Assistant Director - Engineering, Mainframe Services

What You'll Do

• Define and execute the long‑term strategy and roadmap for our mainframe platform, including modernization and transformation.
• Lead an infrastructure engineering team, setting direction, priorities, and accountability across a global organization while coaching and developing talent.
• Partner with business and technology leaders to align platform capabilities with enterprise priorities.
• Ensure stability, resiliency, and performance of the platform through operational governance, root‑cause analysis, and continuous improvement.
• Champion modernization, automation, and self‑service capabilities to improve developer and user experience while optimizing cost and efficiency.
• Build and manage strong vendor relationships, ensuring quality delivery and alignment to business outcomes.

• Bachelor's degree in computer science, technology, engineering, math, or equivalent experience.
• 8+ years of enterprise‑level technical experience with progressive responsibility.
• Formal people‑leadership experience, coaching talent and building a culture of accountability.
• Experience leading complex infrastructure or platform teams with exposure to mainframe environments.
• Strong background in vendor management, managing managed service providers and holding partners accountable.
• Experience defining strategy, influencing stakeholders, and leading through organizational and technology change.
• Proven ability to influence across global teams and leaders in a highly matrixed environment.
• Strong communication skills, translating between technical and business stakeholders.

• 4+ years of technology leadership managing and mentoring direct reports.
• Deep experience with mainframe platforms and architecture.
• Experience leading modernization or platform transformation efforts.
• Familiarity with capacity planning, infrastructure lifecycle management, and large‑scale system integrations.
• Experience working in highly regulated environments with strong security and audit requirements.
• Background partnering closely with business units to align technology roadmaps to evolving business strategies.

Salary range: $145,000‑185,000 per year. Flexible Time Off with pay for vacation, personal or short‑term illness. Pension eligible. Work environment includes in‑office and hybrid arrangement in Des Moines, IA.

Principal is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status.