Project Lead (Amper)

At JetBrains, we create tools that are supposed to make software development fun and productive. As is known, the top fun in the development process comes from authoring build files—a unique combination of guesswork and riddle solving. With Amper, we want to eliminate all that and create a build tool that just gets out of the way. 

Amper is the next-generation build tool for the JVM and the Kotlin ecosystem. It aims to make simple things easy while giving enough power to build tomorrow's Enterprise JVM applications. 

The first experimental version of Amper was released at the end of 2023. Since then, we have been constantly iterating based on user feedback and evolving the tool, and presented it at the KotlinConf 2024.

We’re looking for an Amper Project Lead to take full engineering ownership of Amper. You’ll connect the dots and create an experience from the IDE to the build configuration language to shape how JVM applications are built. Along with a stream of algorithmic puzzles, architectural design, integration with the underlying OSes, and toolchains. Whether you are an expert with an in-depth understanding of specific areas or a specialist with a broad knowledge of technical areas, you’ll find a good fit!

You’ll work closely with Engineering, Developer Advocacy, and Marketing to define the product’s value proposition, define the features, implement it, get first users, and scale up.

• Provide technical leadership of the Amper team
• Evaluate available options for design and implementation, and solve them with the team – from IDE starters to incremental compilation
• Create, test, and implement a go-to-market strategy for Amper

• Have a strong technical background and at least 5 years of Java/Kotlin development experience
• Understand algorithms and data structures, and can apply them in your daily work.
• Has a strong understanding of build systems
• Has experience in hiring, people/team, and project management

• Experience in developer tools, compilers, programming languages, emerging tech R&D teams, or startups
• Experience and track record in the open source community
• A history of working on advanced technologies.