Dir Software Engineering

Overview

Powering the world’s payments ecosystem. ACI powers the payments ecosystem – globally, and you power ACI. You’ll innovate, collaborate, and grow in an energetic technology culture with decades of proven success. ACIers – in all roles and levels – are truly your colleagues and many are your friends. Our size and reach allow you to see the global impact of your work.

You are visible, your talents are valued, and you are empowered to shape the future of payments.

The Director, Software Engineering defines and executes engineering strategy for major product lines. This senior leadership position owns end-to-end delivery accountability for significant engineering organizations, drives technical excellence at scale, manages substantial budgets, and builds strategic partnerships that enable business success.

• Strategic Leadership & Business Impact
  • Lead significant engineering organization of 30‑60 engineers across 3‑5 managers
  • Define and execute engineering strategy for major product lines
  • Own end-to-end delivery accountability with executive visibility
  • Manage substantial budget ($2M‑$5M+) including headcount and operational expenses
  • Lead critical initiatives that directly impact business outcomes and revenue
• Engineering Excellence & Organizational Development
  • Drive engineering excellence including architecture, quality, velocity, and reliability
  • Define engineering standards, practices, and methodologies for the organization
  • Build and scale high‑performing engineering organization through strategic hiring
  • Develop leadership pipeline including managers and senior technical talent
  • Shape organizational culture emphasizing innovation, quality, and collaboration
• Cross‑Functional Partnership & Executive Communication
  • Build strategic partnerships with Product, Design, and other Engineering leaders
  • Present engineering strategy, progress, and recommendations to executive leadership
  • Collaborate with peers on enterprise initiatives and technical strategy
  • Drive adoption of AI‑assisted development and transformative engineering practices
  • Represent engineering in customer and partner engagements as needed

• Education
  • Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or related field;
    Master's preferred
  • Equivalent experience (12+ years) may substitute for degree
• Experience
  • 10‑15 years of software engineering or technology leadership experience
  • 5+ years managing engineering managers and leading large teams
  • Proven track record of delivering complex, enterprise‑scale software products
  • Experience with P&L management, budget ownership, and resource planning
  • Payments, financial services, or regulated industry experience preferred
• Technical Skills
  • Deep understanding of software architecture at enterprise scale
  • Expert knowledge of modern engineering practices and methodologies
  • Understanding of scalability, reliability, and performance at high scale
  • Knowledge of security, compliance, and regulatory requirements
  • Strong understanding of engineering metrics and organizational effectiveness
• Leadership & Management Skills
  • Exceptional leadership and organizational transformation capabilities
  • Strategic vision with strong business acumen
  • Executive presence and communication skills
  • Proven ability to build and scale engineering organizations
  • Strong influence and partnership across all organizational levels

• Experience leading engineering through company growth or transformation
• Track record of technical innovation and competitive differentiation
• Experience with M&A integration or organizational restructuring
• Industry thought leadership through speaking or publications

• Hybrid work model with flexibility; multiple office locations available
• 20‑30%…