Lead Engineer

Engineering Lead — Digital Platform 6 month Contract to Hire Job Summary: We are seeking an Engineering Lead for the Digital Platform to strengthen the architecture, performance, and engineering discipline of our global digital platform, including ecommerce, brand, and scientific resource experiences. This hands-on role combines technical leadership, deep Shopify platform expertise, and strong engineering best practices to deliver a scalable, maintainable, and high-performing digital experience. The Engineering Lead — Digital Platform will own and set the technical direction of our Shopify ecosystem, mentor developers, create reusable systems, improve site performance, and ensure reliable integration with ERP, CRM, and internal tools. This role works closely with Marketing, UX, and IT to execute business priorities while protecting platform integrity and enabling long-term digital growth. This role is critical to both short-term execution stability and long-term architectural modernization. Join us in making a meaningful impact! Key Responsibilities: 1. Technical Architecture and System Design - Own and evolve the web platform and Shopify architecture to improve scalability, maintainability, and consistency. - Develop reusable components, internal libraries, and standardized development patterns to reduce manual work. - Establish and document clear engineering standards, coding guidelines, and workflow processes. - Modernize legacy code structures and reduce technical debt across the web ecosystem. - Build a technical foundation that supports international scalability and future capabilities. 1. Web Performance and Optimization - Lead efforts to improve Core Web Vitals, load times, and overall page performance. - Optimize Liquid, JavaScript, CSS, and image assets using industry best practices. - Implement performance monitoring tools and automated testing workflows. - Identify and resolve performance bottlenecks with a data-driven approach. 1. Engineering Leadership - Provide hands-on technical leadership and mentorship to front-end developers. - Conduct code reviews and ensure consistent code quality and implementation standards. - Actively unblock developers and refine engineering workflows. - Set clear expectations for continuous improvement, clarity, and accountability. - Collaborate with UX to ensure design fidelity and high-quality user interface execution. 1. Systems Integration and Reliability - Collaborate with NetSuite engineers and IT to ensure reliable and scalable integrations between Shopify, ERP (NetSuite), CRM (HubSpot), and internal systems. - Define data flows, schemas, synchronization schedules, and best practices for system interoperability. - Implement robust error handling on the front end to gracefully manage data latency or sync issues. - Maintain awareness of technical constraints and communicate tradeoffs clearly to stakeholders. 1. Business Alignment and Digital Experience Support - Translate Marketing and Product requirements into technical plans and implementation strategies. - Ensure the website effectively supports product discovery, ecommerce conversion, and user experience goals. - Incorporate analytics, technical SEO practices, and accessibility standards into development decisions. - Provide technical insight during planning for campaigns, product launches, and site optimizations. 1. Technical Project Leadership - Break down complex development efforts into structured tasks and technical requirements. - Provide accurate estimates, identify risks early, and propose mitigation strategies. - Maintain visibility into technical progress and communicate updates to stakeholders. - Align technical execution with business priorities and timelines while reducing scope creep and unnecessary context