Lead Software Engineer

ABOUT THE ROLE

This role is part of our engineering team delivering Accela’s payment platform, a critical system serving government agencies with secure payment processing capabilities. As a Lead Software Engineer, you will provide technical leadership on payment system architecture, ensuring PCI DSS compliance and implementing best practices across our technology stack. The work involves designing and building scalable payment integrations, leading complex technical initiatives, and mentoring engineers on domain-driven design and reactive programming patterns.

You will collaborate across disciplines, including backend, infrastructure, security, and compliance teams, to deliver production-quality payment solutions. This is an excellent opportunity for engineers who enjoy solving complex architectural challenges in regulated environments, working with modern technologies, and making technical decisions with broad organizational impact.

SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead the technical design and architecture of payment system components, ensuring scalability, security, and PCI DSS compliance.
• Design and implement payment gateway integrations using domain-driven design principles and reactive programming patterns.
• Collaborate with InfoSec and Legal teams to ensure proper data classification, security controls, and regulatory compliance.
• Provide technical mentorship to engineers on payment systems, Java development, test-driven development, and architectural patterns.
• Drive architectural decisions through technical RFCs, design reviews, and cross-team collaboration.
• Implement comprehensive testing strategies, including unit tests, integration tests, and behavior-driven development scenarios
• Participate in the on-call rotation for production payment systems, investigating and resolving critical issues.
• Lead technical initiatives from concept through delivery, working effectively across distributed teams in Ireland, the USA, and Costa Rica.
• Contribute to engineering standards, code review practices, and the continuous improvement of development processes.
• Stay current with payment industry trends, security best practices, and emerging technologies relevant to fintech systems.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent experience) in Computer Science or a related field, with at least 7 years of professional software development experience.
• At least 5 years of experience developing payment systems, financial applications, or highly regulated software systems.
  Strong expertise in Java, with a demonstrated ability to design and implement complex backend services.
  Deep understanding of domain-driven design principles and experience applying DDD to real-world business problems.
• Knowledge of payment gateway integrations, tokenization, and PCI DSS compliance requirements
• Strong understanding of test-driven development (TDD) and behavior-driven development (BDD) methodologies.
• Experience working in Agile/Scrum environments, preferably using the SAFe methodology.
• Excellent problem-solving skills and the ability to navigate complex technical and regulatory constraints.
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to explain technical concepts to diverse audiences.
• Experience leading technical initiatives and mentoring other engineers.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience with Azure cloud services, particularly Azure Key Vault and Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS).
• Proven track record of designing cloud systems at scale.

Benefits and Perks:
Beyond a stellar work environment, great people and inspiring, innovative work, we have some great benefits and perks:

• 25 vacation days
• Ireland Standard Holidays
• Pension Contribution
• Supplemental Healthcare Package

ABOUT ACCELA
For nearly 20 years, Accela has been an industry leader in designing and delivering government software to improve efficiency, increase citizen engagement and enable the development of thriving communities. Today, citizens are savvy to how services should be delivered, and expect a consistently convenient, openly transparent view into their local government. While government agencies struggle to do more with less, our mission has never been more critical. Accela provides a robust, cloud-based platform of government software solutions that accelerate growth, efficiency, and transparency in communities of all sizes. From planning, to building, to service request management and more, Accela’s SaaS offerings level the playing field for small and medium governments and enable smaller agencies to leverage larger city technologies. Our open and flexible technology helps agencies address specific needs today, while ensuring they are well prepared for the emerging challenges of the future.

OUR COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION
Accela believes in developing and nurturing a workplace community where our differences are celebrated, and everyone feels a sense of psychological safety and belonging. Accela is committed to putting resources and attention towards evolving our practices, policies, and philosophies to enable diversity to thrive and to support equity in opportunity for everyone.

COMPENSATION AND WELL-BEING
The annual base salary range for this full-time position is95,000-105,000 Euro (less applicable taxes). The actual annual base salary offered may be adjusted based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to, location, education, skills, training, and experience. In addition to an annual base salary, this position is eligible for an annual bonus target. This is a discretionary bonus awarded based on company and individual goal achievement.

Accela’s U.S. team members will receive a generous benefits package consisting of options including flexible time off, comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans, family planning benefits, 401(k) retirement savings plan with company match, health savings account with company contributions, flexible spending account, life, accident, and disability coverage, business travel insurance, employee assistance programs, and other well-being benefits.

Accela is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Affirmative Action Employer and will respond to requests for job accommodations.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, sex, color, religion, national origin, protected veteran status, or based on disability, gender identity, and sexual orientation