Director of Software Engineering (Chicago)

The RoleWe are looking for a Director of Software Engineering to lead the technology teams building Morningstar's Plan Advantage and Fiduciary Services platforms. In this role, you'll own the engineering strategy, execution, and talent development for two of the most critical product lines within our Retirement business unit - directly shaping how retirement plan providers, broker dealers, and advisors deliver better outcomes to millions of plan participants.You'll report to the Head of Product and Technology and partner closely with the Director of Product Management to translate product vision into scalable, secure, and increasingly AI-powered technology. This is a leadership role that demands both strong technical judgment and the ability to build and develop high-performing engineering teams.Morningstar is in the middle of a significant AI transformation - on the product side, we're bringing new AI-driven capabilities to market that change how advisors and plan providers interact with our platform. On the engineering side, we're embedding AI-powered tooling into our development workflows to accelerate delivery and raise quality. The person in this role will be a driving force on both fronts.Location: Chicago, IL (Hybrid-4 days in Office)We intentionally prioritize in-person collaboration, as we've found it strengthens creative quality, alignment, and team momentum.Job ResponsibilitiesSet and execute the engineering strategy and roadmap for Morningstar Plan Advantage and Fiduciary Services technology, ensuring alignment with product and business goalsLead, mentor, and grow a global engineering organization spanning onshore and offshore teams, with a focus on hiring, retention, and developing senior technical talentPartner with the Director of Product Management to define and prioritize the product and technology roadmap, balancing near-term delivery with long-term platform investmentDrive the adoption of AI across both product capabilities and internal engineering workflows - championing AI-assisted development practices (code review, testing, documentation) and delivering AI-powered product features to marketOwn technical architecture decisions for the platform, ensuring systems are scalable, secure, reliable, and built on modern cloud-first principlesEstablish and maintain engineering standards, development practices, and quality benchmarks across the organizationChampion a security-first engineering culture, ensuring secure development practices, code quality standards, and proactive vulnerability management are embedded into the development lifecycleOversee the full development lifecycle - from design and architecture through deployment, monitoring, and operational excellenceCollaborate cross-functionally with design, research, methodology, client service, sales, and compliance to deliver integrated solutionsManage engineering capacity, budgets, and vendor relationships, making tradeoff decisions that optimize for both velocity and sustainabilityRepresent engineering in client-facing contexts as needed, including product demonstrations, technical due diligence, and strategic conversations with prospects and partnersQualifications10+ years of progressive experience in technology/software engineering, with at least 4 years in engineering leadership roles managing teams and managersDemonstrated ability to build and operate scalable, enterprise-grade software systems - ideally in a cloud-first environment (AWS preferred)Deep technical foundation: fluency in modern backend technologies (Java, Spring Boot, or equivalent), RESTful API design, distributed systems, and relational databasesGenuine curiosity about and experience with Artificial Intelligence - whether through shipping AI-powered product features, adopting AI development tools, or both. This is not a check-the-box requirement; we want someone who is actively learning and building with AIA passion for developing people - you've built teams, grown engineers into leaders, and created cultures of ownership and continuous improvementStrong understanding of Agile development practices and the judgment to adapt process to context rather than follow it rigidlyExcellent communication skills - you can translate between technical depth and business strategy, and you're comfortable presenting to executives, clients, and engineering teams alikeA collaborative, low-ego leadership style that earns trust across product, design, and engineeringPrevious experience in financial services, retirement, or regulated industries is a strong plus but not requiredA bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Mathematics, or a related experience / field is requiredCompensation and BenefitsAt Morningstar we believe people are at their best when they are at their healthiest. That’s why we champion your wellness through a wide range of programs that support all stages of your personal and professional life. Here are some examples of the offerings we provide:Financial Health100% 401k match up to 6% of salaryStock Ownership PotentialCompany provided life insurance - 1x salary + commissionPhysical Health Comprehensive health benefits (medical/dental/vision) including potential premium discounts and company-provided HSA contributions (up to $500-$2,000 annually) for specific plans and coveragesAdditional medical Wellness Incentives - up to $300-$600 annualCompany-provided long- and short-term disability insuranceEmotional Health Trust-Based Time Off6-week Paid Sabbatical Program6-Week Paid Family Caregiving LeaveCompetitive 8-24 Week Paid Parental LeaveAdoption AssistanceLeadership Coaching & Formal Mentorship OpportunitiesAnnual Flex Stipend - $1000 annually to cover personal education & well-being expenses Tuition ReimbursementSocial Health Charitable Matching Gifts programDollars for Doers volunteer programPaid volunteering days15+ Employee Resource & Affinity GroupsTotal Cash Compensation Range$195,600.00-299,916.66Inclusive of annual base salary and target incentiveIf you receive and accept an offer from us, we require that personal and any related investments be disclosed confidentiality to our Compliance team (days vary by region). These investments will be reviewed to ensure they meet Code of Ethics requirements. If any conflicts of interest are identified, then you will be required to liquidate those holdings immediately. In addition, dependent on your department and location of work certain employee accounts must be held with an approved broker (for example all, U.S. employee accounts). If this applies and your account(s) are not with an approved broker, you will be required to move your holdings to an approved broker.Morningstar's hybrid work environment gives you the opportunity to collaborate in-person each week as we've found that we're at our best when we're purposely together on a regular basis. In most of our locations, our hybrid work model is four days in-office each week. A range of other benefits are also available to enhance flexibility as needs change. No matter where you are, you'll have tools and resources to engage meaningfully with your global colleagues.002_MstarAssocLLC Morningstar Investment Management LLC Legal EntitySummaryLocation: ChicagoType: Full time