Tech Lead at Nearform - $170K–$200K AI & Cloud Role in Columbus
Career & Market Insight
This Technical Lead role at Nearform represents a strong career accelerator for senior engineers ready to step into or solidify a leadership track. The combination of hands-on architecture work and direct client engagement is relatively rare and highly marketable.
Compensation benchmark: The $170K–$200K base (plus bonus) is above the median for US Tech Lead roles, which typically sit around $140K–$170K at mid-sized tech consultancies. The 4% 401(k) match with immediate vesting is notably favorable.
Skills you'll develop:
- AI/Agentic application development (LangGraph, Agentspace) — one of the most in-demand skill sets in 2024–2025
- Cloud-native architecture across AWS, Azure, and GCP
- Enterprise-grade observability with OpenTelemetry
- Client-facing technical leadership — a differentiator for senior IC-to-management transitions
Culture signals: Nearform is a 500-person global consultancy (not a startup, not a mega-enterprise). Expect a mix of structured processes and project variety. Working across clients like Walmart, Starbucks, and Lululemon provides high-visibility enterprise exposure without being siloed in a single company's tech stack.
Green flags: Genuine flexible time off policy, immediate 401(k) vesting, training budget, and a people-first ethos stated clearly. Project variety keeps skills sharp.
Potential considerations: As a consultancy, project assignments can vary — culture, tech stack, and team dynamics may shift between engagements. The role also includes client-site travel, which suits some but not all lifestyle preferences.
Tech Lead (Perm, USA, Remote + Travel)
This is a full-time, permanent opportunity for candidates based in the United States and authorized to work without sponsorship. Please note that visa sponsorship is not available for this role.
This position also requires traveling to client sites within the U.S., with travel expenses covered by the company.
About Nearform
Nearform is an independent team of data & AI experts, engineers, and designers who build intelligent digital solutions and capability at pace. We create AI-enabled solutions that enhance digital experiences, empower developers, and deliver measurable results. In these ways, we partner with ambitious enterprises to deliver enduring impact.
Our deep expertise in solving the world's most complex digital problems, along with our collaborative, people-first approach, enables enterprises to build breakthrough products and modernise legacy systems by unleashing the power of AI.
Today, our team of 500 experts in 20+ countries is trusted by leading enterprises including Lululemon, Puma, Sun Life, Starbucks, Travelex, Virgin Media O2, and Walmart.
As part of our Engineering function, you will work closely with clients to translate complex business requirements into innovative digital products. Whether you are a Senior Engineer, Tech Lead, or DevOps Engineer, you will collaborate with distributed teams, leveraging cutting-edge technologies to build secure, high-performance applications. Our Nearform engineers are known for building high-quality, scalable solutions that solve real-world problems.
About the Technical Lead Role
As a Technical Lead at Nearform, you will be responsible for leading and guiding development teams while working directly with clients to translate business and technical requirements into impactful applications. Your responsibilities may include:
- Provide technical and line-management leadership to your development team.
- Take responsibility for the successful delivery of projects.
- Identify and resolve blockers before they become issues.
- Ensure best practices in software development, DevOps, and agile methodologies are upheld within the team.
- Work directly with clients, translating requirements into technical briefs.
- Shape and define architectural decisions ensuring scalability, security, and maintainability.
- Provide updates to client and Nearform leadership to ensure clear understanding of project status and drive good decision-making.
What We Are Looking For
- Significant experience in software engineering and 2+ years of experience leading projects and mentoring as a Technical Lead. Professional experience with Golang and/or Python and a modern frontend tech stack (React / Angular / TypeScript) is required for this role.
- Experience with AI application development and Agentic frameworks and platforms (e.g., LangGraph, Agentspace, etc.).
- Experience working directly with clients or customers to understand technical requirements.
- Proven experience working with Kubernetes for container orchestration.
- Strong CI/CD experience, including hands-on work with Terraform, Helm, and other cloud-native IaC technologies.
- Deep understanding of observability practices, with practical experience using OpenTelemetry (OTel) and related tooling.
- Experience leading software engineering teams through technical delivery and either direct line management or mentoring.
- Deep understanding of agile ways of working, best practices, and design patterns.
- Deep understanding of test-driven development and testing best practices.
- Deep understanding of version control tools, e.g. Git.
- Understanding of DevOps practices and cloud technologies (AWS, Azure, GCP).
- Understanding of operational concerns (such as monitoring, performance testing, security considerations, accessibility, GDPR).
- Empathy and strong people skills.
Nice to Have
- Experience with Graph databases.
Benefits & Perks
- Annual Company Bonus – We all help Nearform hit company goals, so we all receive a share of the profits on an annual basis in line with company performance.
- Work Remotely and Flexibly – We have a genuine dedication to work/life balance. Our flexible working culture allows you to work around what matters.
- Flexible Time Off Package – We offer a flexible annual leave policy plus public holidays, sick leave, marriage leave, and more.
- Remote Working Allowance – Every 2 years, you will have a budget of up to €1,250 (equivalent in USD) to help set up a comfortable and productive workspace, in addition to essential equipment provided by Nearform when you join.
- Training and Development Allowance – Nearform is committed to supporting and investing in employees' ongoing learning and professional development.
- Healthcare – Additional private healthcare is offered. Reach out to our team for plan details.
- 401(k) – We offer a 401(k) plan and match up to 4%, with no minimum entry requirements and immediate vesting of employer contributions.
Our Interview Process
- Talent Call (30 mins via Zoom) – An introductory conversation with a member of our Talent Team to learn more about your background, experience, and career goals. We'll also provide a high-level overview of Nearform and answer any questions you may have.
- Panel Interview (60 mins via Zoom) – A conversation with two of our Technical Directors focused on your approach to teamwork, client collaboration, and problem-solving in an enterprise development setting.
- Technical Lead Assessment (90 mins via Zoom) – A structured assessment led by a senior Technical Lead or Head of Engineering, covering:
- Architecture Design – Demonstrating your design thinking and decision-making process.
- Technical Implementation – How you turn a design into reality, taking into account business needs.
- Code Standards and Feedback – How you improve the skills of those around you.
There may also be an additional interview with the client depending on the project.
Ready to Join Us?
If you're passionate about building high-quality applications, solving complex challenges, and driving innovation in enterprise development, we'd love to hear from you. Apply now via our careers page at Nearform and be part of a team that values technical excellence, collaboration, and continuous learning.
Nearform is committed to shaping a better world in all that we do. Our global team is built based on respect, inclusivity, diversity, and excellence.
If you require any adjustments to the interview process as part of your application, please let someone from our Talent Team know so they can help.
Our salary range is $170,000 – $200,000 + bonus & benefits. Further details will be discussed in the initial interview, and final compensation will be determined based on skills, experience, and other job-related factors discussed during the interview process.
As part of our recruitment process, we conduct manual and electronic identity verification checks to confirm the identity of prospective employees.