Location: Brussels, Belgium (Hybrid: 2-3 days remote / week)

Contract Type: Freelance (Independent Contractor)

About Smile

Passionate about tech, digital, and innovation? Join the 1,800 employees at Smile, the European leader in open-source integration, spread across 20 agencies in 9 countries. Collaborative spirit and knowledge sharing are at the heart of our DNA. Our experts push the boundaries of open source every day to build a smarter, more efficient, and more responsible digital world. Here, we don't just follow trends, we create them! 🌟 Join Smile in Brussels and take part in projects that truly matter! 🏆

On behalf of one of our major premium clients based in Brussels, we are looking for a highly skilled API / SOA Team Lead to drive, mentor, and elevate our integration delivery teams.

Mission & Responsibilities

As an API / SOA Team Lead, you will combine strong technical expertise in integration architectures with proven leadership skills. You will be responsible for orchestrating complex ICT projects, managing delivery timelines, and mentoring a team of analysts and developers to deliver high-quality API solutions.

Your daily responsibilities will include:

• Team Leadership & Mentoring: Guiding, supporting, and coaching team members to foster technical growth and ensure project alignment.

• Project Management: Managing complex ICT project dimensions, including resource allocation, budget tracking, and timeline management.

• Functional & Design Oversight: Overseeing functional analysis, validation of UML models, and enforcing best practices in API/SOA design principles.

• Agile Governance: Driving Scrum/Agile ceremonies, optimising workflows, and ensuring accurate documentation within Jira and Confluence.

• Release & Quality Guarding: Collaborating on CI/CD pipelines, managing code repositories via GIT, and ensuring robust automated testing and quality assurance procedures.

Your Profile

Core Technical & Management Skills:

• Proven Leadership: Strong experience in team management, resource planning, and budget tracking for large-scale ICT initiatives.

• API & SOA Expert: Deep knowledge of integration architectures, design patterns, and standard API protocols.

• Methodologies & Tools: Mastery of Agile/Scrum frameworks, UML modeling, and functional analysis.

• DevOps Ecosystem: Good understanding of CI/CD pipelines, version control (GIT), and modern web service testing tools.

• Collaboration: Advanced proficiency with Jira and Confluence.

Experience & Seniority Requirement:

• Senior / Expert: 10+ years of professional experience in IT, with a significant track record in leading teams and managing complex API/SOA integration projects.

Language Requirements:

• English: Professional proficiency (Minimum 3/4) AND

• Dutch OR French: Professional proficiency (Minimum 3/4)

Why Smile? 😊

• Peer Management: Our proximity management by peers fosters dialogue and the implementation of a tailored career path.

• Continuous Learning: Because the digital sector is in constant motion, Smile is committed to making you an expert in your field, thanks to a comprehensive training offer: access to an e-learning platform, financing of certifications, knowledge-sharing tools...

• Vibrant Community: Your year will be animated by group and agency events: annual convention, participation in trade fairs, summer party, formal & informal afterworks.

The Next Steps 🚀

1. First contact: A phone call to discuss your aspirations and what we can offer you.

2. Meeting: An opportunity to get to know each other and explore your professional background.

3. Business interview: A discussion with one of our experts to assess your skills and define your goals.

Are you a natural leader with a passion for robust integration architectures? Apply today!