[Hiring] Associate Technical Director @Left Field Labs

Role Description

The Digital Team is seeking an experienced, creative-minded Associate Technical Director to lead fast-paced, forward-facing creative technology projects. In this role, you will connect creative design, web development, and emerging technology.

This position is perfect for an agency-tested leader with an interest in highly visual and dynamic digital experiences, full-stack expertise, and the adaptability to operate across multiple projects.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development on one or more projects, as well as being a key contributor to new project pitches.
• Take technical ownership of projects, from highly visual digital experiences to AI-driven builds.
• Build and oversee rich, high-quality interactive experiences with heavy emphasis on frontend development, while maintaining a strong understanding of backend architectures and AI service integrations.
• Apply a fine-tuned aesthetic sensibility and eye for design to ensure all digital outputs match agency-level quality, precision, and performance.
• Contribute to the pitch process from technical scoping, estimating development, to client presentations.
• Mentor other developers on project teams and eventual direct reports.
• Champion the use of AI and new tools across the team, using them yourself and building them into client work.

Technical Quality & Architecture

• Own architectural decisions and technical direction across your projects, getting hands-on in the code when the work calls for it.
• Set and uphold coding standards and review processes.
• Run and oversee code reviews to keep quality consistent across the codebase.
• Champion the adoption of AI development tooling across your projects.
• Spot and address technical debt before it becomes everyone's problem.

Delivery

• Translate business requirements into clear, actionable technical tasks and tickets.
• Partner with production and creative leads to scope, staff, and estimate projects accurately.
• Provide and validate technical estimates on new and existing work.
• Proactively flag risks, blockers, and resourcing issues, and escalate when needed.
• Manage the delivery lifecycle across your projects.

Team & Mentorship

• Directly manage a small number of developers: set expectations, run regular 1:1s, and create clear paths for growth.
• Lead and mentor the developers on your projects across all levels.
• Set clear expectations and give regular, honest feedback.
• Support resourcing and planning across your projects, and help with hiring as the team grows.

Client & Communication

• Serve as a technical voice in client conversations.
• Distil complex technical information into simple, compelling, actionable insights.
• Build trusted relationships across client, partner, and internal teams.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of professional software engineering experience, including time in a technical leadership or lead role.
• A track record of owning the technical delivery of multiple projects at once without dropping the quality bar on any of them.
• Strong system architecture skills and the judgment to know when a decision needs you in the code versus when to delegate.
• Proficiency across a modern web stack (Typescript, plus one of Node/Python/Go on the backend), and the flexibility to pick up new languages and legacy codebases as projects demand.
• Comfortable with SQL and data handling concepts.
• Experience mentoring developers and giving direct, useful feedback.
• Exceptional communication skills, and the composure to stay effective when projects get tense.
• Direct experience working within or for large-scale global technology organizations.
• Proven background working inside a fast-paced agency environment, handling pivot-heavy workflows and high-pressure project deadlines.
• Strong hands-on technical skills with modern front-end frameworks, responsive layouts, web animation, and interactive UI/UX implementation.
• Solid foundational understanding of backend structures and practical integration of AI tools/APIs into modern web applications.
• A strong visual aesthetic and portfolio/resume demonstrating previous high-impact, design-forward digital projects.
• Excellent real-time communication skills and modern problem-solving capabilities necessary to lead high-stakes technical projects.

Benefits

• Comprehensive benefits package focused on team well-being.
• Flexible time off, observed holidays, and a birthday floating holiday.
• Remote First environment with an internet stipend.
• Medical, dental, and vision coverage, with LFL covering a significant portion of the costs.
• Paid parental leave.
• 401(k) matching program.
• Employee Assistance Program.
• Basic life and AD&D insurance.
• Referral bonuses.
• Education stipend.
• Access to our provider Marketplace for discounts.