The opportunity timeline

• Overview

  Nestle is hiring a Lead Software Engineer in Columbia, SC.

• Role description

  Hard problems in Nginx don't intimidate you; they're the reason you open your laptop, which makes you our kind of Lead Software Engineer. Few technology roles let you own the whole thing end to end; this lead one in Columbia does, and it pays $106,000 - $161,000.

  Key Responsibilities

  • Maintain and improve CI/CD infrastructure across SC engineering teams
  • Enhance test automation frameworks to increase release confidence
  • Guard the PostgreSQL codebase quality through reviews that teach as much as they catch
  • Drive the Empathy incident postmortem that stops the Columbia outage from recurring
  • Monitor system health and set up alerting for calmly-fast-moving production environments
  • Prototype proof-of-concept solutions for emerging technology requirements

  What You'll Bring

  • Fluency across PostgreSQL and Adaptability, with strong opinions on both
  • Comfort working in a fast-paced, high-trust environment
  • Roughly 8+ years operating in a similar Lead Software Engineer position
  • 7+ years building trust the slow, unglamorous way
  • The composure to deliver bad news early and clearly
  • Self-motivated and able to work independently with minimal oversight
  • Demonstrated comfort presenting to lead leadership

  Nestle builds technology tools the way old shops built furniture — slowly, in Columbia, SC, and with a wildly-collaborative respect for the craft. We assume good intent first and ask clarifying questions second, which keeps the deeply technical days drama-free.

  You get $106,000 - $161,000, a growth runway, a mentor, full benefits, and a flexible Columbia, SC setup, no fine print, no catch.

  This Columbia, SC opening is current, active, and reviewing folks now.

  Join the people at Nestle who chose interesting work over a comfortable rut.

• Required skills

  • Java
  • Ruby
  • AWS
  • React
  • Kubernetes
  • Cypress
  • PostgreSQL
  • JavaScript
  • Rust
  • Nginx
  • Resilience
  • Prioritization
  • Adaptability
  • Empathy

• Benefits & perks

  • Life Insurance
  • Paid certification exam fees
  • Generous paid time off
  • Paid holidays
  • Performance Bonuses
  • Wellness program and challenges
  • Competitive base salary
  • Payroll advance options

• Apply before 2026-11-30

  Submit your application for this Full-time technology position.