Assistant Director - Software Engineering

Classification: Administrative/Professional

Exemption Status/Test: Exempt/Administrative

Job Grade: 6

Department: Information Technology

Reports To: Department Director - Product Development

Job Goal:

Lead the software engineering function for Region 4''s product development portfolio, directing the design, development, and delivery of DevelopWorks features and enhancements, the escWorks transition, and other Region 4 internal and external technology products (CRM, AMP, DSP, etc.). Partner closely with the Director of Product Development and the Assistant Director of Texas Education Exchange to translate product priorities into delivered features and to manage the engineering team''s people, practices, and technical roadmap in support of the Director, Product Development''s product and commercialization goals.

Qualifications:

Education

• Bachelor''s degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related field, or commensurate software engineering experience.

Experience:

• Ten years of experience as a software engineer or software engineering professional
• Three years of people management or engineering team leadership experience
• Experience delivering software products through the full lifecycle (SDLC), including architecture, development, testing, deployment, and support
• Experience with Agile/Scrum engineering practices, including sprint planning, code review, and release management
• Experience with cloud infrastructure, DevOps practices, and modern web application architectures

Special Knowledge and Skills:

• Strong knowledge of software engineering principles, application architecture, and secure development practices
• Proficiency in modern web development technologies, cloud platforms (e.g., AWS), and API design
• Working knowledge of DevOps, CI/CD pipelines, and infrastructure-as-code practices
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to translate technical concepts for non-technical stakeholders
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build relationships across engineering, product, and business stakeholders
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and technical decision-making skills
• Ability to manage multiple engineering workstreams and competing priorities simultaneously
• Familiarity with project management and DevOps tools such as Monday.com, Jira, Azure DevOps, or similar platforms

Major Responsibilities

• Manage the daily operations of the Software Engineering team, including Cloud, Backend/API, DevOps, and Full-Stack engineering staff, in coordination with the Director, Product Development
• Own the technical architecture, engineering standards, and code quality practices for DevelopWorks and other Region 4 internal and external products, including Texas Education Exchange Applications.
• Responsible for overseeing and maintaining software code and its coverage.
• Work closely with Product Analyst to translate product requirements into engineering sprints, track delivery progress, and resolve cross-functional blockers
• Work closely with the Assistant Director of Texas Education Exchange and Third-Party Vendors to translate product requirements into engineering sprints, track delivery progress, and resolve cross-functional blockers
• Plan and oversee sprint execution, release cycles, and technical delivery timelines across all managed products
• Support the Director, Product Development in maintaining and evolving the DevelopWorks product and Exchange Products technical roadmap
• Coordinate technical aspects of user acceptance testing, release planning, and deployment for all managed products
• Serve as the day-to-day point of contact for engineering staff on technical questions, blockers, and escalations
• Evaluate and recommend engineering tools, frameworks, and technical practices to improve delivery speed and product quality
• Coordinate with the Data Center & Network Services department on infrastructure, environment architecture, system monitoring, and security
• Provide technical input on product demonstrations, prospect engagements, and customer implementation support as needed
• Support interoperability efforts between DevelopWorks and the Texas Education Exchange (TEE), including data standards alignment and integration development
• Maintain technical documentation, engineering records, and release notes to meet internal programmatic requirements and requirements imposed by the Texas Education Agency
• Prepare status reports and updates for the Director, Product Development on engineering delivery, technical risks, and timelines
• Recruit, mentor, and develop software engineering staff, including performance evaluations and technical growth planning
• Provide technical assistance and services as specified by any applicable federal grant that funds this position
• Remain current on advances in software engineering practices, cloud technologies, and education technology

Supervision/Personnel Management:

• In coordination with the department director, establish clear expectations, set goals, and provide regular feedback to promote accountability and performance improvement.
• In coordination with the department director, manage team workloads and project timelines to ensure priorities are met and deliverables are completed with high quality.
• Supervise and support assigned staff, including onboarding, training, and performance management.
• Foster a positive, collaborative, and high-performing workplace.
• Ensure compliance with Region 4 policies, procedures, and applicable state and federal guidelines.

Physical Demands/Environmental Factors/ Mental Demands:

Frequent use of standard office equipment; prolonged sitting; occasional bending/stooping, pushing/pulling, and twisting; repetitive hand motions (keyboarding and use of mouse); occasional light lifting and carrying (less than 20 pounds); may work prolonged and irregular hours; occasional statewide travel; work with frequent interruptions; maintain emotional control under pressure.