Director of Engineering

Director of Engineering - Core Systems

Business Area: Application Development & Support
Reports To: Chief Technology Officer
Employment Type: Full-Time Employee
Remote Work Eligible: Yes with office visits

Summary

The Director of Software Engineering - Core Systems plays a critical leadership role in guiding the development, delivery, and support of our core banking technology platforms. This position is responsible for the strategic direction and daily management of software engineering teams focused on IBM i (AS400) systems and core financial applications. The ideal candidate will bring a blend of technical depth, leadership capability, and industry experience within the fintech or banking software sector.

This leader will oversee end-to-end project execution, lead professional development efforts for team members, and ensure all deliverables meet the company's standards for quality, security, scalability, and maintainability.

Primary Responsibilities
Strategic & Technical Leadership

• Lead the development and execution of strategic plans for core banking software solutions.
• Oversee throughput, quality, and performance of development teams focused on Core Systems.
• Partner with internal stakeholders to align technology efforts with business objectives.
• Collaborate on cross-functional initiatives, especially where Core and Digital/Web technologies intersect.

Software Engineering & Delivery

• Manage the software development life cycle (SDLC), from requirements gathering to deployment and maintenance.
• Ensure timely development and deployment of robust, high-quality, and secure solutions.
• Support design and architecture of scalable, stable, and backward-compatible systems.
• Provide technical direction for projects involving IBM i technologies including RPG, CL, SQL, DB2, and system-level interfaces.

Team & Project Management

• Lead and mentor a team of developers and business analysts.
• Coordinate personnel and tasks to ensure timely project delivery across multiple concurrent efforts.
• Guide and support developers in overcoming escalated technical issues and completing complex tickets.
• Participate in recruiting, goal setting, performance management, and professional development planning.

Business Alignment & Communication

• Engage with business units and partners to understand operational needs and translate them into technical solutions.
• Exercise sound judgment in evaluating requests, determining scope, feasibility, and risk.
• Act as a bridge between technical teams and business stakeholders to ensure alignment and shared understanding.

Required Education and Experience

• Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, or a related field (or equivalent experience).
• 10+ years of software engineering experience, with at least 5 years in a leadership role.
• Strong background in core banking technology;
• Deep understanding of IBM i / AS400 systems, financial transaction processing, and core system integration.
• Experience managing software teams using Agile development methodologies.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Strong knowledge of SDLC, project management, and Agile delivery models.
• Proficient in IBM i technologies:
• RPG (Service Programs, Procedures, Modules, Binding Directories)
• CL, SQL, DB2 (Tables, Indexes, Views), System-level functions (JDBC/ODBC, FTP, SFTP)
• Tools such as RDi, ACS, and iNavigator
• Effective leader with a track record of mentoring and developing high-performing teams.
• Excellent judgment and ability to assess technical issues, resource needs, and project risks.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with an ability to lead cross-functional initiatives.
• Analytical thinker with a bias for action, urgency, and measurable impact.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with Web/Digital platforms, including microservice architecture, RESTful APIs, and front-end frameworks like Angular.
• Familiarity with DevOps practices, CI/CD pipelines (e.g., GitHub Actions), and containerization tools like Docker/Kubernetes.
• Knowledge of modern security practices such as OAuth2, OpenID Connect, MFA.
• Ability to design clean, scalable solutions using SOLID principles and domain-driven design (DDD).
• Experience working in financial technology or regulated software environments.