**Experienced Technical Lead II, Backend - Live Chat Development at blithequark**

Are you a seasoned software engineer with a passion for leading high-performing teams and driving technical innovation? Do you thrive in a fast-paced environment where you can make a significant impact on the development of cutting-edge products? If so, we invite you to join blithequark's Live Chat Backend team as a Technical Lead II, where you'll have the opportunity to shape the future of customer support and collaboration. **About the Live Chat Team at blithequark** The Live Chat Team at blithequark is a dynamic and ambitious group of engineers, designers, and product managers working together to build a first-class product that empowers support teams to deliver exceptional customer experiences through real-time conversations. Our product is designed to scale, supporting millions of messages with high performance and reliability. We're committed to expanding our system to provide a holistic service that goes beyond chat capabilities, and we're looking for talented individuals to join our team and help us achieve this vision. **Key Responsibilities** As a Technical Lead II on our Live Chat Backend team, you'll be responsible for: * Leading a small team of software engineers and providing technical guidance, product direction, and coaching to help them grow and develop their skills * Participating in the technical execution and delivery of new features to improve time to value and enhance the overall customer experience * Unifying separate systems into a cohesive chat experience that meets the needs of our customers and support teams * Exploring generative AI opportunities to help our customers move fast and achieve their goals * Collaborating with cross-functional teams, including Product, Design, and other Tech Leads, to establish relevant, compelling, and challenging goals * Actively working with other Tech Leads to address and resolve cross-team issues and ensure the overall quality and reliability of our product * Taking proactive ownership of the team's on-call health, product reliability, and overall quality * Serving as an active member of the team's leadership triad, helping to co-set the team's direction and make key decisions * Fostering an environment that encourages autonomy, psychological safety, and continuous learning and growth * Regularly evaluating team members' performance and providing necessary coaching, guidance, and learning opportunities to support their career growth **Essential Qualifications** To be successful in this role, you'll need: * A strong background in software engineering, with a focus on backend development and a passion for writing code and reading code * Experience leading small teams and providing technical guidance, product direction, and coaching to help team members grow and develop their skills * A proven track record of delivering high-quality products and features on time and within budget * Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to work effectively with cross-functional teams and stakeholders * A strong understanding of software development principles, including design patterns, testing, and continuous integration and delivery * Experience with Java 11, RESTful APIs, and Dropwizard framework is a plus * Familiarity with Kafka and microservices architecture is a plus **Preferred Qualifications** While not required, the following qualifications would be a plus: * Experience with generative AI and its applications in customer support and collaboration * Familiarity with industry-leading 3rd party tools and robust home-grown infrastructure * Experience with data infrastructure and data engineering * Strong understanding of cloud computing and containerization * Experience with DevOps practices and tools, such as Jenkins, Docker, and Kubernetes **Skills and Competencies** To succeed in this role, you'll need to possess: * Strong technical skills, with a focus on backend development and a passion for writing code and reading code * Excellent leadership and communication skills, with the ability to motivate and inspire team members * Strong problem-solving and analytical skills, with the ability to identify and resolve complex technical issues * Excellent collaboration and teamwork skills, with the ability to work effectively with cross-functional teams and stakeholders * Strong business acumen, with the ability to understand and prioritize business needs and goals * Strong understanding of software development principles, including design patterns, testing, and continuous integration and delivery **Career Growth Opportunities and Learning Benefits** At blithequark, we're committed to helping our employees grow and develop their skills and careers. As a Technical Lead II, you'll have access to: * Regular training and development opportunities, including workshops, conferences, and online courses * Mentorship and coaching from experienced leaders and engineers * Opportunities to work on high-impact projects and contribute to the development of cutting-edge products * A dynamic and supportive team environment that encourages collaboration, innovation, and continuous learning and growth **Work Environment and Company Culture** At blithequark, we're committed to creating a work environment that's inclusive, diverse, and supportive of all employees. Our company culture is grounded in four commitments: * Solve for the Customer: We're committed to delivering exceptional customer experiences and meeting the needs of our customers and support teams. * Be Bold: We're a bold and ambitious company that's always looking for new and innovative ways to solve complex problems and achieve our goals. * Learn Fast: We're committed to continuous learning and growth, with a focus on staying up-to-date with the latest technologies, trends, and best practices. * Align, Adapt & Go!: We're a fast-paced and agile company that's always adapting to changing circumstances and priorities. **Compensation, Perks, and Benefits** As a Technical Lead II at blithequark, you'll receive: * A competitive salary range of $191,100 - $305,800 per year * A comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, and vision insurance, as well as 401(k) matching and paid time off * A dynamic and supportive team environment that encourages collaboration, innovation, and continuous learning and growth * Opportunities to work on high-impact projects and contribute to the development of cutting-edge products * A flexible and remote-friendly work environment that allows you to work from anywhere and maintain a healthy work-life balance **Conclusion** If you're a seasoned software engineer with a passion for leading high-performing teams and driving technical innovation, we invite you to join blithequark's Live Chat Backend team as a Technical Lead II. We're a bold and ambitious company that's always looking for new and innovative ways to solve complex problems and achieve our goals. We're committed to creating a work environment that's inclusive, diverse, and supportive of all employees, and we're excited to welcome talented individuals like you to our team. **How to Apply** If you're interested in this exciting opportunity, please submit your application, including your resume and a cover letter that highlights your relevant experience and qualifications. We can't wait to hear from you!