Lead/Staff Software Engineer (Full Stack)

Lead / Staff Software Engineer - Full Stack

Location : Bay Area, California (San Jose - Santana Row)

We are an In-person company. Not hiring for remote roles. (Relocation can be considered for stellar candidates)

We are unable to sponsor work permits / visas at this time.

About the Company :

State Affairs is a media company delivering nonpartisan, statehouse news and intelligence across the country. We are seeking a talented and experienced Staff Full Stack Engineer to lead the design, development, and implementation of our web-based applications.

This person will work directly with the Head of Engineering and Product to build scalable, extensible solutions with emphasis on innovation and quality.

About the Role :

As a Staff Full Stack Engineer at State Affairs, you will lead a team of engineers in architecting, building, and maintaining scalable and efficient web applications using Node.

js, Next.js, React, AWS, MySQL, and RDS. You will collaborate with cross-functional teams to deliver high-quality solutions that meet business objectives and exceed user expectations.

Responsibilities :

• Lead the design and development of complex web applications, ensuring adherence to best practices and architectural standards.
• Provide technical leadership and mentorship to junior and mid-level engineers, fostering a culture of continuous learning and growth.
• Architect and implement front-end components and user interfaces.
• Develop large-scale distributed systems and client-server architectures.
• Develop and integrate server-side logic and APIs.
• Design and implement scalable data storage solutions.
• Lead efforts to optimize application performance, scalability, and reliability.
• Drive the adoption of best practices, coding standards, and development methodologies within the team.
• Stay abreast of emerging technologies and industry trends, evaluating their potential impact on our technical stack and business strategy.

Qualifications :

• Bachelor's degree or Master’s in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field (or equivalent experience).
• At least 10+ years of professional software development experience, with a focus on web applications.
• Proven experience as a technical leader or Staff Engineer in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong proficiency in JavaScript, HTML, and CSS.
• Extensive experience with Node.js, React.js, and Next.js.
• Solid understanding of AWS services, including EC2, S3, Lambda, API Gateway, and CloudFormation.
• Familiarity with AI / ML concepts and a strong interest in developing AI-driven features and models.
• Experience with relational databases, preferably MySQL and RDS.
• Excellent problem-solving and analytical skills.
• Strong communication, collaboration, and leadership skills.
• Ability to drive technical initiatives and influence decision-making at all levels of the organization.
• Experience with serverless architecture and AWS Lambda.
• Knowledge of containerization technologies such as Docker and Kubernetes.
• Familiarity with CI / CD pipelines and automation tools.
• Understanding of security best practices and compliance standards.

What We Offer :

• Competitive salary and benefits package, including health insurance, and paid time off.
• Opportunity to work on cutting-edge projects in a growing industry.
• A collaborative and supportive work environment that values personal growth and professional development.
• The chance to make a meaningful impact on the legislative process and help clients stay informed and engaged in state affairs.

About State Affairs :

At State Affairs, we believe access to trustworthy information is critical for a functioning democracy. Our mission is to provide nonpartisan news and intelligence about the power centers of state government.

Our unbiased coverage and cutting-edge tools are essential for policymakers, government officials, business leaders, and engaged private citizens, enabling them to perform their jobs, make better decisions, and hold their government accountable.