Director of Software Engineering

The Mid-Ohio Food Collective (MOFC) is seeking a forward-thinking Director of Software Engineering to lead the development, evolution, and operational excellence of our technology platforms-impacting food access across our region. This full-time, exempt role provides both strategic and hands‑on leadership to our engineering and analytics teams, driving innovation that directly supports our mission to end hunger.

The Director of Software Engineering guides the design, development, deployment, and support of technology initiatives that strengthen MOFC's software platforms and broader operations. This leader will collaborate across multiple teams within MOFC and throughout the community to ensure that solutions are effective, scalable, and aligned with organizational goals.

• Lead and develop a team of engineers and data scientists through hiring, mentoring, and hands‑on management.
• Establish an operational rhythm that balances high productivity with sustainable processes, including leveraging AI and Vibe Coding to accelerate development.
• Architect technical solutions and guide the direction of platforms such as Fresh Trak/Pantry Trak and other MOFC initiatives.
• Balance short- and long‑term priorities, determining when to invest deeply versus implementing just‑enough solutions.
• Represent the platform team organization‑wide, aligning engineering work to business priorities, managing large‑scale budget items (e.g., AWS/Snowflake), and ensuring systems meet performance, reliability, and security expectations.
• Maintain 24/7 platform availability through sound operations, smart investments, and direct support when necessary.
• Partner with MOFC Information Technology to scale infrastructure for next‑generation initiatives.
• Provide expertise and guidance to other operational groups and contribute as a strategic thought partner on major projects.
• Promote safe and healthy work practices and support special projects as needed.

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or equivalent work experience.
• Proven experience leading engineering teams and scaling infrastructure in high‑growth or startup environments.
• Commitment to building an inclusive, diverse engineering culture with a focus on professional development.
• Strong problem‑solving, judgment, and communication skills, with the ability to bridge technical and business perspectives.
• Broad programming experience (PHP, C#, JavaScript, etc.).
• Database design and administration experience.
• Expertise in architecting and developing cloud‑based distributed systems (Microservices).
• Experience working with distributed teams (onshore/offshore).
• Proficiency with Git, Azure Dev Ops, Docker, Kubernetes, Jira, and other modern tools.
• Cloud experience (AWS preferred) and mandatory proficiency using Vibe Coding and LLM‑driven development tools.
• Knowledge of food pantry and foodbank operations is a plus.

• Outstanding organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work seamlessly with both technical and non‑technical stakeholders.
• Broad technical and leadership background, serving as a subject‑matter expert for technology issues within MOFC.
• Professional representation when interacting with clients, volunteers, community partners, and staff.

This job posting is not to be construed as an exhaustive statement of accountabilities, duties, responsibilities of requirements. Any individual may be required to perform any other job‑related activities or functions requested by his/her manager, subject to reasonable accommodation. Mid‑Ohio Food Collective reserves the right to modify this job description to reflect changes in essential job duties made necessary by changing organizational needs.

Mid‑Ohio Food Collective is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, gender, age, veteran status, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, or disability (in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act) with respect to employment opportunities.

Mid‑Ohio Food Collective is a Drug‑Free Workplace.

Mid‑Ohio Food Collective's pre‑employment Drug Screen includes testing for marijuana (THC). Although marijuana may be legal under certain state laws, it remains an illegal substance under federal regulation and therefore our policy as well. A positive test result for marijuana will be treated the same as a positive result for any other illegal, non‑prescribed, or unauthorized controlled substance.