Head of Application Development

HopHR; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 130,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

A private technology office in Los Angeles is seeking a Head of Application Development to lead a world-class development organization. The successful candidate will play a crucial role in establishing a Technology Center of Excellence, ensuring alignment with business goals and managing technological advancements. Responsibilities include building a development team, implementing modern technologies like AI and CI/CD strategies, and ensuring the technical architecture is robust. Candidates should possess exceptional leadership skills, a strong technical background, and a Bachelor's degree in a related field.

Qualifications

• Proven experience as a Head of Application Development or in a similar leadership role.
• Excellent leadership, team building, and mentorship skills.
• Hands-on expertise in modern technologies, including Java, Spring Boot, and Python.

Responsibilities

• Develop the technical architecture for the company’s business applications.
• Research and implement cutting‑edge technologies to drive innovation.
• Build and lead a world-class development team utilizing CI/CD methodologies.

Skills

Leadership

Team building

Strategic thinking

Python

Java development stack

CI/CD

AI tools

Education

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

Advanced degree

Tools

AWS

Azure

GCP

Docker

Kubernetes

Salesforce

NetSuite

Job description

We’re hiring a Head of Application Development for a private technology office in Los Angeles led by one of the most influential figures in modern tech. We are seeking a highly motivated, innovative, and collaborative Technology Manager to serve as the Head of Application Development. The selected candidate will be a key member of the Enterprise Technology management team, playing a pivotal role in establishing a Technology Center of Excellence to drive innovation, standardize best practices, and foster alignment and collaboration across teams. This individual will ensure the organization remains at the forefront of technological advancements and delivers scalable, high-quality solutions.

This is an exceptional opportunity for an experienced, hands‑on technical manager to build a world‑class development organization and leverage cutting‑edge technologies. The role includes oversight responsibilities for development and application support resources, working closely with stakeholders across different entities to assess current and future technological needs. The ideal candidate will possess a strategic mindset, strong business acumen, and deep knowledge of emerging trends in AI/ML adoption across business applications. Exceptional communication and leadership skills are essential.

Responsibilities / Duties

• Develop the technical architecture for the company’s business applications, ensuring alignment with strategic goals
• Research and implement cutting‑edge technologies to drive innovation and increase productivity
• Collaborate with key stakeholders to ensure business needs align with technology direction.
• Build and lead a world‑class development team, utilizing continuous integration/continuous development (CI/CD) methodologies.
• Implement a microservices architecture, integrate third‑party applications, and establish best practices for development across the organization.

Abilities

• Proven experience as a Head of Application Development or in a similar leadership role within a complex, technologically sophisticated environment
• Excellent leadership, team building, and mentorship skills.
• Strong organizational development capabilities and a results‑oriented mindset.
• Ability to think and act strategically while engaging in high‑priority tactical activities as needed.
• Hands‑on expertise in modern technologies, including the full Java development stack, Spring Boot framework, Python, CI/CD pipelines, and REST APIs.
• Experience leveraging AI tools like GitHub Copilot and Cursor to enhance productivity, reduce errors, and improve code quality.
• Proficiency with cloud technologies, such as AWS, Azure, GCP; Docker containers and Kubernetes; cybersecurity awareness. Familiarity with platforms like Salesforce and NetSuite is a plus.

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related field is required; an advanced degree is preferred.