Senior Director, Software Engineering

We are Progress (Nasdaq: PRGS) - the trusted provider of software that enables our customers to develop, deploy and manage responsible, AI-powered applications and experiences with agility and ease.

We're proud to have a diverse, global team where we value the individual and enrich our culture by considering varied perspectives because we believe people power progress. Join us as a Senior Director, Software Engineering, and help us do what we do best: propelling business forward. This will be a hybrid role so working between your home office and our Burlington MA headquarters.

We are seeking an inspired and dynamic Senior Director, Software Engineering to lead our engineering teams in the development of world-class technology solutions. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in software development, driving innovation while maintaining the reliability and performance of the critical business application platform with a focus on integrating AI and LLM technologies to enhance product capabilities while upholding the highest standards of quality and security. This role requires a hands-on technology leader with strong executive presence and the ability to foster collaboration, creativity, and continuous improvement within a fast-paced, client-focused environment.

As Senior Director, Software Engineering for our OpenEdge product, you will work closely with engineering leaders and product teams to define the vision and strategy. You will play a key role in prioritizing initiatives, establishing roadmaps, and ensuring the delivery of scalable and high-quality software solutions. Your leadership will promote operational excellence, drive transformation, and foster a culture of innovation across distributed teams.

In this role, you will:

• Provide daily coaching, mentorship, and career development support for direct reports.
• Oversee and participate in the design and development of high-volume, low-latency applications for mission-critical systems.
• Foster strong relationships with business partners to understand needs, manage expectations, and deliver value-driven solutions.
• Champion quality assurance and security practices throughout the entire development lifecycle
• Identify opportunities for application and process improvements, demonstrating success through KPIs.
• Lead transition initiatives toward modern development practices, cloud technologies, and DevOps methodologies
• Spearhead AI and LLM integration strategies to modernize the OpenEdge platform and deliver enhanced value to customers
• Manage the full application lifecycle, ensuring deliverables align with best practices and compliance requirements.
• Collaborate with shared services teams (technical and non-technical) to ensure solutions are both functional and sustainable.
• Leverage customer and business feedback to inform technology roadmaps and non-functional goals.
• Lead large-scale technology initiatives utilizing technologies, event-driven architecture, and composable systems.
• Define and execute a strategic technology roadmap aligned with business objectives to drive measurable business value.
• Provide executive leadership and clear communication across global teams, ensuring progress, risk mitigation, and alignment with goals.
• Champion best practices in software engineering, automation, and system resilience to drive performance and scalability.
• Foster a hands-on leadership approach, mentoring teams and encouraging innovation and continuous improvement.
• Partner cross-functionally to ensure operational excellence, compliance, and seamless integration of technology solutions.
• Build, manage, and develop geographically dispersed teams of Software Engineers and Engineering Managers.
• Implement talent development strategies, including mentoring, succession planning, and retention initiatives.
• Promote a culture of respect, integrity, and innovation.
• Define a strategic technical vision while identifying ownership gaps and negotiating responsibilities.
• Proactively identify and mitigate technology risks while capitalizing on opportunities for innovation.
• Ensure the right talent is in place through effective hiring, performance management, and leadership development.
• Partner with stakeholders to balance product backlogs and roadmaps.
• Advocate for operational excellence and transparency through data and KPIs.
• Establish baseline measures for quality, performance, scalability, and operational efficiency.
• Own recruitment processes, partnering with Talent Acquisition to drive efficiency, define hiring standards, and enhance candidate experience.

Your background:

• Experience leading large-scale technology transformation and modernization programs.
• Proven track record in managing high-volume, low-latency, 24/7 transaction processing platforms.
• Strategic vision for identifying high-value AI integration opportunities within existing software platforms
• Strong background in modern software development practices, cloud technologies, and DevOps
• Ability to foster a "security-first" and "quality-always" mindset across all development teams
• Experience with security testing methodologies, vulnerability management, and secure coding practices
• Significant expertise in AI/ML implementation strategies, particularly LLM integration at an enterprise level
• Experience formulating and executing AI transformation roadmaps for legacy software platforms
• Understanding of LLM capabilities, limitations, and ethical considerations in enterprise applications
• Strong background in programming and application system development.
• Expertise in aligning technical solutions with strategic business objectives.
• Exceptional strategic planning, influencing, and stakeholder management skills.
• Highly effective communicator with the ability to navigate complex challenges and build collaborative relationships.
• Self-starter with a proactive, growth-focused approach and hands-on leadership style.
• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related technical field required; Master's degree preferred.
• Demonstrated experience driving strategic initiatives with significant business impact.
• Proven ability to define and execute a technology vision and strategy.
• Strong experience in coaching and developing engineering leaders.
• Expertise in designing and delivering technology solutions for consumer-facing products in high-energy, fast-paced environments.
• Extensive experience in building fault-tolerant, highly available applications and transactional platforms.
• Deep knowledge of Agile methodologies, software delivery best practices, and continuous improvement strategies.
• Hands-on experience supporting production software systems, ensuring stability, availability, and performance.

This is an exciting opportunity to lead and shape the future of a growing technology organization. If you are passionate about driving innovation, building high-performing teams, and delivering world-class client experiences, we encourage you to apply!

If this sounds like you and fits your experience and career goals, we'd be happy to chat.

What we offer in return is the opportunity to experience a great company culture with wonderful colleagues to learn from and collaborate with and also to enjoy:

• Medical, dental, vision, life & disability, and financial benefits (including 401(k) retirement savings plan. Tuition Reimbursement program. Additional voluntary benefits including crucial illness/hospital indemnity, identity theft protection, auto & home insurance, legal, and pet insurance.
• Competitive salary, bonus, and best-in-class Employee Stock Purchase Program (ESPP) with a 27-month lookback
• Flexible paid vacation time, paid day off for your birthday, and company holidays. A variety of leave plans, including Parental Leave.
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and an employee well-being program focusing on physical, mental, and financial health.