Director, Software Engineering

Transamerica; Cedar Rapids (IA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Transamerica is seeking a senior IT leader to drive development across web and cloud platforms, shaping enterprise architecture and technology strategy. You will lead cross-functional teams, mentor future leaders, and partner with executives to align delivery with business goals.

The role emphasizes strong technical vision, coaching, and governance across multiple lines of business, with a focus on modern, scalable solutions in a large financial services environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent technical field.
• Experience with large-scale distributed systems and microservices.
• Proven leadership of cross-functional teams and strategic initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical guidance and leadership to development teams delivering enterprise web and cloud solutions.
• Partner with executives to set strategic direction for department and architecture.
• Oversee delivery, performance, and cost of cloud and web initiatives.
• Mentor and develop leaders within the team.

Skills

Leadership

Enterprise Architecture

Cloud computing

DevOps

Cross-functional collaboration

Communication

Strategic thinking

Education

Bachelor’s degree in computer science, information systems, math, engineering, or related field

Tools

Angular

React

Vue.js

Job description

About Us

At Transamerica, hard work, innovative thinking, and personal accountability are qualities we honor and reward. We understand the potential of leveraging the talents of a diverse workforce. We embrace an environment where employees enjoy a balance between their careers, families, communities, and personal interests.

Job Family

IT - Development

About Us

At Transamerica, hard work, innovative thinking, and personal accountability are qualities we honor and reward. We understand the potential of leveraging the talents of a diverse workforce. We embrace an environment where employees enjoy a balance between their careers, families, communities, and personal interests.

Ultimately, we appreciate the uniqueness of a company where talented professionals work collaboratively in a positive environment — one focused on helping people look forward and plan for the best life possible while providing tools and solutions that make it easier to get there.

Who We Are

We believe everyone deserves to live their best life. More than a century ago, we were among the first financial services companies in America to serve everyday people from all walks of life.

Today, we’re part of an international holding company, with millions of customers and thousands of employees worldwide. Our insurance, retirement, and investment solutions help people make the most of what’s important to them.

We’re empowered by a vast agent network covering North America, with diversity to match. Together with our nonprofit research institute and foundation, we tune in, step up, and are a force for good — for our customers and the communities where we live, work, and play. United in our purpose, we help people create the financial freedom to live life on their terms.

What We Do

Transamerica is organized into three distinct businesses. These include 1) World Financial Group, including Transamerica Financial Advisors, 2) Protection Solutions and Savings & Investments, comprised of life insurance, annuities, employee benefits, retirement plans, and Transamerica Investment Solutions, and 3) Financial Assets, which includes legacy blocks of long term care, universal life, and variable and fixed annuities. These are supported by Transamerica Corporate, which includes Finance, People and Places, General Counsel, Risk, Internal Audit, Strategy and Development, and Corporate Affairs, which covers Communications, Brand, and Government and Policy Affairs.

Transamerica employs nearly 7,000 people. It’s part of Aegon, an integrated, diversified, international financial services group serving approximately 23.9 million customers worldwide.* For more information, visit transamerica.com.

Job Description Summary

Provides leadership in the development of new web and cloud technologies to support an agile digital business. Defines enterprise web and cloud strategies, grow capabilities, and develops the team by providing technology vision and leadership, career development, and mentoring in design, framework and platform decisions. Defines and communicates delivery plans, manage team budgets, and partners with leaders in key business and IT groups to deliver value through efficient use of development resources.

Responsibilities

Job Description

• Provide technical guidance and leadership to the development teams to deliver quality solutions utilized by multiple lines of business. Continue to drive the team toward delivery of the best end to end design solutions for the enterprise.
• Interact with executive management to develop strategic direction for the department and functional areas.
• Partner with senior leadership and stakeholders at all levels of the organization. Provide clear direction by translating strategic priorities and goals into defined tactical action plans and milestones. Work with cross functional leaders to understand and influence business strategy, set priorities, and define technology goals.
• Act as a strategist and champion for enterprise architecture and design principles.
• Lead white board discussions and presentations with key stakeholders, executive leadership, and enterprise architecture team.
• Identify opportunities to utilize third-party software development frameworks, open source libraries, and APIs in agile, and speed to market focused development for business partners.
• Ensure high quality service is achieved by providing oversight, monitoring key performance indicators, internal controls, and keeping abreast of market events and industry changes. Bring a passion to stay on top of technical trends, experiment with new technologies, and participate in internal and external technology communities.
• Act quickly and appropriately to solve problems, bring clarity, and minimize the impact of unforeseen circumstances.
• Drive a culture of change and innovation which constructively challenges the status quo and leads to prudent experimentation. Have a growth mindset with the ability to adopt new practices and spearhead adoption.
• Oversee the quality, delivery, performance, cost, and scope for cloud and web development initiatives.
• Develop staff through coaching, provide timely performance feedback and assessments and establish performance and development plans. Mentor current and future leaders, ensuring a constantly rising bar in technical excellence and professional growth.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, information systems, math, engineering, or other technical field, or equivalent experience
• Ten years of experience with database design techniques/philosophies, modern distributed applications, and microservices
• Eight years of experience in delivery of large-scale design projects involving interaction with a broad spectrum of enterprise operational functions
• Six years of experience managing a diverse team and leading cross-functional teams.
• Strong background in the execution of DevOps methodologies and continuous integration/continuous deliver, and accomplishments in architecture and strategy.
• Experience managing vendor relationships, including product/service evaluation, contract negotiations, and on-going relationship management
• Familiarity with modern UI development frameworks (e.g. Angular, React, Vue.js) and web technologies (e.g. HTTP, HTML, JS, CSS)
• Results oriented with a strong customer focus
• Strong communication skills to delivery highly relevant and effective information to the Board, executives, and employees.
• Ability to synthesize ambiguous and complex information in a way the leads to substantive actionable outcomes.
• Proactive mindset to drive change, question assumptions and push for innovation solutions.
• Ability to work as part of a team and independently
• Analytical and problem-solving skills
• Technical communication skills and the ability to present information to all levels of the organization
• Problem-solving and technical communication skills
• Ability to work in a highly matrixed environment and identify, define, and resolve organizational issues