Digital Engineering Director

Whataburger; San Antonio (TX); On-site; USD 150,000 - 230,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Weekly pay

Bonus up to 2.5x

Flex weeks

401(k) match

Medical/Dental/Vision

Short/Long-term disability

Career development

Scholarship program

Discounted meals

Wireless discounts

Computer discounts

Fitness discounts

Awards & recognition

Retirement celebration

Job summary

Whataburger is seeking a Digital Engineering Director to lead the strategy, architecture, and delivery of digital experiences connecting guests to the brand. You will drive web, mobile, digital ordering, loyalty, personalization, and integrations, delivering reliable, secure platforms and accelerating business growth.

Collaborate with Product, Marketing, Data, Security, Restaurant Technology, and Operations to win as one.

Qualifications

• 10+ years in software/digital tech with leadership.
• 5+ years hands-on software engineering.
• Experience building and scaling consumer web/mobile apps.
• APIs, microservices, cloud-native, distributed systems.
• Experience in digital commerce, loyalty, personalization, payments.
• Experience integrating enterprise and customer tech ecosystems.
• Knowledge of CI/CD, test automation, observability.
• Strong leadership, stakeholder mgmt, and communication.
• Budget, vendor, and large-project management.
• Bachelor’s degree in CS/SE or related field.

Responsibilities

• Lead engineering strategy for web, mobile, loyalty platforms.
• Define and execute the digital tech roadmap and architecture strategy.
• Deliver scalable, reliable, secure, and high-performing digital solutions.
• Champion API-first and event-driven architecture practices.
• Oversee integrations across POS, payments, loyalty, identity, and third-party platforms.
• Advance personalization, rewards, and customer engagement capabilities.
• Partner with cross-functional teams to align technology investments with business priorities.
• Establish engineering standards for quality, security, performance, and reliability.
• Lead CI/CD, automation, observability, and production support practices.
• Monitor engineering KPIs and drive continuous improvement.
• Develop engineering leaders and build high-performing teams.
• Manage budgets, vendors, resource planning, and delivery risks.

Skills

Engineering leadership

Web & mobile apps

APIs & microservices

Cloud-native architecture

Loyalty & personalization

CI/CD & observability

Vendor management

Stakeholder comms

Strategy & architecture

Data-driven decisions

Education

Bachelor’s degree in CS/SE or related

Job description

Whataburger isn’t just a fast-food burger chain it is where bold leadership starts — and where potential doesn’t just grow, it heatsup. Whether you're leading the line or working behind the scenes, this is the place where opportunities stack up, and every day gives you a chance to Make a Difference.

Since 1950, we’ve invested in people who lead with integrity, Serve with Heart, and bring their best flavor to the team. We believe in working together, speaking up, having a little fun, and Winning as One — because great burgers (and great teams) start with the right ingredients. If you're ready — to learn, grow, impact, and Move Forward Boldly — we’ve got your back and your path cooked to perfection.

Your Recipe for Impact — What You’ll Do

As a Digital Engineering Director, you will lead the strategy, architecture, and delivery of the digital experiences that connect millions of guests to the Whataburger brand. Responsible for web, mobile, digital ordering, loyalty, personalization, customer identity, and supporting integrations, you will drive innovative technology solutions that enhance guest engagement and accelerate business growth. By delivering reliable, secure, and scalable platforms, you will Make a Difference for both customers and team members. Through strong partnerships across Product, Marketing, Data, Security, Restaurant Technology, and Operations, you will Win as One to achieve meaningful business outcomes. By keeping the guest experience at the center of every decision, you will Serve with Heart, and by modernizing technology platforms and championing continuous innovation, you will help Whataburger Move Forward Boldly.

As a Digital Engineering Director, you will:

• Lead engineering strategy for web, mobile, digital ordering, loyalty, and personalization platforms.
• Define and execute the digital technology roadmap and architecture strategy.
• Deliver scalable, reliable, secure, and high-performing digital solutions.
• Champion API-first and event-driven architecture practices.
• Oversee integrations across POS, payments, loyalty, identity, and third-party platforms.
• Advance personalization, rewards, and customer engagement capabilities.
• Partner with cross-functional teams to align technology investments with business priorities.
• Establish engineering standards for quality, security, performance, and reliability.
• Lead CI/CD, automation, observability, and production support practices.
• Monitor engineering KPIs and drive continuous improvement.
• Evaluate emerging technologies and strategic platform investments.
• Develop engineering leaders and build high-performing teams.
• Manage budgets, vendors, resource planning, and delivery risks.

The Sauce — Pay & Perks

As a Digital Engineering Director, you will receive:

• Competitive Weekly Pay
• Bonus Program that scales up to 2.5X payout potential based on company results
• Flex Weeks
• Paid Corporate Holidays
• 401(k) match $1/$1 up to 4%
• Competitive Medical, Dental and Vision Benefits*
• Short-term and Long-term Disability Benefits*
• Opportunities for Career Development and Growth
• Whataburger Family Foundation - Scholarship Program (dependents eligible) and Hardship Grant Assistance
• Discounted Meals for You and a Guest
• Wireless Service Discounts
• Computer & Software Discounts
• Fitness / Gym Discounts
• Awards and recognition for all you do
• Retirement Celebration Program

What You Bring to the Table — Required Experience

As a Digital Engineering Director, you must have:

• 10+ years of software engineering or digital technology experience, including leadership of engineering teams.
• 5+ years of hands‑on software engineering experience.
• Experience building and scaling consumer-facing web and mobile applications.
• Expertise in APIs, microservices, cloud-native architecture, and distributed systems.
• Experience with digital commerce, loyalty, personalization, payments, or customer engagement platforms.
• Experience integrating enterprise and customer-facing technology ecosystems.
• Knowledge of CI/CD, test automation, observability, and engineering governance practices.
• Strong leadership, stakeholder management, and communication skills.
• Experience managing vendors, budgets, and large-scale technology initiatives.
• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Information Systems, or related field; equivalent experience accepted.

Extra Toppings — Desired Experience

As a Digital Engineering Director, we prefer you to have:

• Experience in QSR, restaurant, retail, hospitality, or eCommerce environments.
• Experience with loyalty, rewards, customer data, identity, or engagement platforms.
• Experience with real-time personalization and recommendation technologies.
• Experience with cloud data platforms and analytics ecosystems.
• Experience modernizing legacy systems into scalable, cloud-native platforms.
• Success leading enterprise digital transformation initiatives.
• Experience building high-performing, multi-level engineering organizations.

Where & How You’ll Work

This role is based at the San Antonio Home Office, working on‑site Monday through Thursday with remote flexibility on Fridays. In this role, you’ll have strong collaboration with leadership, across cross‑functional teams, and with external partners to align capabilities with restaurant realities. The work environment is fast‑paced and requires sound judgment, strategic thinking, and strong collaboration skills. Full‑time availability is required, with occasional extended hours based on business needs, along with occasional travel to properties, project sites, and external meetings. Candidates must reside within commuting distance of the San Antonio Home Office.

Whataburger is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, genetic information, disability, veteran status, age, or other condition or status protected by law. Whataburger participates in the federal E-Verify Program. For more information go to www.dhs.gov/E-Verify. E-Verify is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.