Software Developer Lead

Department: Innovation and Technology Department
Salary: $108,851.00 - $156,473.59 Commensurate with Experience

Welcome to the City of Charlotte

Charlotte is America’s Queen City, opening her arms to a diverse and inclusive community of residents, businesses and visitors alike. Here you will find a safe, family-oriented city where people work together to help everyone thrive. The mission of the City of Charlotte is to deliver quality public services and promote the safety, health, and quality of life for all residents.

Our guiding principles include:

- Attracting and retaining a skilled and diverse workforce
- Valuing teamwork, openness, accountability, productivity, and employee development
- Providing all customers with courteous, responsive, accessible, and seamless quality services
- Taking initiative to identify, analyze, and solve problems
- Collaborating with stakeholders to make informed decisions

SUMMARY
The City of Charlotte Innovation & Technology (I&T) Department, Public Safety Division, is seeking a highly skilled Software Development Lead to design, develop, modernize, and support business-critical applications and technology solutions serving the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department. This position provides technical leadership across the full software development lifecycle for mission-critical web applications, system integrations, automation initiatives, and cloud-based platforms.

As a key member of the Public Safety Applications Development team, this role is responsible for establishing and applying development methodologies, standards, and best practices; maintaining and enhancing existing software assets; developing new business applications and analytics products; and supporting large-scale modernization efforts. A primary focus of the position is leading the modernization and migration of web-based applications to cloud platforms while ensuring solutions are secure, scalable, reliable, efficient, and aligned with the operational needs of a law enforcement environment.

Major Duties and Responsibilities:

- Lead architecture, development, and delivery of scalable, secure software solutions.
- Develop, test, deploy, maintain, and enhance simple to complex web, mobile, desktop, database, and service-based applications throughout the software development lifecycle.
- Build and maintain web-based applications using Microsoft .NET technologies, including C#, ASP.Net, MVC.Net, Blazor, JavaScript, HTML, and CSS.
- Design, create, and optimize SQL Server and Oracle database components, including stored procedures, functions, complex queries, and supporting data structures.
- Create, modify, and maintain RESTful and SOAP web services and APIs to integrate datasets, improve performance, and support reliable information delivery.
- Maintain and support existing custom and commercial off-the-shelf applications, including production monitoring, issue diagnosis, performance optimization, and user support.
- Provide technical oversight, code review guidance, and development best practices.
- Lead modernization and migration of applications to Amazon AWS or other approved cloud environments, including deployment, monitoring, and cloud-based operational support.
- Implement and administer DevOps practices such as source control, work item tracking, continuous integration/continuous delivery (CI/CD), automated deployments, and infrastructure-as-code where appropriate.
- Research emerging technologies, evaluate vendor software and technical approaches, and recommend solutions that align with public safety requirements, City standards, and long-term technology direction.
- Collaborate with department executives, business stakeholders, developers, analysts, vendors, consultants, and other technical staff to align software, data analytics, GIS, and business intelligence solutions with strategic and operational priorities.
- Provide technical guidance and subject-matter expertise for application development, data analytics, automation, and decision-support systems; coordinate work efforts for large-scale projects as assigned.
- Document software designs, system architecture diagrams, technical specifications, system processes, maintenance activities, and issue resolutions to support operational continuity and knowledge transfer.
- Apply secure coding, data privacy, and information security practices appropriate to law enforcement and municipal IT environments, while maintaining confidentiality and professional boundaries.
- Assist with on-call support and callback for assigned technologies and systems, as required.
- Perform related duties and responsibilities as required.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

- Advanced knowledge of the full Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC), including requirements analysis, design, development, testing, deployment, maintenance, and modernization of enterprise applications and services.
- Strong proficiency with Microsoft .NET development technologies, including C#, Blazor, MVC.Net, ASP.NET, and related web application frameworks.
- Strong knowledge of front-end web technologies such as JavaScript, HTML, and CSS.
- Expertise in relational database design and development using Microsoft SQL Server and/or Oracle, including complex SQL, stored procedures, functions, and performance optimization.
- Experience designing and supporting RESTful and SOAP web services and application programming interfaces.
- Strong understanding of Amazon AWS or comparable cloud platforms, including application migration, deployment, monitoring, scalability, and operational support.
- Experience with AWS cloud in the role of a Software Developer working with Microsoft .Net technologies, Containerization and Orchestration, Microservices is plus
- Knowledge of DevOps practices and tools, including source control, work item tracking, CI/CD pipelines, automated deployment, and infrastructure-as-code concepts.
- Experience with source control and development collaboration tools such as Team Foundation Server (TFS), Git, or comparable platforms.
- Strong troubleshooting, debugging, root-cause analysis, and performance optimization skills for custom applications, commercial software, web services, databases, ETL processes, and production systems.
- Knowledge of secure software development practices, data governance, privacy, and security standards applicable to public safety, law enforcement, and municipal technology environments.
- Ability to analyze complex information-system challenges and develop scalable, sustainable technical solutions aligned with organizational priorities.
- Ability to research and evaluate emerging technologies and vendor solutions for technical fit, business value, security, maintainability, and long-term sustainability.
- Strong project coordination, organizational, and time-management skills, with the ability to prioritize and manage multiple development and support efforts in a fast-paced environment.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to translate technical concepts into clear, actionable information for non-technical stakeholders.
- Strong collaboration skills and the ability to work effectively with cross-functional teams, executives, vendors, consultants, technical staff, and end users.
- Ability to provide technical guidance, share knowledge, and support the development of team members without formal supervisory responsibility.
- Strong attention to detail, adaptability, continuous-learning mindset, and commitment to reliable, high-quality technology solutions.
- Experience with multifactor authentication (MFA) technologies and identity providers, such as Okta, Auth0, or comparable platforms, including authentication configuration, integration, troubleshooting, and support.
- Knowledge of artificial intelligence (AI) and generative AI concepts, capabilities, limitations, and appropriate use in software development.
- Experience using AI-assisted development tools to support software development activities such as coding, debugging, testing, documentation, code review, research, and solution design.

Minimum Qualifications:

- Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in Information Technology, Computer Science, or a related field
- Three (5) to five (7) years of experience in software development using Microsoft .Net technologies (e.g. C#, ASP.NET, MVC.Net, Blazor)
- Any equivalent combination of training, education, and experience that provides the required skills, knowledge and abilities

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

The City’s Background Check Policy requires background checks to be conducted on final internal or external candidate(s) applying for any position with the City of Charlotte. The type of information that will be collected as part of a background check includes, but is not limited to: reference checks, social security verification, education verification, criminal conviction record check, and, if applicable, a credit history check, sex offender registry and motor vehicle records check.

Background checks must be in compliance with all federal and state statutes, such as the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). The checks must be consistent with the guidelines set forth by these laws requiring organizations to obtain a candidate’s written authorization before obtaining a criminal background report, motor vehicle records check or credit report; and to properly store and dispose of information derived from such reports.

Final candidates must pass a pre-employment drug-screening test and physical examination. During the selection process, candidates may be asked to take a skills test, and/or participate in other assessments.

The City of Charlotte is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, national origin, marital status, age, disability, sexual orientation, political affiliation or on the basis of actual or perceived gender as expressed through dress, appearance, or behavior.

Our culture is to serve the community honorably.

HOW TO APPLY

Apply online.

Federal law requires employers to provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities. Please tell us if you require a reasonable accommodation to apply for a job.

You are welcome to visit the City of Charlotte Human Resources Department lobby, where self-service application kiosks are available. They are located in our office at 700 East 4th Street, Suite 200, Charlotte, NC 28202. We are open Monday through Friday, from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. (EST), excluding official City holidays.

For questions about your application or the hiring process, please email [email protected] .

The City of Charlotte is committed to making our services and programs accessible to all. Upon request, auxiliary aids, written materials in alternate formats, language access, and other reasonable accommodations or modifications will be provided. To make a request, please fill out the Innovation & Technology ADA request form or call 704.336.4120.

BENEFITS

The City of Charlotte provides a comprehensive benefits package to eligible employees.

Click   here   to learn more about the City of Charlotte’s benefits.

The City of Charlotte is a drug and alcohol-free workplace.