diagrams (e.g., Mermaid, Lucidchart), and explicit Jira ticket requirements that eliminate ambiguity for the team
- Strong collaborative skills, with the ability to articulate complex technical trade-offs to both business stakeholders and engineering peers
- Ability to write clean, maintainable, and scalable production code
- Actively participate in code reviews and contribute to core repository development
- Leverage automated build and deploy processes to create and execute integration tests
- Identify, fix and communicate defects throughout the software engineering process
- Design robust software architectures, API contracts, data models, and component workflows that align with long-term product strategy
- Own the technical handoff and sprint readiness
- Translate architectural designs into comprehensive Jira Epics, technical User Stories, and granular sub-tasks with clear acceptance criteria
- Lead backlog grooming and technical spikes
- Ensure that dependencies, technical debt, and architectural runway are clearly mapped and prioritized on the Jira board
- Partner with Product Managers and Solution Architects to evaluate feasibility, scope technical effort, and decompose massive initiatives into bite-sized sprint items
- Provide guidance on engineering principles and mentoring others on the team
- Assist with onboarding new engineers and maintaining engineering routines
- Continually improve engineering principles to ensure the team delivers quality and velocity
- Must be available for hybrid positions in Ames, Iowa; Clear Lake, Iowa; or Fort Myers, Florida
Desired Qualifications
- Experience building automated workflows or custom reporting scripts utilizing Jira Cloud APIs (or integrating Jira data with external tracking tools)
- Familiarity with Jira Automation rules, advanced road mapping, or JQL power-searching
- Experience guiding or mentoring junior engineers through structured technical design reviews
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