Director, Application Delivery & QA (Remote)

Step Up For Students; United States; Remote; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Remote work options

Comprehensive benefits

401(k) with company match

Flexible leave policy

Mentorship programs

Job summary

Step Up For Students seeks a strategic technology leader to head Application Delivery & QA. This role guides strategy, architecture, development, delivery, and QA for software initiatives while aligning business goals with technical solutions.

You will drive modernization, foster engineering culture, and lead high-performing teams across in-house and third-party resources. Reporting to the CIO, the Director will partner with business and tech stakeholders to ensure scalable, high-quality

Qualifications

• Ten years+ of progressive software engineering and technology management experience.
• Five years of leadership overseeing large IT budgets and initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership and technical vision to the Software Development team.
• Define roadmaps and modernization plans for software solutions.
• Lead DevSecOps, CI/CD, and TDD strategies and governance.
• Manage budgets for Software Development and QA.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic vision

DevSecOps

CI/CD

Education

Computer Science degree or related field

Tools

C#

.NET Core

SQL Server

ASP.NET

Job description

• Provides direct professional development.

Do you have a passion for children and education? Would you like to positively impact families in need of help? We want to speak with you!

Step Up For Students empowers families to pursue and engage in the most appropriate learning options for their children.

Step Up For Students empowers families to pursue the most appropriate learning options for their children. We unite communities to provide scholarships that open doors to a stronger future. With this support, students can choose the right learning environment and access resources to reach their full potential.

Our Culture Is Rooted In Two Core Values

• Everyone is an asset
• Every event is an improvement opportunity

These values guide how we work together and continuously improve. We expect every team member to bring these principles to life in their daily work.

The Director of Application Delivery & QA is responsible for leading the strategy, architecture, development, delivery, and quality assurance of all software development initiatives across SUFS. This highly visible leadership role requires a forward-thinking technology leader who can successfully align business objectives with technical solutions while driving innovation, operational excellence, and organizational growth.

The ideal candidate combines strategic vision with hand-on execution, bringing deep software development expertise and a proven ability to lead high-performing technical teams. This leader will play a critical role in advancing the organization’s application modernization roadmap, improving development and QA processes, and establishing a best-in-class software engineering culture.

Reporting directly to the CIO, the Director will balance long-term technology strategy with day-to-day delivery excellence. They will partner closely with business and technology stakeholders to ensure the successful design, development, testing, and deployment of scalable, high-quality solutions that enhance both customer and employee experiences.

Location

Remote (United States)

Key Responsibilities

• Provide leadership, management and technical vision to entire Software Development team that consists of Software Development Managers, QA Manager, Software Developers and Quality Assurance Analysts made up of in-house and third- party resources.
• Builds technical roadmaps of the organization's software solutions that include technology, platform, frameworks, and other SOA based services.
• Works with Sr. Director of Enterprise Standards & Systems Architecture, Director of Data Strategy, Sr. Manager of Product Management and Sr. Manager of PM to ensure technical debt and modernization efforts are presented and prioritized with the senior technology and business leaders.
• Defines the software development and quality assurance go-forward strategy that includes supported programming languages, tools, robust industry best-practice processes, etc.
• Defines and monitors key performance indicators and metrics to measure the success of the team, software performance and health, etc.
• Develops work standards and processes to reduce implementation time and improve quality.
• Instills a culture of continuous improvement and learning and development.
• Leads the implementation of our DevSecOps, CI/CD, and TDD strategies;
• Defines and implements organization's technical documentation strategy of software solutions.
• Builds and manages relationships with 3rd party vendors for outsourced development resources.
• When needed, facilitate Joint Application Design (JAD) sessions with cross functional team of Engineers, Analysts, Product Owner, other business and technical stakeholders.
• Work with teams on removing technical obstacles via hand-on and lead-by-example engagement.
• Reports on the progress of our modernization efforts and team development.
• Makes presentations to senior leaders within the organization.
• Work and communicates with cross functional teams.
• Provides direct professional development.
• Manage Software Development and Quality Assurance budgets.
• Ability to absorb new information very quickly and provide architectural/best-practice guidance.
• Ability to provide hand-on and lead-by-example mentoring to rest of team.
• Demonstrate leadership ability to back decisions with research and the "why," and articulate several options, the pros and cons for each, and a recommendation.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated success and a proven track record in professional/life experience in specific job functions, projects, or industries. Military service can substitute for professional experience and/or formal education requirements.
• Minimum ten years of progressive software engineering and technology management experience with a minimum of three years in an established leadership role overseeing large scale IT budgets and initiatives or equivalent combination of experience and education including college courses such as a Computer Science degree or related field.
• Five years of experience successfully managing, leading and developing a team of software engineers and quality assurance professionals.
• Three years developing corporate policy and procedure regarding software engineering /development.
• Experience with a Microsoft software stack (C#, .NET Core, SQL Server, ASP.NET)and working knowledge of cloud platforms (Azure, AWS, GCP). Experience working within Agile methodologies and principles.
• Experience in successful digital transformation efforts in a bi-modal multi-year transformation journey.

You'll Stand Out If You Have

• Certification in Agile Scrum, XP, SAFe. TOGAF, ITIL, or equivalent certifications preferred.

Key Competencies

• Comprehensive knowledge of the DevSecOps, Software Engineering policies, procedures, and practices.
• Full stack technology development experience and knowledge of web, client/server, API, standalone apps ad database.
• Knowledge in Integration stack – Messaging, parallel computing, Standardized communication protocols; SOA and micro services architecture and API Governance.
• Solid understanding of software engineering and code architecture fundamentals, with ability to review full-stack web application code using modern frameworks and to quickly learn unfamiliar technologies.
• Demonstrated ability to provide significant contribution towards the technology roadmap that is congruent with the long-term business strategy of the company.
• Strong organization-building background with a focus on innovation, product development, and team motivation & building.
• Strong planning and organizational skills. Detail oriented, decisive and goal oriented.
• Executive presence, ability to interact with senior leaders and adapt style as needed for technical or non-technical audiences.
• Strong communication and presentation skills.
• A driven self-starter obsessed with moving the company forward, who thrives in a fast paced, rapid execution environment. A solid executor, someone who gets things done.
• Ability to present complex ideas and influence stakeholders and partners at all levels.

Interview Process

• Veriff Identity Verification
• Recruiter Video Interview
• Chief of Staff to Chief Information Officer Video Interview
• Chief Information Officer Video Interview
• Peer Panel Video Interview

Why You'll Love Working Here

• Award-Winning Culture: We’ve been named one of the Best Companies to Work For four years in a row by Florida Trend and Workforce Research Group and honored as one of the Healthiest Companies by Florida’s First Coast Worksite Wellness Council. Fast Company recognized us as one of the Best Workplaces for Innovators—proof that we foster an environment where big ideas and bold thinking are encouraged.
• Comprehensive Benefits: Enjoy medical, dental, and vision coverage, plus HSA, FSA, and Lifestyle Spending Accounts. We also offer a competitive 401(k) with company match to help you plan for the future.
• Flexibility & Work-Life Harmony: Remote work options and unique time-off programs—including 14 paid holidays, Care and Parental Leave, and our Flexible Leave policy.
• Growth & Development: From mentorship programs to management training and professional development opportunities, we invest in your career journey every step of the way.
• Supportive Professional Environment: Our dedicated coaching team is here to help you succeed, and employee-led committees give you a voice in shaping our workplace. Collaboration isn’t just encouraged, it’s how we work.

Working Conditions And Equipment Use

• Work is performed indoors in a typical office environment - not substantially exposed to adverse environmental conditions.
• Valid driver’s license and proof of insurance may be required, depending on role responsibilities.
• Must be able to lift up to fifteen (15) pounds.
• Frequent use of office machines to include telephone, computer, and printer.

Step Up For Students is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity & inclusion in the workplace.