About the RolePromise is looking for an Engineering Lead to guide the technical vision and team behind our Payment Plans platform-the engine of our business and a lifeline for families nationwide. Payment Plans empower residents with flexible, interest-free installment options, helping them avoid penalties while enabling utilities and governments to recover revenue more effectively. It's a product that creates a true win-win-and you'll be at the helm.
You'll lead a high-performing engineering team, scaling the platform and building agentic workflows to meet the growing demand from cities, states, and utilities across the country. This is a role for someone who thrives at the intersection of technology, leadership, and mission impact-setting direction, building systems that last, and ensuring our work reflects Promise's dignity-first values.
What You'll Do- Lead by doing: Roll your sleeves up and build alongside the team, know the ins and outs of the product.
- Own the roadmap: Partner with Product and Design to prioritize the right features-balancing usability, scalability, and measurable real-world impact.
- Build for scale & trust: Ensure the platform is secure, composable, and capable of supporting governments and utilities nationwide.
- Elevate the resident experience: Deliver features that make it easier for families to stay on track-like flexible installments, smart reminders, and personalized plans.
- Stay hands-on: Dive into technical details when needed, from debugging production issues to optimizing system performance.
- Automate what matters: Leverage AI and automation to eliminate inefficiencies, reduce operational overhead, and free teams to focus on what counts.
- Collaborate cross-functionally: Partner with Customer Success and Operations to ensure seamless deployments and reliable performance in the field.
- Raise the bar: Define and enforce standards for engineering quality, system reliability, and collaborative excellence.
What Will Help You Succeed- Technical leadership: 6+ years building and scaling production software, including at least 2 years leading teams or projects.
- Roadmap ownership: A track record of setting technical direction, aligning stakeholders, and delivering against ambitious goals.
- Systems expertise: Strong background in backend systems, system design, and secure architecture.
- Technical curiosity: Follows improvements in AI and other emerging technologies, and finds opportunities to turn new technology into useful technology.
- Integration mindset: Experience working with legacy or third-party systems (government, fintech, or regulated industries a plus).
- Problem-solving skills: Ability to turn complex challenges into simple, scalable solutions.
- Adaptability: Comfort operating in a fast-paced, feedback-driven environment where priorities can shift quickly.
- Mission-driven energy: Belief in Promise's vision that better systems create more equitable outcomes.
- Bonus points: Experience in payments, civic tech, or public infrastructure.
Who Thrives at PromiseYou'll love it here if:- You are energized by big, complex challenges and the opportunity to solve them.
- You want your work to have a real, measurable impact on people's lives.
- You take ownership and run toward problems, not away from them.
- You value clear, candid, and constructive communication.
Promise is not for you if:- You prefer hierarchy and rigid structures. We operate with freedom and responsibility.
- You are uncomfortable with change. We move fast, adapt often, and expect agility.
- You want a typical corporate culture. We are mission-driven, ambitious, and direct.
- You believe efficiency means "doing less." We believe efficiency means doing better.
How We Support Our PeopleAt Promise, we invest in our team's well-being, growth, and sense of ownership.
- Equity for All: All full-time employees receive stock options to share in our company's success.
- 100% Paid Health Coverage: We cover 100% of base medical, dental, and vision insurance plans for employees and their dependents.
- Hybrid Work: We collaborate in the office at least four days a week to stay connected and aligned as a team.
- Flexible Time Off: Self-managed FTO and 12 paid holidays - we trust you to prioritize your time.
Please note: Benefits are reviewed periodically and may be updated at the sole discretion of Promise.
