Job#: 3023889 Job Description: Role OverviewWe are seeking a Lead Software Engineer to serve as the technical anchor for Our Client's AI Developer Tooling & Enablement platform. This role operates at a Principal Software Engineer level, combining deep hands-on engineering, platform stewardship, and enterprise-scale governance across GitHub, Cursor, Claude, and emerging AI development tools.
The Lead Software Engineer will own the technical strategy, architecture, and execution for AI-powered developer tooling used by thousands of engineers globally, while partnering closely with Product, Security, Legal, Finance, and Vendor Management. This role fills a critical capability gap by unifying platform engineering excellence, AI tooling expertise, and enterprise systems leadership into a single accountable technical owner.
Key ResponsibilitiesTechnical Leadership & Platform Stewardship- Serve as the lead engineer and technical steward for the AI Dev Tooling & Enablement squad, owning architecture, administration, and long-term technical direction for GitHub, Cursor, and Claude.
- Establish and evolve technical standards, patterns, and best practices for AI developer tooling at enterprise scale.
- AI Dev Tooling & Enablement Initiatives
- Lead multiple proof-of-concept and incubation efforts central to Our Client's AI development strategy, including:
- Background agents running on self-hosted runners
- Claude Code evaluation and comparative analysis
- "Bring Your Own Model" (BYOM) enablement pathways
- Design and implement SCIM-based integrations (e.g., for Cursor) to support automated team management, access control, and accurate cost allocation and chargeback.
- Translate experimental AI capabilities into secure, supportable, production-ready platforms.
GitHub & AI Tooling Platform Ownership- Act as squad lead and governance owner for all GitHub and Cursor initiatives, including GitHub Copilot and adjacent AI dev tooling (e.g., MCP servers and system integrations).
- Provide end-to-end product support and operational ownership for developer tooling used by thousands of engineers.
- Partner directly with vendors such as GitHub, Anysphere and Anthropic to drive Our Client requirements, roadmap alignment, and issue resolution.
- Evaluate new vendor features in Preview/Beta to determine enterprise applicability and value.
- Lead annual SOX and security compliance audits, and design automation for:
- License management and reclamation
- Policy enforcement and reporting
- Maintain and evolve a Selenium-based automation suite required to bridge gaps where vendor APIs are insufficient.
- Serve as a key contributor to open-source initiatives, configurations, and inner-source tooling.
- Consult with internal teams on advanced topics such as authentication patterns using GitHub Apps.
- Author and drive execution of a strategic GitHub ecosystem optimization proposal, covering:
Software Development & Engineering Contribution:
- Design and implement Backstage plugins powering Our Client's developer portal, including:
- AI Tools portal
- GitHub insights and workflows
- An upcoming administrative control panel
- Contribute as a hands-on engineer and technical reviewer to other NDX platform capabilities such as Managed CI/CD, Jeter, and QMA.
- Build dashboards and tooling to improve visibility into Cursor usage, cost trends, and optimization opportunities.
- Balance platform-level architecture with direct code contributions in TypeScript, backend services, automation frameworks, and infrastructure tooling.
AI Dev Tools Governance & Risk Management- Act as a core member of the AI Dev Tools Feature Review Committee, helping evaluate, approve, and operationalize AI tools for enterprise use.
- Lead and shape the MCP Server approval lifecycle, from proposal through review and production readiness.
- Ensure all AI tooling aligns with Our Client's security, compliance, and responsible-AI standards.
Cross-Functional Collaboration & Influence- Operate at the center of Our Client's development ecosystem, partnering closely with:
- Inter-source contributors across CX, NPE, and FPE teams
- Security, Legal, CIS, and Platform Engineering
- Internal engineering customers across domains
- Provide enterprise-level guidance on:
- Source control and GitHub best practices
- CI/CD patterns and platform usage
- SDLC improvements and developer experience optimization
Qualifications:- 10+ years of professional software engineering experience, with demonstrated principal-level technical leadership.
- Deep expertise in GitHub administration, governance, and automation at enterprise scale.
- Strong background in platform engineering and developer experience tooling.
- Hands-on experience with AI-assisted development tools and emerging AI platforms.
- Proven ability to design and maintain automation frameworks where vendor APIs are limited.
- Excellent cross-functional communication skills, including the ability to translate technical and financial concepts for senior stakeholders.
Preferred- Experience with Backstage, internal developer portals, and platform extensibility.
- Familiarity with SCIM, identity management, and enterprise access controls.
- Exposure to open-source contribution models and inner-source practices.
- Business or financial education (e.g., MBA) or equivalent experience supporting vendor and cost management.
EEO Employer
Apex Systems is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate or allow discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or related medical conditions), age, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, genetic information, registered domestic partner status, marital status, disability, status as a crime victim, protected veteran status, political affiliation, union membership, or any other characteristic protected by law. Apex will consider qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable law. If you have visited our website in search of information on employment opportunities or to apply for a position, and you require an accommodation in using our website for a search or application, please contact our Employee Services Department at or .
Apex Systems is a world-class IT services company that serves thousands of clients across the globe. When you join Apex, you become part of a team that values innovation, collaboration, and continuous learning. We offer quality career resources, training, certifications, development opportunities, and a comprehensive benefits package. Our commitment to excellence is reflected in many awards, including ClearlyRated's Best of Staffing in Talent Satisfaction in the United States and Great Place to Work in the United Kingdom and Mexico. Apex uses a virtual recruiter as part of the application process. Click for more details.
Apex Benefits Overview: Apex offers a range of supplemental benefits, including medical, dental, vision, life, disability, and other insurance plans that offer an optional layer of financial protection. We offer an ESPP (employee stock purchase program) and a 401K program which allows you to contribute typically within 30 days of starting, with a company match after 12 months of tenure. Apex also offers a HSA (Health Savings Account on the HDHP plan), a SupportLinc Employee Assistance Program (EAP) with up to 8 free counseling sessions, a corporate discount savings program and other discounts. In terms of professional development, Apex hosts an on-demand training program, provides access to certification prep and a library of technical and leadership courses/books/seminars once you have 6+ months of tenure, and certification discounts and other perks to associations that include CompTIA and IIBA. Apex has a dedicated customer service team for our Consultants that can address questions around benefits and other resources, as well as a certified Career Coach. You can access a full list of our benefits, programs, support teams and resources within our 'Welcome Packet' as well, which an Apex team member can provide.
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