Senior Software Engineer, Windows/Desktop Applications - Providence, RI, USA

Role overview

This senior engineering role leads the design and development of native Windows desktop applications for a text-to-speech reading platform used by more than 50 million people worldwide. The position blends hands-on architecture and coding with technical leadership, owning end-to-end delivery of a desktop product within a fully distributed engineering organization. A core focus is shipping accessible, high-performance, production-grade software that supports readers across multiple platforms.

Responsibilities

- Lead the architecture and implementation of native Windows desktop apps using Windows App SDK, WinUI, C#, XAML, and C++ where appropriate. - Establish and enforce best practices across the codebase covering performance, memory usage, responsive UI, maintainability, and Windows 10/11+ compatibility. - Drive accessibility integration, including Microsoft UI Automation or equivalent frameworks, keyboard navigation, focus management, and screen-reader behavior. - Own the complete feature lifecycle, from concept and design through implementation, testing, release, and long-term maintenance. - Partner with product designers, UX researchers, and QA to shape platform roadmap decisions and inform UI/UX architecture. - Diagnose and resolve complex bugs, memory leaks, rendering issues, and performance bottlenecks, proposing durable architectural fixes.

Requirements

- Three or more years building Windows desktop applications with Windows App SDK, WinUI or comparable frameworks, C#, and XAML. - Working knowledge of native Windows code (C++, Win32, WinRT, or COM) and managed-to-native interop via .NET. - Track record of shipping production-quality desktop software with a focus on reliability, scalability, and maintainability. - Hands-on experience with Windows accessibility APIs and a demonstrated commitment to inclusive design. - Strong fundamentals in object-oriented programming, design patterns, data structures, algorithms, memory management, and asynchronous programming. - Proven ability to lead technical design, mentor engineers, conduct code reviews, and drive consensus across cross-functional teams.

Nice to have

- Experience writing automated UI tests (unit, integration, UI automation). - Background optimizing desktop app performance, including startup time and high-DPI rendering. - Familiarity with localization, globalization, and right-to-left UI support. - Experience with telemetry, analytics, crash reporting, and error monitoring. - Exposure to CI/CD pipelines and release automation for desktop products. - Comfort owning feature areas long-term, including refactoring and managing technical debt.

Benefits and work setup

- High-impact position defining the architecture of a widely used desktop product. - Fully distributed engineering culture with a flat structure, autonomy, and meaningful decision-making authority. - Clear growth pathway toward Tech Lead or Architect roles, with formal mentoring opportunities. - Mission-driven environment centered on accessible and reliable software. - For U.S.-based candidates: salary range of 140,000-200,000 USD per year, plus bonus and equity, depending on experience.