SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union

Credit union offering savings, loans, accounts

Lead API Software Developer

Backend EngineeringUpdated on Nov 12

Full-time$129.9k - $214.3kHybrid

About the Job

Requirements

A high school diploma or GED is required.
A bachelor's degree in a related field or equivalent years of experience is required.
Seven to ten years of prior relevant experience is required.
Expert knowledge of C#, .NET Core, and modern software development practices is required.
Strong understanding of RESTful API design, integration patterns, versioning, and governance is required.
Experience designing scalable, secure, and maintainable applications, services, and microservices is required.
Proficiency with SQL Server, T-SQL, database design, and performance optimization is required.
Experience with JavaScript, TypeScript, and HTML5 is required.
Experience supporting mobile application platforms using Swift, Java, and Kotlin is required.
Experience with cloud platforms, CI/CD pipelines, and DevOps practices is required.
Knowledge of authentication, authorization, API security, and secure coding practices is required.
Proficiency with Azure DevOps, source control, automated testing, and deployment tools is required.
Experience working in Agile and Scrum environments is required.
Ability to establish and enforce development standards, engineering best practices, and API governance is required.
Ability to lead technical design efforts, mentor developers, and conduct code reviews is required.
Ability to manage priorities and deliver results across multiple initiatives is required.
Knowledge of financial services, digital banking, and credit union operations, or the ability to acquire that knowledge, is required.

Responsibilities

Provide technical leadership for the architecture, design, development, governance, security, implementation, and support of enterprise APIs and integrations.
Lead complex API and software development initiatives across the full software development life cycle, contributing to architecture, design, implementation, testing, deployment, troubleshooting, and production support.
Serve as technical lead across multiple projects by providing hands-on development, technical direction, code and design reviews, work delegation, coaching, and mentoring to developers in collaboration with the Manager.
Design, develop, and improve secure, scalable enterprise APIs, application integrations, and reusable patterns for internal platforms, external partners, and third-party systems.
Define consumer-focused RESTful API contracts using OpenAPI/Swagger and separate API definitions from backend implementation.
Recommend API architecture and governance practices, define standards, and support adoption of a centralized, audit-ready API catalog and reusable API library.
Establish and enforce API lifecycle controls for design, testing, approval, deployment, versioning, documentation, deprecation, and retirement.
Design defense-in-depth API security using enterprise identity and access management, OpenID Connect, JSON Web Tokens, mutual TLS, gateway controls, personally identifiable information encryption, audit logging, threat modeling, and automated security testing in the delivery pipeline.
Develop and support API enablement capabilities, including developer portals, documentation, software development kits, and sandbox environments, and manage APIs as products across free, partner, and enterprise access tiers.
Implement API observability through structured logging, distributed tracing, usage and performance metrics, service-level objectives, and proactive alerting.
Partner 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.
Plan and coordinate project delivery by prioritizing requests, developing estimates, assigning work, managing schedules and dependencies, and applying Agile/Scrum practices.
Evaluate existing applications, integrations, development processes, and emerging technologies to identify performance, automation, standardization, and modernization opportunities across the information technology organization.
Define and report project status, API governance metrics, and key performance indicators, including standards compliance, approval cycle time, catalog adoption, reliability, usage, and security defect trends, to management and stakeholders.
Serve as a senior technical resource and project lead; develop estimates, budgets, and resource plans; manage project schedules and deliverables; and report status to meet approved scope and timelines.
Perform other duties as assigned.
Comply with regulatory requirements and assigned training, including Bank Secrecy Act regulations corresponding to the role's duties.

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 - $214,303.00

Scheduled Weekly Hours:

What 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.

About the Company

SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union

Credit union offering savings, loans, accounts

SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union provides financial services to members, especially school employees and their families, including savings and checking, auto loans, mortgages, credit cards, investments, and insurance through branches and online tools. Members join and use member-owned accounts with online/mobile banking, deposits, payments, and planning help. It differs from many competitors by being member-owned, federally insured, and focusing on the education community, offering educator-focused loan programs and lower fees. Its goal is to help teachers and school staff manage money effectively with affordable products and education resources while building a loyal member base.

Company size: 1,001-5,000
Company stage: Not listed
Total funding: Not listed
Headquarters: Santa Ana, CA
Founded: 1934

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