Lead Software Engineer

Overview

Lead Software Engineer (Hands-on, AI-Driven) – Lyon, France (Onsite for the first 3 months, then flexible).

We're partnering with a tech-driven organisation deep into an engineering modernisation push. Hands-on Tech Lead role. Code first, direction close behind. You shape the architecture, raise the bar, and pull the team with you.

What You'll Do

• Set technical direction across a modern full-stack (React / Next.js, APIs, microservices)
• Kill what's holding the platform back. Ship what scales.
• Build across the stack: frontend, backend, infra
• Tighten DevOps and CI/CD. Cloud-first by default.
• Lead by example. Review, pair, mentor, raise the technical bar
• Wire data and AI capabilities into the engineering workflow
• Push AI-assisted development where it sharpens output

What You Bring

• Solid backend experience. Language-agnostic. Adaptability beats stack loyalty.
• Microservices and API design under your belt
• Cloud and DevOps fluency (CI/CD, containers; Kubernetes a plus)
• Bias for clean architecture, scale, and continuous improvement
• Track record leading or mentoring engineers through code and decisions, not org charts
• Hands-on with AI-driven dev tools and workflows

Nice to Have

• PHP exposure, or willing to pick it up where the codebase calls for it
• Modernisation or transformation projects on your CV
• Data-intensive or AI-enabled product background

Why This Role

• Real ownership of technical direction and standards
• Front row on AI-assisted development
• Tight, collaborative team that ships and iterates