Director, Software Development Engineer

Established in 2021, Independence Pet Holdings is a corporate holding company that manages a diverse and broad portfolio of modern pet health brands and services, including insurance, pet education, lost recovery services, and more throughout North America.

We believe pet insurance is more than a financial product and build solutions to simplify the pet parenting journey and help improve the well-being of pets. As a leading authority in the pet category, we operate with a full stack of resources, capital, and services to support pet parents. Our multi-brand and omni-channel approach include our own insurance carrier, insurance brands and partner brands. 

Job Summary:

IPH is seeking a Director of Software Engineering who will report to the VP of Technology. As a senior member of the Engineering Leadership team, the Director of Software Engineering develops and manages the successful execution of software development strategies that support the goals of the engineering department, business units, and company. Reporting to the VP of Technology, the Director will lead members of the Software Engineering Team overseeing Software Development and Quality Assurance.

This role requires being well-versed and experienced in all aspects of software engineering with strengths in software development, system architecture, project management, team leadership, and technology innovation. The Software Engineering Leader must be a progressive thinker with solid business acumen and experience.

The Director must be a true leader for his/her team and other internal departments, demonstrating expertise, professionalism, dedication, and empathy. Receptive to growth and change, the candidate thrives in dynamic environments, always remaining positive, professional, and solutions oriented.

Job Location: Remote – Chicago, Cleveland / Akron, New York, Raliegh - preferred
 

Main Responsibilities:

• Sets overall strategic software engineering direction, including annual objectives, budgeting, planning, and execution.
• Conceptualize, direct, and execute strategic software development plans in the following areas: System Architecture, Product Development, Engineering Operations, Quality Assurance, and Internal/External Communications.
• Lead and develop the Engineering Tech Stack to deliver IPH initiatives inclusive of cloud platforms, development tools, and software frameworks.
• Support maturation of DevSecOps practices to embed security throughout the software development lifecycle, utilizing tools such as Jenkins, GitHub, and Azure DevOps. This includes continuous integration, continuous delivery, and automated security testing.
• Utilize tools to track DORA metrics (Deployment Frequency, Lead Time for Changes, Change Failure Rate, Time to Restore Service) to measure and enhance developer productivity.
• Leverage AI tools, including large language models (LLMs) and agentic AI, to enhance developer and QA productivity. This includes using AI for code reviews, automated testing, bug detection, and optimizing development workflows.
• Promote and enforce secure coding standards and practices to ensure the integrity and security of all software solutions.
• Drive automation initiatives to streamline development processes, reduce manual effort, and improve efficiency across the engineering team.
• Enhance developer experience by implementing tools and practices that improve productivity, efficiency, and collaboration within the team.
• Responsible for management and execution of engineering budget, ensuring the expense is allocated to activities to achieve targeted return.
• Drive technical research and define the ideal technology solutions across multiple business verticals in support of revenue and growth objectives.
• Act as a technology steward, monitoring Intellectual Property internally and externally and ensuring all development aligns to corporate guidelines and positioning.
• Build a well-rounded data-driven team with strong team culture and collaboration.
• Effectively manage internal cross-functional relationships and external vendor relationships (as required).
• Responsible for managing relationships and performance of vendor relationships, including near-shore and off-shore.
• Develop, manage, and track metrics and success criteria for all software development and engineering programs.
• Oversee engineering communications and support the business in managing activities relating to technology development and/or crisis management.
• Participate in special corporate projects as required.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a relevant field.
• 7+ years in software engineering leadership roles, with a track record of success in developing and executing strategic engineering initiatives.
• Proven experience in leading growth in technology-driven markets.
• Demonstrable experience designing and implementing successful software development programs.
• Strong leadership skills and ability to motivate and partner with cross-functional teams.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Strong leadership skills and ability to motivate and partner with cross-functional teams.
• Solid knowledge of software development fundamentals such as system architecture, cloud platforms, and development frameworks.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Strong analytical and project management skills.
• Strategic mindset, with the ability to make difficult decisions.
• Experience in the pet industry is a strong asset.

All of our jobs come with great benefits including healthcare, parental leave and opportunities for career advancements. Some offerings are dependent upon the location of where you work and can include the following:

• Comprehensive full medical, dental and vision Insurance
• Basic Life Insurance at no cost to the employee
• Company paid short-term and long-term disability
• 12 weeks of 100% paid Parental Leave
• Health Savings Account (HSA)
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
• Retirement savings plan
• Personal Paid Time Off
• Paid holidays and company-wide Wellness Day off
• Paid time off to volunteer at nonprofit organizations
• Pet friendly office environment
• Commuter Benefits
• Group Pet Insurance
• On the job training and skills development
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)