Assistant Director - Software Engineering

Assistant Director - Software Engineering

Region 4 Education Service Center REGION 4 ESC - HOUSTON, Texas Open in Google Maps

Job : 5870448
Final date to receive applications: Posted until filled
Posted: Aug 05, 2026 5:00 AM (UTC)

Starting Date: Immediately

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 Develop Works features and enhancements, the esc Works 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, Dev Ops 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 Dev Ops, 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 work streams and competing priorities simultaneously
• Familiarity with project management and Dev Ops tools such as , Jira, Azure Dev Ops, or similar platforms

Major Responsibilities

• Manage the daily operations of the Software Engineering team, including Cloud, Backend/API, Dev Ops, and Full-Stack engineering staff, in coordination with the Director, Product Development
• Own the technical architecture, engineering standards, and code quality practices for Develop Works 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 Develop Works 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 Develop Works 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…