Lead Software Engineer

Join Our Team at RW Thrive!
Are you passionate about designing and delivering innovative software solutions that power real-world learning experiences? RW Thrive-a growing, employee-owned company-is seeking a Lead Software Engineer to drive the architecture, development, and evolution of our digital product platforms. This role will provide hands-on technical leadership across embedded, mobile, desktop, and web applications while partnering with engineering, product, and business teams to build scalable, high-quality systems that support product innovation and long-term growth.
Who We Are
RW Thrive is the parent organization of two impactful educational companies: Realityworks, known for experiential learning tools used in classrooms worldwide, and CreXo, a leader in creative robotics education. While RW Thrive may be new to your radar, our brands are well-established in education and innovation. Together, we are committed to equipping learners and educators with the tools they need to thrive in today's world.
The Opportunity: Lead Software Engineer
The Lead Software Engineer will provide technical leadership in designing and delivering innovative digital solutions that power our hands-on learning products. This role will lead the architecture, development, and modernization of embedded, mobile, desktop, and web applications, including integration across our Realityworks and CreXo platforms. As a hands-on leader, you will partner with cross-functional teams to bring new products to market, solve complex technical challenges, and ensure scalable, high-quality systems across the full product lifecycle.
Why Join Us?

• Employee-owned company with a collaborative culture
• Mission-driven work supporting educators and learners
• Opportunity to shape the future of technology in education
• Competitive salary and benefits package
• Hybrid work flexibility

Key Responsibilities

• Provides technical leadership for software development across embedded, desktop, mobile, and web applications
• Collaborates with R&D, Product, DevOps, and other stakeholders to translate requirements into scalable digital solutions
• Defines software architecture and design for complex development initiatives
• Coordinates development efforts across internal teams and external partners, ensuring alignment with timelines and standards
• Guides engineers through design decisions, troubleshooting, and implementation challenges
• Writes and maintains production-quality code and contributes directly to development efforts
• Leads resolution of complex technical issues including performance, security, and system reliability
• Participates in user testing and leverages feedback to drive product improvements
• Ensures adherence to SDLC processes including version control, code review, and release management
• Ensures software solutions meet regulatory and compliance requirements
• Documents system architecture, specifications, and development processes
• Maintains awareness of emerging technologies and supports continuous improvement
• Mentors and supports software engineers and cross-functional teams

What You'll Bring

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Embedded Systems Engineering, or related technical discipline; or equivalent combination of education and directly-related experience
• 10+ years of professional software development experience across embedded, desktop, or mobile platforms
• Demonstrated experience leading architecture or development of complex software systems
• Proficiency in modern programming languages such as C/C++, C#/.NET, Java/Kotlin, or Swift/Objective-C
• Experience with version control, code reviews, and automated build and release processes
• Experience developing software that interfaces with hardware or external systems

Desired Qualifications

• Experience developing hardware-integrated or embedded systems
• Experience across multiple application platforms (desktop, mobile, web)
• Proficiency with Python for tooling, automation, or data analysis
• Experience with APIs, service-oriented architectures, or shared-code strategies
• Experience mentoring engineers and influencing technical direction
• Experience working with distributed teams or external partners
• Familiarity with AI-assisted development tools

Work Location

• RW Thrive is headquartered in Eau Claire, WI. This is a primarily work-from-home position, working from a home office and coming onsite in Eau Claire as needed.

Compensation

• The expected compensation range for this position is $116,000 - $150,000 annually

Travel Requirements

• Occasional (<10%) travel may be required to support business needs

Learn More

• Discover more about our mission and impact at www.rwthrive.com

RW Thrive is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.