Provides technical leadership for enterprise API architecture, development, governance, security, integration, and support. Leads complex initiatives across the full software development lifecycle, establishes API-first standards, designs secure and scalable RESTful services, mentors developers, and oversees reviews, testing, deployment, observability, documentation, and production support. Coordinates project delivery, evaluates technologies, partners with business and security teams, manages schedules and dependencies, and reports governance and performance metrics.
We’re always looking for diverse, talented, service-oriented people to join our exceptional team.
Lead API Software Developer (Lead Software Developer)The pay range for this position is listed below. Our pay ranges are built to allow for candidates with various levels of skill and experience to be considered, as well as for room for growth and tenure achieved in a role over time. Typical new hire salary offers fall within the minimum to midpoint of a pay range for many candidates. Any offer extended to a candidate will be based upon their unique set of knowledge, skills, education, and experience as well as internal equity.
Pay Range:
$129,880.00 - $214,303.00Scheduled Weekly Hours:
40What You’ll Be Doing
Provides technical leadership for the architecture, design, development, governance, security, implementation, and support of enterprise APIs and integrations. Leads complex API initiatives across the full SDLC, establishes reusable standards and API-first practices, and guides developers, project teams, and business partners in delivering secure, scalable, reliable solutions. Evaluates technologies and integration approaches, resolves complex technical issues, and drives quality, observability, documentation, and continuous improvement across the API portfolio.
- Leads complex API and software development initiatives across the full SDLC, contributing directly to architecture, design, implementation, testing, deployment, troubleshooting, and production support to ensure successful delivery.
- Serves as the technical lead across multiple projects, providing hands-on development, technical direction, code and design reviews, work delegation, coaching, and mentoring to developers in collaboration with the Manager.
- Designs, develops, and continuously improves secure, scalable enterprise APIs, application integrations, and reusable patterns that support internal platforms, external partners, and third-party systems.
- Champions API-first and contract-first practices by defining clear, consumer-focused RESTful API contracts using standards such as OpenAPI/Swagger and separating API definitions from backend implementation.
- Provides technical leadership and recommendations for API architecture, governance practices, standards, and the adoption of a centralized, audit-ready API catalog and reusable API library.
- Establishes and enforces API lifecycle controls covering design, testing, approval, deployment, versioning, documentation, deprecation, and retirement to maintain quality and consistency.
- Designs defense-in-depth API security using enterprise IAM, OpenID Connect, JWT, mutual TLS, gateway controls, PII encryption, audit logging, threat modeling, and automated security testing in the delivery pipeline.
- Develops and supports API enablement capabilities—including developer portals, documentation, SDKs, and sandbox environments—to accelerate adoption and manage APIs as products across free, partner, and enterprise access tiers.
- Implements API observability through structured logging, distributed tracing, usage and performance metrics, service-level objectives, and proactive alerting to improve reliability and incident response.
- Partners with business units, security, risk, compliance, architecture, and vendors to translate requirements into technical solutions, design integrations and automations, and evaluate build-versus-buy and hybrid gateway strategies.
- Plans and coordinates project delivery by prioritizing requests, developing estimates, assigning work, managing schedules and dependencies, and applying Agile/Scrum practices to meet commitments.
- Evaluates existing applications, integrations, development processes, and emerging technologies to identify performance, automation, standardization, and modernization opportunities across the IT organization.
- Defines and reports project status, API governance metrics, and KPIs—including standards compliance, approval cycle time, catalog adoption, reliability, usage, and security defect trends—to management and stakeholders.
- Serves as senior technical resource and project lead, developing estimates, budgets, resources, managing project schedules, deliverables and status reporting to meet approved scope and timelines.
Additional Job Functions
- Performs other duties as assigned
- Complies with regulatory compliance and assigned training requirements including but not limited to BSA regulations corresponding to their specific job duties. Failure to do so may result in disciplinary and other employment related actions.
Qualifications
- High School Diploma or GED required
- Bachelor's Degree in a related field or equivalent years of experience required
- 7-10 years of prior relevant experience required
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- Expert knowledge of C# , .NET Core, and modern software development practices
- Strong understanding of RESTful API design, integration patterns, versioning, and governance
- Experience designing scalable, secure, and maintainable applications, services, and microservices
- Proficiency with SQL Server, T-SQL, database design, and performance optimization
- Experience with modern web technologies including JavaScript, TypeScript, and HTML5
- Experience supporting mobile application platforms utilizing Swift, Java and Kotlin
- Experience with cloud platforms, CI/CD pipelines, and DevOps practices
- Knowledge of authentication, authorization, API security, and secure coding practices
- Proficiency with Azure DevOps, source control, automated testing, and deployment tools
- Experience working in Agile and Scrum environments
- Strong analytical, troubleshooting, and problem-solving skills
- Ability to establish and enforce development standards, engineering best practices, and API governance
- Ability to lead technical design efforts, mentor developers, and conduct code reviews
- Strong verbal and written communication skills
- Ability to manage priorities and deliver results across multiple initiatives
- Knowledge of financial services, digital banking, and credit union operations, or the ability to quickly acquire such knowledge
SchoolsFirst FCU is committed to Diverse, Equitable, and Inclusive Hiring
At SchoolsFirst FCU we are dedicated to building and growing a diverse, inclusive, and authentic Dream Team, so if you’re excited about a position or wanting to make a career change but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. Many skills are transferrable and you may be just the right candidate for the position, or for other roles we are working on.
SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union is committed to fostering, cultivating, and preserving a culture of diversity and inclusion. SchoolsFirst FCU is an equal opportunity employer and prohibits discrimination against qualified individuals based on their status as protected veterans or individuals with disabilities and prohibits discrimination against all individuals based on their race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, political affiliation, or genetic information.
This organization participates in E-Verify.
SchoolsFirst FCU Tustin, California, USA Office
Tustin, CA, United States
SchoolsFirst FCU Fountain Valley, California, USA Office
Fountain Valley, United States
SchoolsFirst FCU Huntington Beach, California, USA Office
Huntington Beach, United States
SchoolsFirst FCU Irvine, California, USA Office
Irvine, United States
SchoolsFirst FCU La Habra, California, USA Office
La Habra, United States
SchoolsFirst FCU Long Beach, California, USA Office
Long Beach, United States
SchoolsFirst FCU Los Angeles, California, USA Office
Los Angeles, United States
SchoolsFirst FCU Orange, California, USA Office
Orange, United States
SchoolsFirst FCU Santa Ana, California, USA Office
2115 N Broadway, Santa Ana, California, United States, 92706 2613
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