Senior Software Engineer

Atomic is growing a diverse and inclusive team of curious, creative people who love creating great software for our clients.

We’re looking for thoughtful problem solvers who are passionate about finding success for our clients, teams, and end-users through the human-centered design process.

Company

Since 2001, Atomic Object has designed and developed software products for web, mobile, desktop, and embedded devices. We were founded on the belief that not all software is created equal. Many people can write code, but it takes a close-knit team of passionate people to create exceptional, innovative products that change the way people do business.

We’re an employee-owned company with 100+ Atoms based in our Grand Rapids, Ann Arbor, Chicago, and Raleigh offices. Unlike many other technology companies, we have a flat organization. There is no corporate ladder to climb. As a company that values transparency, we practice open-books management. At Atomic, you can stay close to the craft of making software for your entire career without missing out on owning a part of the company and its profits.

Job Overview

POSITION

Atomic makers work on self-managed, cross-functional teams of 2-10 designers, delivery leads, developers, and testers. They collaborate to create products for our clients, from the idea phase through launch and beyond. Projects typically span 6 to 12 months, so you will have many opportunities to work with different people and tackle new challenges.

As a senior software developer at Atomic, your primary responsibility is creating a great experience for our clients by leading projects with empathy, clarity, and technical insight. You’ll guide teams, mentor fellow developers, and help clients make confident technical decisions. While writing code and tests  alongside other Atoms are an important part of your role, much of your impact comes from fostering collaboration, setting technical direction, and ensuring that both team and client succeed. Atomic promises clients a great experience and a great product. Software developers deliver on that promise by being kind, curious, positive leaders  who provide excellent high-level technical advice to a diverse set of clients.

A key way senior developers contribute to this experience is by sharing their knowledge and helping others grow.  Atomic lives by its “ teach and learn” value mantra. In this position, and in this role you'll spend time daily with mentoring teammates, teaching what you've learned over your career and learning from those around you. We also support learning through professional development by sponsoring annual conference attendance and involvement in local and national organizations.

Additionally, you’ll help broaden the impact of our services by serving as a technical marketer through opportunities like attending and hosting local developer meetups and contributing to our shared company blog.

DETAILS

• Home base in Chicago, IL
• Hybrid work environment with the expectation to be generally present in the office for at least 60% of your work week

Key Responsibilities

ENGINEERING BEST PRACTICES

• Write clean, logical, high-quality code and adopt test-driven development and Agile practices.
• Stay up to date on new technologies and approaches to software development, such as LLMs, emerging languages/frameworks, and tools that accelerate quality delivery.
• Adopt a pragmatic approach to time management with regard to project tradeoffs (e.g., refactoring vs. new feature development).
• Contribute to project documentation as needed by internal and external teams.

MENTORING

• Pair with team members to share knowledge and experience, fostering a two-way learning environment.
• Model best practices in collaboration, code quality, and problem-solving to shape an inclusive, high-performing team culture.
• Support teammates in client-facing situations, helping them communicate technical ideas clearly and confidently.
• Approach collaboration with kindness, curiosity, and respect for teammates of varying experience levels.

TECHNICAL APPROACH

• Deliver high-quality custom software across web, mobile, and embedded platforms—choosing tools and architectures that best fit the client’s goals, constraints, and timeline.
• Demonstrate broad technical versatility by contributing effectively across the stack and adapting quickly to shifting project needs.
• Get up to speed on existing projects’ domains, technology stack, and platforms.

AGILE METHODOLOGIES

• Participate in the Agile project flow providing solutions and feedback.
• Work with Atomic and client teams to define and prioritize project work.
• Find success when requirements aren’t clearly spelled out.
• Adapt to changing project circumstances.

GENERAL EMPLOYMENT RESPONSIBILITIES

• Work a full-time job (generally 40-42 hours per week).
• Track time daily.
• Engage in professional development and continued learning outside of work hours.
• Periodically contribute to Atomic’s blog.
• Travel occasionally—as needed and possible.

Desired Skills

• Skilled in leading projects from planning through delivery, ensuring client satisfaction and high-quality outcomes.
• Able to communicate clearly with clients, providing confident technical guidance and recommendations.
• Comfortable setting technical direction and making key architectural decisions while balancing hands-on coding.
• Can facilitate collaboration, remove blockers, and guide teammates to solve complex problems.
• Successfully collaborate with cross-functional teams to align priorities, solve problems, and drive projects forward.
• Willingness to approach the role with a learning mindset, flexibility, and adaptability.
• Bring excitement and passion for software, development practices, and emerging technologies such as LLMs and agentic workflows.

Requirements

Applicants should have prior experience as a senior software developer on teams building software products. We’re looking for someone with the following attributes:

• 10+ years experience working as a professional software developer
• Experience in both mobile and full stack web development
• Track record of developing software applications leveraging automated testing
• History of leading software development teams
• Familiar with several programming languages, including in-depth experience with at least one

Compensation & Benefits

The total cash compensation range for this role is $150,000 - 200,000 per year. Your exact offer will reflect your job-related knowledge, skills, education, experience and responsibilities of the role. Our compensation and benefits package includes the following:

• Profit-sharing
• Paid time off and holidays
• Atomic-sponsored health insurance (including dependents) with HSA contributions
• Access to Dental & Vision Insurance with Competitive Premiums
• Employee ownership
• Sustainable working pace
• Regular 401(k) company contributions (3%)
• Parental leave
• Paid short-term medical leave and long-term disability insurance
• Support for professional development

Reports To

The Senior Software Developer & Consultant will report to Atomic’s Chicago Managing Partners, Jordan Schaenzle and Abishek Boinpally. A Career Development Manager will help you pursue professional and career goals and find success within company guidelines and expectations.

Why Atomic?

Atomic is a great place to do awesome work. As an Atom, you'll:

• Join a tight-knit group of makers working in an atmosphere of friendship, exploration, and respect.
• Work on a variety of projects and help make pipelines safer, cities greener, healthcare smarter, and old products new again.
• Be part of a transparent, employee-owned company that's active in making the software community stronger, smarter, and more diverse.
• Receive great benefits, including support for professional development, schedule flexibility, employee ownership, 401(k) contributions, and generous vacation time.