[Hiring] Lead Software Engineer @Avalara

Role Description

The Lead Software Engineer (iConnector) leads the team responsible for the Avalara IBM isoftware development kit, including design, build, testing, maintenance, and support. This role ensures Avalara customers and partners using IBM i systems have reliable connector capabilities that support accurate tax compliance and business continuity.

This role is needed because the current manager is approaching retirement, creating a need for leadership continuity, product knowledge transfer, and sustained execution. The manager maintains and improves existing IBM isoftware development kit connectors, supports Sales teams and partners with technical demos and product questions, and identifies new IBM iconnector opportunities, including potential electronic invoicing applications.

The role exists to improve connector reliability, keep customer cost per order low for IBM icustomers, and create new ways for Avalara to serve customers and partners on the IBM iplatform.

Responsibilities

• Lead, coach, and develop direct reports who design, build, test, release, and support Avalara’s IBM i software development kit connectors.
• Own the IBM i software development kit delivery plan, including priorities, commitments, risks, and communication with Product Management and Engineering stakeholders.
• Ensure connector releases meet quality, reliability, and supportability expectations before they are made available to customers and partners.
• Drive timely resolution of customer escalations by coordinating engineering analysis, clear communication, and durable fixes.
• Support Sales, partners, and customer-facing teams with IBM i technical expertise, including product questions, demos, and solution guidance.
• Maintain accurate technical documentation and knowledge-sharing practices that reduce single points of knowledge and improve support readiness.
• Partner with Product Management and business stakeholders to align IBM i connector investments with customer needs, revenue protection, and cost per order goals.
• Identify and evaluate new IBM i connector opportunities, including electronic invoicing applications, that expand Avalara’s value for IBM i customers and partners.

12-Month Success Signals

• Existing IBM i software development kit connectors remain stable, supported, and ready for customer and partner use.
• Customer escalations are resolved within agreed service expectations, with clear communication and durable fixes.
• IBM i customer cost per order remains controlled, with the current score of 8 maintained or improved.
• A delivery plan is defined for new IBM i opportunities, including potential electronic invoicing applications.
• Documentation and knowledge transfer are strong enough to reduce dependency on the retiring manager and support long-term continuity.
• Direct reports demonstrate stronger ownership, execution quality, and release discipline.

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science in Computer Science or Engineering.
• 10+ years of relevant software engineering experience, including hands-on experience with IBM i systems.
• 3+ years of people management experience, including coaching, performance management, and team delivery ownership.
• Experience with RPG IV (ILE RPG), both free format and fixed format versions.
• Experience with Control Language Program, systems analysis, application development, project management, change control, process improvement, documentation, research, and training.
• Some experience with Open-Source functionality on the IBMi (e.g., PASE runtime, Python, Node.js, PHP, Git, nginx, OpenSSH, etc.).
• Experience leading software delivery across design, build, test, release, and production support.
• Ability to build effective working relationships with customers, partners, Sales, Product Management, and Engineering stakeholders.

Benefits

• Total Rewards: In addition to a great compensation package, paid time off, and paid parental leave, many Avalara employees are eligible for bonuses.
• Health & Wellness: Benefits vary by location but generally include private medical, life, and disability insurance.
• Inclusive culture and diversity: Avalara strongly supports diversity, equity, and inclusion, and is committed to integrating them into our business practices and our organizational culture.

Company Description

Avalara is defining the relationship between tax and tech. We’ve built an industry-leading cloud compliance platform, processing over 54 billion customer API calls and over 6.6 million tax returns a year. Our growth is real - we're a billion dollar business - and we’re not slowing down until we’ve achieved our mission - to be part of every transaction in the world.

We’re bright, innovative, and disruptive, like the orange we love to wear. It captures our quirky spirit and optimistic mindset. It shows off the culture we’ve designed, that empowers our people to win. We’ve been different from day one. Join us, and your career will be too.