Windward is a global leader in maritime risk analytics. We turn complex data into actionable insights, helping organizations make mission-critical decisions across security, compliance, and operations. We are at the forefront of revolutionizing the maritime industry with cutting-edge AI technology.

We are looking for a Software Team Lead to join our R&D Platform group and lead a powerhouse team of senior developers. This team is the backbone of our data engine, building the core entities that power our entire platform. You will lead the development of a stateful data pipeline processing ~1 billion messages a day.

What will you do?

• Lead a team of engineers in a high-stakes environment. You will serve as the technical authority, foster professional growth, and ensure the highest standards of architectural integrity and delivery.
• Own people leadership end-to-end: hiring and onboarding, setting goals and expectations, coaching and mentoring, performance management, and career
• development.
• Build and maintain mission-critical, high-scale systems using Java, Kafka, and Spark that process ~1B messages/day.
• Act as the technical anchor between complex research and product delivery. Translate intricate algorithmic work and data flows into durable systems and visible product value.
• Innovate: Drive the vision for our Iceberg-based Data Lake.
• Drive AI adoption on the team: establish practical best practices for GenAI/LLM-assisted engineering (e.g., stronger code reviews, faster debugging, better test plans/docs, clearer technical decisions, incident summaries), while ensuring responsible usage.

Requirements

• B.Sc. in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field (or equivalent practical experience).
• 4+ years of experience leading software development teams.
• 5+ years of backend development experience, with deep proficiency in Java (Spring Boot) and microservices architecture.
• Extensive experience with Kafka concepts; Spark familiarity is a strong advantage.
• A proven track record in developing large-scale ETL or data transformation pipelines.
• AWS experience (services for storage/processing/analytics) and an understanding of security, performance, and cost best practices.
• You don’t just “execute tickets” you understand business impact, plan ahead, and translate complex systems into product value.
• Proficiency with GenAI/LLM tools is a must.
• Excellent English communication skills (written and verbal).