Senior Software Developer

Welcome to Menlo Innovations! We're a custom software design & development firm with a unique mission: to return joy and end human suffering in the world as it relates to teams and technology by rigorously applying and teaching The Menlo Way®. Our primary goal has always been to return joy to technology, for end users, our clients, and our team.

Rooted in Agile and Scrum style methodologies, our approach to product development is unique in several ways. We work in pairs, are fanatic about test-driven development (TDD) and employ a user-centered design process called High-Tech Anthropology®. These three elements of our process work in concert to ensure quality and mitigate IT project risk. We work with companies in a wide range of industries and domains, from Fortune 500 manufacturers to small local startups. An important part of our work at Menlo includes transforming client teams through deliberate co-creation. We also enjoy sharing our knowledge with others through a variety of tours and hands-on workshops focused on teaching The Menlo Way®.

We’re hiring an Intermediate-Senior level Software Developer who thrives in complex, high-impact environments. You’re more than just a coder—you’re a problem solver, mentor, strategist, and trusted partner to both your team and your clients.

This role requires a unique balance of technical skill, systems thinking, emotional intelligence, teaching/coaching ability, and client leadership. You'll play a central role in architecting scalable solutions, mentoring others, leading technical execution, and guiding clients through the delivery of impactful software—sometimes in messy or ambiguous environments.

We are especially interested in candidates with experience in the following areas:

• Cloud Services, such as AWS, Azure, and GCP
• LLM-powered development tooling and AI-assisted workflows
• Dev Ops pipelines
• Salesforce
• GIS

You Can Expect:

• To spend all your time working in a paired context with other team members or clients
• To spend the majority of your time coding and executing related development tasks, including TDD
• To rotate across a diverse portfolio of projects in a variety of domains and technologies
• To work collaboratively and cross-functionally with Project Managers, UX/UI Designers, and Quality Advocates
• To play a leading role in:
• Guiding the direction of technical discussions
• Building and managing client relationships
• Drawing out the ideas and experience of others to maximize project success and team effectiveness
• Identifying opportunities for growth in others and developing their technical and soft skills
• Translating ambiguous or conflicting business objectives into a concrete project plan
• To frequently consult with existing and prospective clients, including participation in sales conversations, weekly client meetings, etc.

Qualifications:

• 5 years of professional software development experience outside the classroom
• Demonstrated ability to lead complex software projects at all stages of execution
• Deep experience in system design, technical architecture, and troubleshooting
• Excellent communication skills—especially in client-facing scenarios
• Familiarity with and/or interest in agile development, XP, and pair programming
• Experience navigating challenging dynamics between internal teams and external stakeholders
• Comfort juggling multiple moving pieces while keeping an eye on project health, emotional tone, and long-term goals
• Ability to “connect the dots” across the product, tech, and people dimensions of a project
• Commitment to work full time, in-person in Ann Arbor, MI (This is not a hybrid or remote work assignment)

Nice to Have:

• Prior experience with pair programming and/or TDD
• Prior experience working in consultancy or client services
• Comfort juggling multiple moving pieces while keeping an eye on project health, emotional tone, and long-term goals
• Ability to “connect the dots” across the product, tech, and people dimensions of a project
• Budget or time management skills for medium to large-scale efforts
• Experience as the primary leader on technical work or delivery teams

Benefits:

• Health insurance (73% - 87% subsidized with HSA options and generous employer contribution)
• Life & disability insurance
• Paid time off (20 days annually)
• 10 paid holidays per year
• 401(k) - with employer contribution (Traditional and Roth)
• Parking is reimbursed
• Menlo values work/life balance, and uses a unique paired staffing approach as a mechanism for employee development, cross-training, and delivering high-quality work products.

Menlo Innovations is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to providing a work environment that is free of discrimination and harassment. All employment decisions at Menlo Innovations are made without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected characteristic. We encourage applicants of all backgrounds to apply.