Asst Director-Engineering (Wealth Management)

Principal International; Des Moines (IA); Hybrid; USD 141,000 - 191,000; Full time

Job summary

Principal Asset Management is seeking an Assistant Director of Engineering for our Workplace Personal Investing team. You will lead the build of groundbreaking greenfield products and guide high performing engineering teams to deliver critical initiatives shaping retirement and financial planning services.

You will drive architecture decisions, foster innovation, and collaborate with stakeholders to translate business goals into robust technical solutions. Hybrid work options apply.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree (or equivalent) in a technical field.
• 8+ years of technical experience with increasing responsibility.
• Formal leadership experience including mentoring direct reports.

Responsibilities

• Lead the build of greenfield products and drive engineering delivery.
• Guide architectural decisions and ensure robust, scalable solutions.
• Own delivery across key wealth platform domains and integrations.
• Drive innovation and align technical direction with enterprise strategy.
• Partner with stakeholders to translate business objectives into technical solutions.
• Cultivate an exceptional engineering team and outcome-driven culture.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic thinking

Communication

Mentoring

Architectural design

Education

Bachelor's degree in CS/Engineering/Math

Tools

AWS

Job description

What You'll Do

We’re looking for an Assistant Director of Engineering to join our Workplace Personal Investing team. In this critical role, you’ll lead the build of groundbreaking greenfield products that transform how people invest for their future, while leading high performing engineering teams, driving high-impact technical outcomes. As a strategic and technical leader, you’ll drive innovation, guide architectural decisions, and ensure the successful delivery of critical initiatives that shape the future of our retirement and financial planning services.

You'll have the opportunity to:

• Help lead engineering strategy and delivery acrossBrokerageplatform, brokerage operations, and client servicing capabilities.
• Help manage integrations withclearing firms such asNFS, Pershing or LPL andvendor tools thatprovideadvisor-client collaboration capabilities.
• Own delivery across key wealth platform domains, including advisor tools, client experience, brokerage integration, and servicing operations.
• Drive technological innovation by identifying strategic opportunities that deliver maximum business impact to build and grow our services.
• Assess emerging technologies and influence technical direction, ensuring alignment with enterprise-wide strategic initiatives and solution architecture practices and principals.
• Partner with key stakeholders to transform business objectives into robust technical solutions, while effectively bridging communication between technical and non-technical teams
• Shape product strategy and establish compelling technical vision through active participation in enterprise-level programs.
• Cultivate an exceptional engineering team by fostering innovation, mentoring talent, and building an outcome-driven culture founded on trust and accountability.

Operating at the intersection of financial services and technology, Principal builds financial tools that help our customers live better lives. We take pride in being a purpose-led firm, motivated by our mission to make financial security accessible to all. Our mission, integrity, and customer focus have made us a trusted leader for more than 140 years.

As Principal continues to modernize its systems, this role will offer you an exciting opportunity to build solutions that will directly impact our long-term strategy and tech stack, all while ensuring that our products are robust, scalable, and secure.

Who You Are

We are looking for someone with:

• Bachelor's degree (preference in a computer science, technology, engineering or math-related field) or equivalent experience
• 8+ years of technical experience, demonstrating progressive responsibility and impact with a strong focus on quality.
• Formal Leadership experience is required (successfully leading and mentoring direct reports)
• Leadership Experiences:
  • Guiding engineers through complex business challenges
  • Designing and deploying resilient and scalable solutions
  • Building alignment among diverse stakeholders
  • Navigating enterprise-level partnerships
• Leadership Qualities:
  • Strategic and innovative mindset
  • Adaptability in dynamic environments
  • Influential communication and collaboration skills

Skills That Will Help You Stand Out

• 4+ years of Wealth management technology experience is strongly preferred.
• Advanced experience with retail retirement products or within the financial services industry
• Proven track record in solution architecture and systems design
• Demonstrated ability to solve for the future.
• Experience with cloud platforms (e.g. AWS)

Salary Range Information

Salary ranges below reflect targeted base salaries. Non-sales positions have the opportunity to participate in a bonus program. Sales positions are eligible for sales incentives, and in some instances a bonus plan, whereby total compensation may far exceed base salary depending on individual performance. Actual compensation for all roles will be based upon geographic location, work experience, education, licensure requirements and/or skill level and will be finalized at the time of offer.

Salary Range (Non-Exempt expressed as hourly; Exempt expressed as yearly)

$141000 - $191000 / year

Time Off Program

Flexible Time Off (FTO) is provided to salaried (exempt) employees and provides the opportunity to take time away from the office with pay for vacation, personal or short-term illness. Employees don’t accrue a bank of time off under FTO and there is no set number of days provided.

Pension Eligible

Yes

Work Environments

This role offers in-office, hybrid (blending at least three office days in a typical workweek), and remote work arrangements (only if residing more than 30 miles from Des Moines, IA, or Charlotte, NC). You’ll work with your leader to figure out which option may align best based on several factors.

Work Authorization/Sponsorship

At this time, we're not considering applicants that need any type of immigration sponsorship (additional work authorization or permanent work authorization) now or in the future to work in the United States. This includes, but IS NOT LIMITED TO: F1-OPT, F1-CPT, H-1B, TN, L-1, J-1, etc. For additional information around work authorization needs please use the following links. Nonimmigrant Workers and Green Card for Employment-Based Immigrants

Investment Code of Ethics

For Principal Asset Management positions, you’ll need to follow an Investment Code of Ethics related to personal and business conduct as well as personal trading activities for you and members of your household. These same requirements may also apply to other positions across the organization.

Experience Principal

At Principal, we value connecting on both a personal and professional level. Together, we’re imagining a more purpose-led future for financial services – and that starts with you. Our success depends on the unique experiences, backgrounds, and talents of our employees. And we support our employees the same way we support our customers: with comprehensive, competitive benefit offerings crafted to protect their physical, financial, and social well-being. Check out our careers site to learn more about our purpose, values and benefits.

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.

Posting Window

We will accept applications for 3 full days following the Original Posting Date, after which the posting may remain open or be removed based upon applications received. If we choose to post the job again, we will accept additional applications for at least 1 full day following the Most Recently Posted Date. Please submit applications in a timely manner as there is no guarantee the posting will be available beyond the applicable deadline.

Original Posting Date

7/29/2026

Most Recently Posted Date

7/29/2026

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