Senior Software Engineer

Overview

The Senior Software Engineer is responsible for designing, developing, and maintaining software systems that support newsroom operations, digital publishing platforms, and core business functions. This role ensures that technology solutions are reliable, scalable, secure, and aligned with the organization's mission of delivering high-quality journalism. Working within the product development team, the Senior Software Engineer serves as both a hands‑on developer and technical leader, partnering with stakeholders across various departments to translate business needs into effective technical solutions.

The role contributes to system modernization, integration of enterprise platforms, and continuous improvement of development standards, while also supporting business‑critical applications and system stability.

• Lead the design and implementation of scalable, secure, and high‑availability applications.
• Establish and promote coding standards, development best practices, and documentation.
• Provide technical guidance and mentorship to junior and mid‑level engineers.
• Participate in architectural reviews and long‑term technology planning.
• Design, develop, test, and deploy complex software applications and integrations.
• Maintain and enhance systems supporting newsroom workflows, publishing platforms, advertising systems, and enterprise tools.
• Develop and support APIs and data integrations between internal and third‑party systems (CMS, HRIS, finance, analytics, etc.).
• Troubleshoot and resolve complex system and application issues in production environments.
• Work closely with business stakeholders to translate business requirements into technical solutions.
• Participate in project planning, technical scoping, and solution design.
• Serve as a lead contributor on large‑scale or high‑impact projects.
• Provide clear technical documentation and knowledge transfer to IT and business partners.
• Ensure applications comply with security, privacy, and data governance standards.
• Conduct and participate in code reviews and quality assurance processes.
• Support disaster recovery planning, system monitoring, and performance optimization.
• Assist with vendor evaluation and third‑party integrations as needed.
• Stay current with emerging technologies and industry trends relevant to media and publishing.
• Identify opportunities to modernize legacy systems and improve operational efficiency.
• Recommend and implement tools or frameworks that improve development velocity and system stability.

• BA/BS degree in Computer Science or related technical field and 4+ years of software engineering experience or 8+ years of software engineering experience.
• Demonstrated experience leading complex software projects or serving as a technical lead.
• Proficiency in one or more of the following languages:
  Java, Typescript.
• Experience in REST API design and micro‑service architecture.
• Experience with Docker, CI/CD, AWS services (particularly Lambda, RDS, Dynamo
  
  DB, and/or ECS), and deployment tools.
• Ability to collaborate across various teams within the company.
• Excellent verbal communication skills with ability to translate technology‑related jargon to diverse groups of technical and non‑technical users.
• Excellent written communication skills with the ability to develop technical documents.
• Self‑motivation with the ability to perform quality work within deadlines and budget with or without direct supervision.
• Strong ability to utilize analytical thinking, problem‑solving, and appropriate judgment to make informed decisions that contribute to the success and efficiency of the team or organization.

• Fluency in one or more of the following languages:
  Java, Typescript, Python.
• Experience with serverless architectures is a plus.
• Master's degree in computer science or related field.
• Certification in relevant technologies or methodologies.

The L.A. Times is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes all qualified applicants regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. We actively work to create an inclusive environment where all of our employees can thrive. Explore our company history, achievements, values, mission and more on our career site.

The pay scale the Company reasonably expects to pay for this position at the time of the posting is $155,000 to $165,000 and takes into account a wide range of factors including but not limited to skill set, experience, training, licenses, certifications, and other business or organizational needs. Compensation will be determined based on the above factors along with the requirements of the position.

At the L.A. Times, it is not typical for an individual to be hired at or near the top of the range for the role.