Director of Systems Engineering

DeWinter Group; Worcester (MA); On-site; USD 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

DeWinter Group in Worcester, MA seeks a Director of Systems Engineering to lead and rebuild our infrastructure for a mission-driven educational institution. You will shape strategy, establish scalable processes, and mentor a talented team in a collaborative, innovative environment.

The role is onsite with some flexibility for remote work; requires 7+ years in systems engineering with 3+ in management, plus strong vendor and stakeholder skills. A BS in CS/IT is required, MS preferred.

Qualifications

• 7+ years in systems engineering or infrastructure leadership.
• 3+ years in a managerial role.
• Experience in higher education or complex organizations.
• Ability to lead cross-functional teams and drive initiatives.
• Strong vendor management and outsourcing experience.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement and negotiation skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead rebuilding and elevation of the systems engineering function.
• Mentor and develop the engineering team.
• Establish standardized, scalable infrastructure processes.
• Partner with CIO/Assistant CTO on strategic initiatives.
• Oversee onsite operations in Worcester with occasional remote work.

Skills

Leadership experience

Enterprise systems expertise

Virtualization & storage

Staff mentoring

Project management

Vendor management

Stakeholder engagement

Senior technical authority

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or IT

Master’s degree preferred

Tools

Nutanix AHV

Proxmox

NetApp

Pure Storage

Dell Isilon/PowerScale

VAST Data

Windows Server

RHEL

AWS

Azure

Job description

Job Title: Director of Systems Engineering

Overview:
Are you a visionary technical leader ready to shape the future of enterprise infrastructure in a dynamic, collaborative environment? We’re seeking a seasoned Director of Systems Engineering to lead, rebuild, and elevate our systems engineering function. This pivotal role offers the opportunity to drive strategic initiatives, establish industry-leading processes, and mentor a talented team in support of a mission-driven higher education institution. If you thrive in a consultative setting where innovation, teamwork, and technical excellence intersect, this is your chance to make a meaningful impact.

Required Skills:

• Extensive leadership experience overseeing infrastructure, systems engineering, or platform teams.
• Deep technical expertise in enterprise systems, virtualization, and storage technologies.
• Proven success in managing and mentoring technical staff, fostering growth and operational discipline.
• Strong project management skills with the ability to advance infrastructure initiatives and manage multiple priorities.
• Experience managing outsourced partners, such as MSPs, to ensure seamless operations.
• Ability to operate autonomously as a senior technical authority and develop standardized, scalable processes.
• Skilled in stakeholder engagement, negotiation, and consensus-building across diverse teams.

Nice to Have Skills:

• Familiarity with virtualization platforms like Nutanix AHV and Proxmox.
• Experience with enterprise storage solutions including NetApp, Pure Storage, Dell Isilon/PowerScale, or VAST Data.
• Knowledge of operating systems including Windows Server and Red Hat Enterprise Linux.
• Exposure to cloud environments such as AWS and Azure, especially establishing infrastructure standards.
• Higher education or large organizational experience emphasizing collaboration and cross-functional engagement.
• Security best practices and knowledge of campus or physical security systems.

Preferred Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or related field (Master’s preferred).
• 7+ years of progressive experience in systems engineering or infrastructure leadership, including at least 3 years in a managerial role.
• Prior experience in higher education or similarly complex, collaborative environments is highly advantageous.

Other Requirements:

• This position is primarily onsite in Worcester, with occasional flexibility for remote work.
• Typical workweek of 37.5 hours; some after-hours support may be required for emergency issues.
• Willingness to participate in strategic projects and campus initiatives, potentially intersecting with security and other operational areas.
• The role is initially contracted for 3–6 months with the possibility of extension or conversion to permanent employment.
• The interview process includes multiple rounds with key stakeholders including the Assistant CTO and CIO.
• Candidates must be comfortable working in a highly collaborative, innovative, and respectful environment aligned with our institutional culture.