Job Overview We are looking for a hands-on API/Integration Lead to take ownership of how our developer partners (HRIS and Payrolls) experience our API platform and drive its technical evolution. In this role, you will play a critical part in shaping how we drive our developer partner ecosystem, working closely with engineering teams to ensure high-performance, scalable, and secure API solutions. You will also be responsible for hands-on development tasks, technical decision-making, and architecture discussions to ensure APIs meet both business and technical requirements.
This position requires a deep understanding of API technologies, hands-on coding experience, and a strong background in working within a product-led, agile environment. The ideal candidate should have experience collaborating closely with product management and cross-functional teams to deliver customer-centric solutions. They will own the API product roadmap, drive the technical execution of API product features while embracing iterative development practices, focusing on delivering value in small, rapid increments. The candidate must be comfortable making data-driven decisions and fostering a culture of continuous improvement and innovation.
Key Responsibilities: Technical Product Ownership:Lead the development and delivery of API products, driving technical decisions and influencing the architectural design of APIs and supporting services.Participate in hands-on coding and debugging when necessary, providing technical guidance to engineering teams.Ensure APIs are built with scalability, security, and performance in mind by implementing best coding practices.Own the API product lifecycle: from planning, development, and deployment to monitoring and scaling.API Design & Development:Work closely with engineering teams to design and develop RESTful, or event-driven APIs.Define and create API data models, endpoints, error handling, and versioning strategies.Create API prototypes and participate in development sprints, contributing to the actual codebase.Build contract tests that will be run as part of our CI/CD pipelines.Hands-on Collaboration with Engineering:Review code, conduct technical testing, and provide input on refactoring opportunities.Be involved in deployment pipelines and CI/CD processes, ensuring smooth deployment and versioning of APIs.Troubleshoot complex technical issues related to APIs and collaborate on resolving production issues in real-time.Backlog Management & Technical Prioritisation:Own and manage the technical backlog, working with engineers to prioritise tasks that impact performance, scalability, and maintainability of APIs.Write detailed technical user stories and acceptance criteria, ensuring clarity and technical feasibility.Define and prioritise technical debt and system improvements to ensure the long-term health of the API platform.Data led feedback loop with Development Partners.API Governance & Security:Establish and enforce API governance policies, ensuring consistent and secure API design and implementation across teams.Ensure that APIs meet security standards, such as OAuth 2.0, OpenID Connect, and JWT.Implement API rate-limiting, throttling, and monitoring strategies to protect the platform and maintain high availability.Performance Monitoring & Optimisation:Set up and maintain API monitoring and alerting systems to proactively identify performance bottlenecks.Optimise API performance through caching strategies, load balancing, and asynchronous processing techniques.Analyse API logs, usage patterns, and metrics to improve response times and reduce system overhead.Technical Documentation & Developer Enablement:Ensure comprehensive technical documentation for both internal and external developers, including API specs, authentication protocols, and usage guidelines.Create and maintain technical how-to guides, examples, and SDKs to improve the developer experience and API adoption.Qualifications: 5+ years of hands-on experience as a Product Owner or Technical Product Manager with a focus on APIs.Proven experience working directly with backend and API development teams.Deep understanding of API design, implementation, and architecture.Proficiency in one or more programming languages (e.g., Java, Typescript) to actively contribute to the codebase.Strong understanding of RESTful, and event-driven API standards and protocols.Hands-on experience with OAuth 2.0, OpenID Connect, JWT, and other authentication and authorisation mechanisms. #J-18808-Ljbffr