Director - Digital Assets Technology Incubation (PL)

Charles Schwab; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 180,000 - 280,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) with company match

Paid time off and sabbatical

Paid parental leave

Tuition reimbursement

Health, dental, and vision insurance

Job summary

Charles Schwab is seeking a Technology Incubation Leader to translate validated R&D concepts into enterprise-ready capabilities, focusing on production-biased platforms like Blockchain and GenAI. The role leads an incubation team and partners across product, security, and cloud to deliver secure, scalable solutions on site in Austin.

You will own roadmaps, drive operational readiness, set graduation criteria, and communicate value and risks to executives, while building strong, diverse teams

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, computer engineering, or related field.
• 10+ years of software engineering or applied research experience.
• 6+ years of people leadership experience.
• Strong leadership across platform engineering, cloud architecture, DevSecOps, and operations.
• Knowledge of blockchain and digital asset infrastructure.
• Ability to lead cross-functional initiatives from concept to production readiness.
• Executive communication skills to translate tech tradeoffs into business value.
• Strong technical foundation in modern architectures, cloud-native development, and engineering best practices.

Responsibilities

• Lead incubation team for Digital Assets Platform Engineering and GenAI.
• Mentor and grow multidisciplinary incubation org.
• Define roadmap for production-biased incubation initiatives.
• Partner with product, architecture, security, cloud, risk, and compliance.
• Establish operating model for intake, prioritization, delivery, and adoption.
• Coordinate transition plans with partner orgs and long-term ownership.
• Report incubation status, risks, and investments to executives.
• Ensure incubation work is secure, scalable, and delivers business value.
• Define graduation criteria for mature capabilities.
• Provide transparent visibility into value and risks to executives.

Skills

Technical leadership

Platform engineering

Cloud architecture

DevSecOps

Production operations

Enterprise integration

Blockchain knowledge

Executive communication

Cross-functional collaboration

Strategic influence

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in CS/engineering

Advanced degree a plus

Job description

Your opportunity

At Schwab, you’re empowered to make an impact on your career. Here, innovative thought meets creative problem solving, helping us “challenge the status quo” and transform the finance industry together.

We believe in the importance of in-office collaboration and fully intend for the selected candidate for this role to work on site in the specified location(s).

The Schwab Technology Services (STS) Research & Development team explores emerging technologies and turns them into practical capabilities that create measurable value across Schwab. We operate at the intersection of innovation and execution—rapidly testing ideas, partnering across the enterprise, and scaling what works.

The Technology Incubation Leader is accountable for turning validated R&D concepts into enterprise-ready capabilities. This leader owns the incubation lane for production-biased platforms, including Blockchain, Generative AI, and the operational readiness required to move emerging technologies from prototype to sustained use.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the dedicated incubation team responsible for Digital Assets Platform Engineering, GenAI, shared architecture/security/cloud enablement, and technical program execution.
• Lead, mentor, and grow a multidisciplinary incubation organization, including engineers, architects, platform specialists, and technical program managers.
• Build team capabilities, hiring strategies, and succession plans that support Schwab's emerging technology roadmap.
• Own the roadmap for production-biased incubation initiatives, including platform architecture, delivery milestones, operational readiness, security reviews, and graduation criteria.
• Partner with product, architecture, security, cloud, risk, legal, compliance, and business stakeholders to ensure incubation work is secure, scalable, and aligned to business value.
• Create a disciplined operating model for intake, prioritization, delivery transparency, and adoption planning, and transfer readiness.
• Collaborate with partner organizations to define and execute transition plans, including transfer of platforms, operational processes, documentation, support models, and, when appropriate, personnel necessary for long-term ownership.
• Serve as the executive-facing owner for incubation status, risks, dependencies, investment needs, and measurable outcomes.
• Incubation initiatives progress against defined roadmaps, with clear production and transfer criteria.
• The organization establishes ownership, support models, and graduation paths for mature capabilities.
• Executive stakeholders have transparent visibility into value delivered, risks, resourcing needs, and decisions required.

What you have

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, computer engineering, or a related technical field (advanced degree a plus).
• 10+ years of experience in software engineering and/or applied research, including leading teams delivering prototypes, platforms, or complex technology initiatives.
• 6+ years of people leadership experience with a demonstrated ability to hire, develop, and retain diverse, high-performing teams.
• Strong technical leadership across platform engineering, cloud architecture, DevSecOps, production operations, and enterprise integration.
• Working knowledge of blockchain, digital asset infrastructure, node operations, smart contract patterns, and secure platform design.
• Ability to lead ambiguous, cross-functional initiatives from concept through production readiness while balancing innovation speed with enterprise risk management.
• Executive communication skills, with the ability to translate technical tradeoffs into business value, risks, investment decisions, and adoption implications.
• Strong technical foundation in modern architectures, cloud-native development, and engineering best practices; ability to guide technical decisions without needing to be the primary implementer.
• Demonstrated ability to influence across organizational boundaries and collaborate effectively with Product, Risk, Legal/Compliance, Security, and business stakeholders.
• Excellent communication skills—able to inspire teams, align leaders, and convey technical tradeoffs clearly.

In addition to the salary range, this role is also eligible for bonus or incentive opportunities.

What’s in it for you

At Schwab, you’re empowered to shape your future. We champion your growth through meaningful work, continuous learning, and a culture of trust and collaboration—so you can build the skills to make a lasting impact. Our Hybrid Work and Flexibility approach balances our ongoing commitment to workplace flexibility, serving our clients, and our strong belief in the value of being together in person on a regular basis.

We offer a competitive benefits package that takes care of the whole you – both today and in the future:

• 401(k) with company match and Employee stock purchase plan
• Paid time for vacation, volunteering, and 28-day sabbatical after every 5 years of service for eligible positions
• Paid parental leave and family building benefits
• Tuition reimbursement
• Health, dental, and vision insurance