Guardian Life Insurance

Lead Software Engineer

Guardian Life Insurance$118K — $195K *
US-AnywhereRemote in New York, NY
Enterprise Technology
8 - 10 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's or master's degree in computer science, engineering, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.
  • 10+ years of experience in software engineering, building and operating distributed systems.
  • Strong hands-on experience developing high-quality APIs using Java (Spring Boot), Node.js, .NET, or Python.
  • Expertise in Microservices Architecture, Enterprise Integration Patterns, and Event-Driven Architectures.
  • Strong knowledge of API security including OAuth 2.0, JWT, and user access control mechanisms.
  • Deep understanding of containerization technologies and AWS Cloud services.
  • Experience implementing API observability using logging, metrics, and monitoring tools.

Responsibilities

  • Lead the design, development, and evolution of enterprise APIs, including REST, GraphQL, and event-driven integrations.
  • Enable developer productivity through reusable API frameworks and developer portals.
  • Establish best practices for improving API governance, testing, and documentation across teams.
  • Drive incident response for production API issues and implement preventive improvements.
  • Research emerging technologies and perform proofs of concept related to API management.
  • Ensure compliance with security, data privacy, and performance standards in integration projects.
  • Mentor engineers on best practices and tools to enhance delivery quality.

Benefits

  • Flexible work location requirement, allowing three days a week at a Guardian office.
  • Opportunities for mentoring and professional growth within the team.
  • Focus on innovation and research of emerging technologies in the API space.
Full Job Description
As a Lead Software Engineer, you will develop and execute the key technology components of the Enterprise API Technology & Platform strategy and ensure alignment with Guardian's enterprise digital strategy. You will be an innovative software engineer and will harness deep industry and technical expertise to develop seamless data integration between Enterprise Applications using RESTful APIs, messaging, and event streams.

As a key technical leader, you will mentor team members, design delivery strategies, and champion a culture of automation and continuous improvement within the software delivery lifecycle.

You will

  • Lead the design, development, and evolution of enterprise APIs, including REST, GraphQL, gRPC, and event-driven integrations, following API-first design principles
  • Enable developer productivity and self-service through reusable API frameworks, platforms, templates, SDKs, documentation (OpenAPI/AsyncAPI), and developer portals
  • Establish best practices & enterprise capabilities for improving API design, governance, testing, documentation, and release management across development teams
  • Drive incident response and resolution for production API and platform issues, lead post-mortems, and implement preventive and resiliency improvements
  • Research emerging technologies and perform PoCs related to API management, integration patterns, platform engineering, and observability
  • Ensure compliance with security, data privacy, and performance standards in all integration projects.
  • Collaborate with a team of software engineers in implementing and maintaining enterprise APIs and platform(s).
  • Mentor and guide engineers on best practices, tools and technologies to enhance delivery quality


You Have:

  • Bachelor's or master's degree in computer science, Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience
  • 10+ years of experience in Software engineering, building and operating distributed systems
  • Strong hands-on experience developing high-quality APIs using Java (Spring Boot), Node.js, .NET, or Python
  • Experience with a broad range of web technologies including React, Angular, & Typescript
  • Expertise in Microservices Architecture, Enterprise Integration Patterns (EIP), and Event-Driven Architectures
  • Strong knowledge of API security including OAuth 2.0, JWT, token lifecycle management, and user access control mechanisms
  • Competency with CI/CD automation tools (e.g., Bitbucket, Jenkins, AWS, GitHub)
  • Deep understanding of API protocols and integration patterns: REST, GraphQL, gRPC, SOAP, async/event-driven architectures
  • Experience implementing API observability using logging, metrics, tracing, and monitoring tools (e.g., Prometheus, Grafana, OpenTelemetry, Splunk)
  • Strong experience designing domain-aligned APIs using OpenAPI / Swagger specifications, with a focus on consistency, reusability, and user/machine readability.
  • Deep understanding of containerization & orchestration technologies (e.g., Docker, Kubernetes, Helm) and AWS Cloud services S3, Lambda, Kafka, SQS/SNS, Redis Cache.
  • Hands-on experience working with both SQL and NoSQL databases, designing for scale, performance, and reliability


Location:

Three days a week at a Guardian location in New York, NY, Holmdel, NJ, Bethlehem, Pa, or Boston, MA

Salary Range:

$118,980.00 - $195,465.00

The salary range reflected above is a good faith estimate of base pay for the primary location of the position. The salary for this position ultimately will be determined based on the education, experience, knowledge, and abilities of the successful candidate. In addition to salary, this role may also be eligible for annual, sales, or other incentive compensation.

About Guardian Life Insurance

Guardian Life Insurance Careers

Join the Guardian Life Insurance team today and be part of a company that values growth, leadership, and innovation. As a leading provider in the insurance industry, Guardian Life Insurance offers a wealth of job opportunities that empower you to shape your future and strengthen your professional skills. Work You’ll Do At Guardian Life Insurance, you’ll collaborate with a diverse team of experts dedicated to providing exceptional service and innovative solutions to our clients. Our culture thrives on inclusivity and the shared ambition of our team members to drive positive change in the insurance sector. Explore a variety of career paths in areas ranging from customer service to financial advisement, each offering the potential to engage with transformative projects that impact lives. Our commitment to professional growth is evident in our robust training programs, including leadership development and diversity training, designed to enhance your skills and advance your career. Innovative Work Guardian Life Insurance is at the forefront of integrating cutting-edge technology and personalized service. Join us and contribute to initiatives that redefine industry standards and lead to more predictive and personalized customer experiences. Be Part of a Great Team Our team at Guardian Life Insurance is our strongest asset. We foster an environment where creativity and effectiveness are encouraged, making it a perfect place for those who seek to innovate and excel in their careers. With a focus on nurturing talent, we offer comprehensive benefits, competitive salaries, and a supportive atmosphere that advocates work-life balance. Future-Proof Your Career With Guardian Life Insurance, your career is future-proof. Dive into a range of employment opportunities that not only align with your current skills but also challenge you to grow and expand your capabilities. Whether you’re looking for a full-time position, an internship, or even leadership roles, Guardian Life Insurance is committed to helping you find the right path. Stay Connected Join Our Team Discover the job opportunities waiting for you at Guardian Life Insurance. We are continuously hiring and looking for individuals who are passionate, driven, and ready to contribute to our mission. Search open positions that match your skills and interests, and take the first step towards a rewarding career with us. Keep Up to Date Stay informed with the latest career tips, industry insights, and company news—all from the professionals who make Guardian Life Insurance a leader in the insurance industry. Our careers blog provides valuable information to help you prepare for your next interview, polish your resume, and enhance your networking abilities. Job Alert Emails Customize your experience by subscribing to job alerts and insider tips tailored to your preferences. Discover exciting and rewarding opportunities that await at Guardian Life Insurance, and see how you can contribute to our legacy of excellence and innovation. Join Guardian Life Insurance today and be part of a company that’s dedicated to your career growth and professional development.
Learn more about Guardian Life Insurance
Size
9,000 employees
Industry
Founded
1860

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