Lead Software Engineer – AI & Automation

First Focus

Lead Software Engineer contributing to AI and automation solutions, with a focus on real applications at First Focus, a Managed Service Provider.

Posted 5/25/2026full-timeAuckland • 🇳🇿 New ZealandSenior💰 NZ$170,000 per yearWebsite

Tech Stack

Tools & technologies

AzureCloudPythonReactTypeScript

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Designing, building, testing, deploying, and supporting production-grade AI and software solutions.
Taking prototypes and proof-of-concepts into stable operational systems.
Building internal tools, AI agents, automation platforms, integrations, and supporting services.
Owning the systems the team builds after launch, including maintenance, bug fixes, enhancements, performance, security, stability, and documentation.
Helping define practical engineering standards across code quality, testing, secure development, documentation, deployment, source control, code review, and AI-assisted development workflows.
Reducing technical debt before it becomes a haunted house.
Working closely with the AI, Automation & Adoption Manager and business stakeholders to turn ideas into useful, deliverable solutions.
Providing technical leadership across architecture, planning, and delivery.

Requirements

What you’ll need

Strong commercial software engineering experience across modern application stacks.
Experience delivering and supporting production-grade applications or services.
Solid understanding of secure development, CI/CD, testing, source control, deployment, code review, and operational readiness.
Practical experience using AI-assisted development tools and workflows.
Strong problem-solving skills and a systems-thinking mindset.
The ability to work autonomously in fast-moving and sometimes ambiguous environments.
Good communication skills with technical and non-technical stakeholders.
Enough judgement to know when “move fast” is useful, and when it is just a polite way to create future rubble.
Nice to have: Experience building AI agents or LLM-powered systems, Experience with Claude Code, Codex, Lovable, or similar tools, Proficiency with Python, TypeScript, React, APIs, cloud-native development, or automation tooling, Experience turning experimental systems into production platforms, Experience defining lightweight engineering governance, Exposure to Microsoft 365, Azure, or MSP environments.

Benefits

Comp & perks

Competitive salary package including up to **$170,000 + Kiwisaver**.
Free access to Uprise, including 1:1 coaching with qualified psychologists or counsellors.
Flexible working for work-life balance.
“Never Stop Growing”: 10 paid study days per year, exam fees paid, and pay rises for certifications, conditions apply.
Weekly internal training and access to a learning library.
FastTrack mentoring program.
MAD, our Making a Difference Council, supporting equality, charity, and environmental initiatives.
Tesla company car option, conditions apply.
Regular social events and a genuinely supportive team culture.

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Hard Skills & Tools

software engineeringproduction-grade applicationssecure developmentCI/CDtestingsource controldeploymentcode reviewAI-assisted developmentcloud-native development

Soft Skills

problem-solvingsystems-thinkingautonomycommunicationjudgement