About Enlighten Designs
We’re an award-winning data and software agency, one of New Zealand’s leading Microsoft Partners, and proudly at the forefront of AI-enabled delivery. From Waikato to the world, we design and build intelligent technology solutions that create real impact for our clients.
With 25+ years behind us and the energy of a start-up, we combine deep technical capability with a genuinely people-first culture. We care about doing great work, building strong relationships, and creating an environment where talented humans can thrive.
We’re growing — and we’re looking for a Senior Developer / Team Leader to help us scale both our capability and performance culture.
The Role
You’ll guide a small team of developers while remaining hands-on in technical delivery.
You’ll play a key role in strengthening team performance and delivery outcomes — not just through your own output, but by enabling those around you to succeed.
We’re looking for someone who balances commercial awareness, technical excellence, and people leadership — and who cares as much about building high-performing teams as developing great software.
What you’ll be doing:
Leading and strengthening the team
- Providing people leadership, coaching and regular one-on-ones
- Removing roadblocks and proactively addressing delivery challenges
- Fostering a culture of feedback, accountability, and continuous improvement
- Supporting hiring, onboarding, development planning and retention
- Helping the team build stronger consultancy skills, business acumen and AI tooling proficiency
Delivering exceptional technical outcomes
- Designing and building high-quality, well-architected solutions
- Leaning in and leveraging AI tooling (Claude Code) to amplify delivered value
- Developing commercially aware software aligned to time, scope and value
- Leading solution design and creating clear technical specifications
- Identifying risks early and solving root causes, not just symptoms
- Working closely with clients so they genuinely feel we’re in it with them
Driving performance and results
- Partnering with our sales team to craft solutions that deliver real value and are easy to say yes to
- Ensuring clarity of targets and expectations across your team
- Supporting projects to land on time, within estimate, and to a high standard
- Balancing client satisfaction with business profitability
What We're Looking For
- Genuine excitement in the adoption of AI tooling to accelerate and improve the value delivered to clients
- 8+ years of software development experience with strong software design and architecture skills
- Strong experience with the Microsoft stack (C#, .NET, Azure)
- Experience building web services or cloud-based applications
- Experience working in a client-facing or consulting environment
- Demonstrated leadership capability — mentoring, coaching, or coordinating team delivery
- The ability to have tough conversations and manage conflict constructively
- Excellent communication skills — able to explain technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders
- Strong organisational skills and the ability to balance leadership and hands-on work
- Commercial awareness and business acumen
- A relevant degree (Computer Science, Software Engineering, or similar) is great, or equivalent practical experience.
What’s in it for you
- Lead AI-enhanced delivery across projects
- Lead a talented, capable team and genuinely shape how we deliver
- Work on complex, high-value projects for enterprise clients
- Help build the next generation of Enlighten developers
- Work with an extraordinary group of people who treat talent as the organisation's most valuable asset
- Get exposure to a wide range of businesses across New Zealand and the world
- Daily team connection (lunch time board games, afternoon hacky sack), regular team lunches, and anniversary celebrations
Research shows women and other underrepresented groups are more likely to self-select out of applying for roles unless they match 100% of the criteria. If you are interested in this role and working with us at Enlighten, but your experience doesn't line up exactly, please still consider applying. You could be the right person for us.
