Overview
The Full Stack Engineer is responsible for ownership of our technology stack and product development. You will be responsible for aligning the technical roadmap with the team’s strategic plan, enabling our team to translate data analytics into web tools that drive real impact for children and families impacted by the child welfare system. You will design and implement systems that are not only secure and compliant with strict regulations (e.g. HIPAA, FERPA) but also optimized for performance and reliability. You will also use your expertise in machine learning and generative artificial intelligence to extract actionable insights from complex datasets. From creating new data models to deploying end-to-end solutions, you will be the driving force of our technical excellence. 

Your projects will be varied and tasks will include, but are not limited to: de novo development of web apps and services, data engineering and modeling, cloud engineering, CI/CD development, reporting from various information systems, cybersecurity compliance, implementing open source software, and GIS development. You will lead by example, setting high engineering standards and fostering a culture of innovation and collaboration. As the team grows, you will also need to build, mentor, and manage a world-class engineering team, using a variety of technologies including Python (FastAPI), React, AWS GovCloud, Go, Postgres, DynamoDB, DigitalOcean, Docker, and Kubernetes, with a strong focus on AWS GovCloud.

Foster Insights is an exciting new organization helping child welfare agencies and their partners use data to deliver better outcomes for the children and families they serve. By providing practical data analytics and tools to agency leaders and staff, we aim to ensure that children in foster care remain connected to their families and communities whenever possible. With a fast-growing list of clients, we are seeking team members ready to wear multiple hats and support building Foster Insights from the ground up.

Digital Harbor Foundation is dedicated to fostering learning, creativity, productivity, and community through education with a vision of digital equity for everyone. Driven by our sincere belief that access to opportunity is a basic right, we take bold yet practical actions to support making a better future now. Through a portfolio of projects focused on developing leadership within communities, we support those closest to challenges to take deliberate actions based in design thinking approach, backed by data analysis, grounded in a practice of collective impact, and driven by a commitment to racial equity.

Education and Experience Requirements

• Bachelor's or Master’s degree in computer science, information science, or similar field.
• 2+ years of professional experience as a full-stack software engineer or technical lead.
• Strong background in designing scalable, secure, and maintainable systems.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Proficiency with Next.js, React, Node.js, Svelte, Vue, and other modern web technologies.
• Experience with version control tools (e.g. Git, GitHub, GitLab) and CI/CD pipelines.
• Proficiency with cloud platforms (e.g. AWS) and containerization (e.g. Docker, Kubernetes).
• Hands-on experience with DevOps, CI/CD, and infrastructure-as-code (e.g. Terraform).

Preferred Competencies

• Proven ability to lead and inspire engineering teams in a fast-paced, startup environment.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, capable of engaging both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Proven record of aligning external stakeholder needs with high quality deliverables.
• Excellent organization skills and attention to detail, especially with regards to data.
• Professional demeanor including tact, discretion, and a customer service oriented approach.
• Proven ability to handle multiple tasks simultaneously and meet deadlines, and possession of a self-motivated disposition.
• Critical thinking skills and identify opportunities for improvement and recommend effective changes to achieve key objectives. 
• Strong data skills, including proven ability to produce impactful insights with little direction.
• Work both independently and successfully as a member of a team.

Additional Notes
This position is fully remote with occasional travel required for in-person meetings as needed to fulfill the responsibilities of the position. Our team is primarily based out of Chicago.

Role and Responsibilities

• Support team members and external partners in their understanding of the technical stack.
• Design, develop, test, and deploy scalable, high-quality software solutions, including backend systems and APIs.
• Write clean, maintainable, and efficient code following industry best practices.
• Optimize web application performance and ensure compliance with strict regulations, such as HIPAA.
• Manage cloud infrastructure, CI/CD pipelines, and automate deployment processes.
• Identify and capitalize on opportunities for technical impact by meeting with external leadership and collaborating with data scientists.
• Apply best engineering practices, including continuous integration/continuous deployment (CI/CD), automated testing, and DevOps principles.
• Research and adopt new technologies, especially generative artificial intelligence, to securely enhance software performance and business outcomes.
• Stay updated on policy changes and new research in child welfare to integrate relevant insights into the technological framework

Other Duties
Please note that this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Required Application Materials

• Resume (Required)
• Please submit a 2-3 minute video that helps us get to know you. Tell us about something that makes you tick or something you’re passionate about. Don’t be afraid to get personal or specific with your topics! (Required)
• Tell us about something you built and how you would approach it differently today. (250 word limit) (Required)
• Link to Portfolio (Optional)

Compensation
Compensation for this full-time position is $100,000 annually. 
Foster Insights provides a best-in-class comprehensive set of benefits to support the team. All regular, full-time employees are eligible to receive:
Health Benefits & Insurance

• Carefirst Blue Cross Blue Shield - Health, Dental, and Vision Insurance (100% of the premium paid for employees and 85% of dependents)
• Pre-Tax Health Savings Account (HSA) (with $365 monthly employer contributions)
• Pre-Tax Flexible Savings Account (FSA)
• Paid Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D) Insurance
• Paid Short-Term & Long-Term Disability Insurance
• Paid Basic Life Insurance
• Supplemental Voluntary Life Insurance (Employee, Spouse & Dependent Children)
• Total Pet Plan and Supplemental Wishbone Pet Insurance
• Employee Opportunity Program (EAP) - Health and Wellness
• Wellness Reimbursement Program 

Retirement

• 401k Retirement Plan (with 6% matching)

Paid Time Off

• 15 Days Paid Time Off Per Year
• 20 Days Paid Time Off Per Year (after 3rd Anniversary)
• 25 Days Paid Time Off Per Year (after 6th Anniversary)
• 16 Paid Holidays (14 common plus 2 flexible holidays, including Dec 25 - Jan 1)
• Paid Bereavement Leave
• Paid Parental Leave for Moms and Dads (two weeks after first year)

If our mission and vision align with your personal values, please apply! Interviews will be conducted virtually.
Digital Harbor and Foster Insights are equal opportunity employers.