Principal Tech Lead Manager - Customer Domains (Workforce)

Key Responsibilities

• Own the Workforce Platform Architecture: Define and evolve the technical architecture for ID.me's Workforce platform, including integrations with HR systems (Workday, ADP, SAP SuccessFactors), payroll providers, government employment databases, and benefits administrators. Ensure systems are secure, scalable, privacy-preserving, and compliant with relevant regulatory frameworks (FCRA, EEOC, I-9/E-Verify, state privacy laws).
• Lead Engineering Execution: Drive roadmap delivery across the team — setting priorities, removing blockers, and ensuring the team ships high-quality, well-tested software on time. Balance short-term velocity with long-term platform health and technical debt reduction.
• API & Integration Design: Lead the design of employment verification APIs and data workflows including income verification, I-9/E-Verify integrations, direct-employer onboarding automations, and benefits eligibility checks. Champion clean, secure, and developer-friendly API design across internal and external surfaces.
• Team Leadership & Talent Development: Recruit, hire, and retain a high-performing team of engineers (SDE II through Staff). Conduct 1:1s, performance reviews, and career development conversations that help engineers grow technically and as collaborative teammates. Build a team culture of ownership, rigor, and continuous improvement.
• Cross-Functional Partnership: Serve as the technical bridge between Engineering, Product, Legal/Compliance, Security, and enterprise customer teams. Translate complex compliance and integration requirements into actionable engineering work, and represent the Workforce team in cross-domain architecture discussions.
• Reliability, Security & Compliance: Own the availability, performance, and compliance posture of Workforce services. Partner with Security and Privacy Engineering to ensure workforce data handling meets the highest standards for data minimization, consent management, and access control.
• Roadmap & Technical Strategy: Stay current on the workforce tech ecosystem (HRMS integrations, VOIE standards, direct-to-employer models, emerging employment data standards) and translate market opportunities and customer needs into platform investments. Provide technical input into team and org-level planning.
• AI-Forward Engineering Culture: Champion AI-first practices across the team — driving adoption of AI tooling for code generation, test coverage, documentation, and accelerated iteration. Model and reinforce a culture where AI is a force multiplier for engineering quality and velocity.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field (or equivalent practical experience).
• 10+ years of software engineering experience, with at least 3 years in an engineering management or tech lead manager capacity leading teams of 5–10+ engineers.
• 5+ years of experience with application and backend engineering foundations — architect secure, scalable APIs and distributed systems (Java, Go, Ruby, Python, or similar).
• Experience building B2B or enterprise integrations involving data exchange, APIs, or workflow automation at scale.
• Deep familiarity with data privacy, security, and compliance considerations in products that handle sensitive personal or employment data.
• Proven track record collaborating cross-functionally with Product, Legal/Compliance, Security, and business stakeholders to deliver complex programs.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to represent engineering decisions clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in Computer Science or a related technical field.
• Experience in the HR tech, workforce, payroll, or employment verification space — including familiarity with Workday, ADP, SAP SuccessFactors, The Work Number, or direct employer integrations.
• Understanding of employment verification standards and regulatory frameworks including FCRA, I-9/E-Verify, VOIE (Verification of Income and Employment), and applicable state wage and privacy laws.
• Experience building identity or trust-layer products in regulated industries such as government services, healthcare, or financial services.
• Hands-on experience with OAuth2, OpenID Connect, SAML, and enterprise SSO in the context of B2B integrations or workforce onboarding.
• Familiarity with data exchange formats and protocols common in HR tech, including REST/SOAP hybrid integrations and batch data flows.
• Track record of embedding AI-augmented engineering practices into team workflows — including AI code review, AI-assisted documentation, and prompt engineering for developer productivity.
• Startup or high-growth company experience with a strong bias for execution, ownership, and making something better every day.