Lead Developer

Vetted Consultant is seeking a Senior Technical Lead for a short-term, high-impact contract focused on building AI-integrated full-stack applications. This is a remote role with a required onsite kickoff in Chicago and a first delivery milestone set for December 31, 2026.

Role Overview

The engagement is a 1-year contract to lead full-stack development and technical execution. You will set the engineering direction, guide delivery against aggressive timelines, and ensure AI components are integrated cleanly across the stack. A first deliverable deadline of December 31, 2026 is required.

Responsibilities

• Lead technical strategy and architecture decisions for full-stack development
• Mentor and guide the engineering team on best practices and code quality
• Own delivery of project milestones, with the first deliverable due December 31, 2026
• Ensure seamless integration of AI/MCP components throughout the stack
• Make rapid decisions while maintaining code ownership and architectural integrity
• Collaborate cross-functionally to deliver against aggressive timelines
• Attend an onsite kickoff meeting in Chicago to align the team

Required Skills and Qualifications

• React with deep proficiency in modern React patterns
• TypeScript with strong typing discipline and best practices
• Vite build tooling and optimization experience
• WebSockets for real-time communication
• REST APIs integration and consumption experience
• CSS for styling, responsive design, and layout
• Python production-grade development experience
• AsyncIO asynchronous programming patterns
• SQL database design and query optimization
• AI Integration (MCP) including Model Context Protocol implementation and integration
• Proficiency with AI coding tools to accelerate development while maintaining full code ownership and architectural responsibility
• Ability for rapid learning of new technologies and domain concepts
• Comfort with ambiguity navigation in environments with evolving requirements
• Self-direction and strong ownership mentality with minimal hand-holding required
• Team leadership demonstrated ability to lead and elevate engineering teams
• Plus: Previous experience with React Flow is a strong advantage

Technologies

React, TypeScript, Vite, WebSockets, REST APIs, CSS, React Flow, Python, AsyncIO, SQL, AI Integration (MCP), Model Context Protocol

Contract and Logistics

• Job type: contract
• Contract structure: C2C (Corp-to-Corp), 1099 or w2
• Location: Remote (remote), with a required onsite kickoff in Chicago
• Kickoff meeting: onsite in Chicago (travel and accommodations provided)
• Availability: must be available to start immediately; interviews scheduled for Tuesday

Compensation

USD 122,978 - 200,000 per year

Benefits

• Paid onsite kickoff: full travel and accommodation coverage for Chicago kickoff
• Meaningful work: lead a high-visibility project with real business impact
• Flexible work: remote-first with structured onsite collaboration
• Growth opportunity: work with cutting-edge AI/MCP technologies
• Team collaboration: partner with experienced engineers and cross-functional stakeholders

Role Expectations

This position is designed for a technical leader who can drive fast-paced delivery with high stakes. The role emphasizes hands-on engineering, strategic AI tooling use without sacrificing code quality, and clear collaboration to align decisions under time pressure. You will be responsible for setting the technical foundation and supporting a robust, well-architected solution by year-end.