Lab49 is an award-winning specialist consultancy that builds bespoke technology in partnership with the most important companies in global finance. Founded in 2002 to bring Silicon Valley-style engineering to Wall Street, we have helped clients navigate successive waves of technological change - from distributed computing and high-speed automation to enterprise UX, digital distribution, DevOps, cloud, and data science.
Today, we are an established partner in financial markets, having delivered hundreds of projects for tier-one investment banks and many of the world's largest buy-side firms.
Joining Lab49 means applying your engineering expertise in an environment where your contributions have real impact. Our engineers work in cross-functional teams, consult directly with clients, and deliver modern software into production.
The Principal Tech Lead will play a critical leadership role on a strategic new initiative for a major Lab49 client. You'll work in a collaborative, client-facing team to lead backend engineering efforts, design robust systems, and guide the delivery of modern digital products for buy-side research analysts and portfolio managers.
You will report to the Practice Head and partner closely with Product, UX, and Engineering stakeholders on both the Lab49 and client side to shape the discovery, architecture, and build phases of this initiative.
What you'll be doing: - Leading the design and build of backend services and system components using modern engineering techniques and best practices.
- Designing, documenting, and planning technical implementations and production deployment strategies.
- Acting as a hands-on engineer and architect, actively contributing to ongoing project work and setting engineering standards.
- Managing engineering deliverables and collaborating with other contributors to ensure high-quality outcomes.
- Partnering with client stakeholders to drive delivery, build trust, and operate with a commercial mindset.
- Strengthening client relationships as a strategic partner and technical advisor, helping expand Lab49's footprint and secure follow-on work.
- Supporting business development efforts by contributing to pitches, shaping technical solutions, and engaging with prospects.
- Contributing to the Engineering Practice by sharing best practices, mentoring engineers, and promoting excellence in software development.
- Helping develop effective management skills within Engineering and supporting strategic career development across the team.
What you should have: - 10+ years of hands-on experience building complex, commercial-grade software systems, including 5+ years leading Agile teams.
- A core engineering skillset centered on backend development (ideally C#/.NET) and delivering production-grade digital products.
- Proven track record of technical leadership, problem-solving, and sound decision-making.
- Experience designing holistic technical solutions, integrating with third-party APIs/services, and deploying applications into production.
- Experience managing project teams and interfacing with clients in finance, consulting, or startup environments.
- Passion for technology and innovation, with awareness of modern trends through industry events, meetups, etc.
- Experience with one or more cloud platforms and modern SDLC practices (CI/CD, automated testing, code reviews, source control, etc.).
- Experience in capital markets, financial products, or consulting is highly desirable.
Nice to have (bonus points): - Experience in wealth management, structured products, or end-to-end trading workflows.
- Front-end experience with JavaScript/TypeScript and modern frameworks (React preferred) - not required but beneficial.
- Experience with tools commonly used in financial environments (e.g., Bloomberg, Symphony, Salesforce, Databricks).
- Backend experience with additional languages (Java and/or Python) is a plus.
We are hiring across multiple levels for this job. The base salary range for this role is $170,000 - $210,000. However, the base salary range may vary depending on the individual's job-related knowledge, skills and experience.
Placement within the range provided above is based on the individual's relevant experience and skills for the role and level. Base salary is only one component of our total compensation package. Employees may be eligible for a discretionary bonus, which is determined upon company and individual performance.
Salary range disclosure as required by S9427A when hiring in New York.
Our total rewards program is designed to support employee well-being and professional growth. We offer a competitive benefits package including a discretionary bonus, paid holidays, a 401(k), and comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage. Additional benefits include life insurance, short and long-term disability, Commuter FSA, Family Building Benefits, and more. All benefits are subject to eligibility requirements.
Lab49/ION is committed to maintaining a supportive and inclusive environment for people with diverse backgrounds and experiences. We respect the varied identities, abilities, cultures, and traditions of the individuals who comprise our organization and recognize the value that different backgrounds and points of view bring to our business.
Lab49/ION adheres to an equal employment opportunity policy that prohibits discriminatory practices or harassment against applicants or employees based on any legally impermissible factor.
We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.
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