Director, Software Development & Engineering (PL) - Brokerage Customer & Account Technology

Charles Schwab; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 180,000 - 260,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) match

Stock purchase plan

Vacation time

Sabbatical after 5 years

Parental leave

Tuition reimbursement

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Job summary

Schwab Technology Services seeks a Director of Software Development & Engineering to lead modernization of core platforms and drive an AI-first engineering model. You will shape vision, architecture, and execution across globally distributed teams, aligning business priorities with regulatory and technical strategies.

You will collaborate with senior leaders to deliver measurable improvements in speed, quality, cost, and risk while guiding vendors and cross-functional partners through multi-year

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, or a related field.
• 10+ years of experience managing broker-dealer systems with a focus on transformation.
• Broad technical expertise across software development, cloud, security, and IT infra.
• Experience leading AI-first delivery across the SDLC and legacy-system exits.

Responsibilities

• Lead transformation of Schwab Client Data Platform and shared broker-dealer capabilities.
• Define vision, architecture, and execution discipline for modernization efforts.
• Guide AI-enabled engineering practices across requirements, design, and production.

Skills

Leadership

AI-first delivery

Stakeholder management

Distributed teams

Strategic thinking

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, or a related field

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). Internal applicants already working on-site at any Schwab corporate location are also encouraged to apply.

Schwab Technology Services enables the future of how clients manage their money by delivering innovative and reliable technology products and services. As Director, Software Development & Engineering, you will lead the transformation of Schwab’s Client Data Platform and other shared broker-dealer capabilities, advancing a unified technology strategy across multiple business domains. You will establish the vision, architecture, operating model, and execution discipline needed to modernize critical platforms, retire legacy systems, reduce technical complexity, and improve the quality, resiliency, and scalability of the technology that supports our clients.

This role provides an opportunity to define and operationalize an AI-first engineering model that incorporates generative and agentic AI throughout the software development lifecycle. You will guide teams in applying AI to requirements analysis, system understanding, development, testing, documentation, modernization, and production operations while establishing measurable improvements in delivery speed, quality, cost, and risk. Your strategic thinking and decision-making will help connect business priorities, regulatory expectations, architecture, data, and engineering practices into a clear, executable transformation roadmap.

You will collaborate with senior leaders, technology partners, and cross-functional teams to navigate complex organizational and regulatory considerations, establish priorities, and drive accountability for multi-year transformation outcomes. You will also oversee technology vendor relationships and lead globally distributed teams through significant changes in platforms, processes, and ways of working. Success will require the ability to solve complex problems, adapt the strategy as conditions evolve, communicate with transparency, and develop technical and managerial talent capable of sustaining an AI-enabled engineering organization.

What you have

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, or a related field
• 10+ years of experience managing broker-dealer systems with a focus on system transformation
• Deep knowledge of broker-dealer capabilities and operations, including the regulatory considerations affecting technology platforms
• Demonstrated experience leading large‑scale, complex technology transformations from strategy through implementation
• Broad technical expertise across application development, cloud-based development, web services, middleware, operating systems, databases, networking, security, and IT infrastructure
• Demonstrated experience leading AI‑first delivery across the software development lifecycle, including the application of generative or agentic AI to system analysis, requirements, testing, code modernization, documentation, or production operations
• Demonstrated experience developing and executing legacy‑system exit strategies, including system decomposition, data migration, technical‑debt reduction, and platform decommissioning
• Demonstrated experience building and leading high‑performing, globally distributed engineering teams
• Demonstrated ability to influence senior stakeholders, establish clear expectations, resolve competing priorities, and maintain accountability for transformation outcomes

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience transforming legacy or mainframe‑centered engineering environments into modern, distributed technology platforms
• Experience applying AI to understand, reverse engineer, modernize, or retire complex legacy systems
• Ability to connect organizational strategy, architecture, engineering practices, operating processes, and platform economics when making decisions
• Experience establishing measurable improvements in engineering velocity, quality, cost, resiliency, and operational risk
• Experience evaluating, selecting, and managing IT services providers and third‑party technology vendors
• Ability to operate effectively through ambiguity while maintaining disciplined execution and a strong focus on outcomes
• Ability to communicate complex technology strategies clearly and credibly to executive, business, and engineering audiences
• Demonstrated ability to identify, mentor, and develop technical and managerial talent at scale
• Experience developing an engineering culture that embraces automation, transparency, adaptability, continuous learning, and shared accountability

In addition to the salary range, this role is 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