Lead Director – Software Development Engineering

CVS Health; Columbia (SC); On-site; USD 144,000 - 288,000; Full time

Job summary

CVS Health is seeking a Lead Director — Software Development Engineering to lead a high-energy Specialty Pharmacy engineering team. You will build and execute a multiyear modernization roadmap, partner with Strategy, Operations and Product, and drive value through advanced digital solutions across geographies.

You will mentor engineers, shape technology strategy, guide architecture, and ensure delivery of scalable software through Agile releases.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of software development with Agile.
• 7+ years building microservices with Python/Java (Spring Boot).
• 5+ years containerization with Kubernetes and Docker.
• 3+ years cloud platforms (GCP preferred).
• 1+ years generative AI and AI web-services.

Responsibilities

• Lead multiyear modernization roadmap for Specialty Pharmacy value streams.
• Design and develop Specialty pharmacy products and tech assets.
• Drive engineering practices, improve time to market, and product quality.
• Mentor and lead distributed engineering teams across locations.
• Collaborate with Business, Product and Tech partners to deliver roadmaps.
• Staffing partnerships with onshore/offshore vendors.
• Research and innovate for long-term strategy in healthcare tech.
• Travel up to 10% within the United States as needed.

Skills

Software Development

Microservices

Kubernetes & Docker

Cloud Platforms

Generative AI frameworks

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

We’re building a world of health around every individual — shaping a more connected, convenient and compassionate health experience. At CVS Health®, you’ll be surrounded by passionate colleagues who care deeply, innovate with purpose, hold ourselves accountable and prioritize safety and quality in everything we do. Join us and be part of something bigger — helping to simplify health care one person, one family and one community at a time.

POSITION SUMMARY

CVS Health Specialty Pharmacy Engineering team is looking for a hands‑on, passionate people leader who wants to join a high energy and growing team to make a difference in customers’ lives and who want to be on the forefront of digital innovation that aims to reinvent what a pharmacy and a health care company can be in the digital world.

We are seeking an experienced Lead Director — Software Development Engineering, who will be accountable for building and executing the Solutions for Specialty Pharmacy focusing on Operational efficiency, value stream savings and roadmaps for multiyear forward looking technology strategy.

This technology leader will join forces with business (Strategy and Operations) and product leaders to plan, build, execute and deliver a multiyear roadmap for modernization which will drive our business and technology strategy forward.

This Lead Director will lead a diverse team of technology associates across engineering and change management teams and be someone who will work across multiple geographies to deliver software engineering work, delivered through multiple disciplined, Agile software releases each year.

The Lead Director will also be accountable for driving the technology strategy in support of these value streams, as well as be responsible for design, development, testing, delivery, and growth while also ensuring all opportunities to build industry leading technology assets are fully realized.

Expectations for the Role

• Lead the strategy and creation of a multiyear modernization roadmap to support Specialty Pharmacy value streams
• Lead the design, foundational framework and development of Specialty pharmacy products and associated technology assets
• Assess software engineering practices, driving continuous improvement, improving operational efficiency, time to market and overall product quality
• Lead engineering teams, guiding and mentoring them in implementing solutions across a wide range of technological platforms
• People management including hiring, performance management, team building, leading career growth and skill development through coaching, and setting measurable professional goals
• Build and cultivate strong relationships with Business, Product and Technology partners to support the delivery roadmap
• Build relationships and partnerships with vendors to build contingent teams working onshore and offshore/nearshore to support our staffing needs
• Build relationships and partnerships with solution vendors in support of our technological needs
• Conduct technology research and innovation to develop a long‑term strategy based on emerging trends in healthcare and technology industries
• Up to 10% travel expected within the United States on a need basis

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• 10+ years of overall Software Development experience utilizing Agile methodologies
• 7+ years of experience in development of microservices using python, java [spring boot]
• 5+ years of experience in containerization tools and technologies such as Kubernetes, docker etc.
• At least 3+ years of experience in cloud platforms (GCP preferred)
• At least 1+ years of experience using Agentic AI frameworks and generative AI based web‑services and tools

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience in hiring, leading high performing distributed multi‑sited / remote software engineering teams
• Experience in performance management, team building, leading career growth and skill development through coaching, and setting measurable professional goals etc.
• Strong problem‑solving abilities and a data‑driven mindset
• Experience in defining and analyzing KPIs to measure project success
• Out of the box thinker and implementor with open source publicly visible work on GitHub
• Experience in understanding AI/ML algorithms, frameworks, and tools
• Experience working with distributed teams, working across multiple time zones and geographical locations.
• Experience conceiving and building healthcare or wellness products
• Experience in Healthcare or Pharmacy domain
• Experience working with onshore and offshore technology resources from vendors

EDUCATION

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience (HS diploma + 4 years relevant experience)

BUSINESS OVERVIEW

Bring your heart to CVS Health Every one of us at CVS Health shares a single, clear purpose: Bringing our heart to every moment of your health. This purpose guides our commitment to deliver enhanced human‑centric health care for a rapidly changing world. Anchored in our brand — with heart at its center — our purpose sends a personal message that how we deliver our services is just as important as what we deliver. Our Heart At Work Behaviors support this purpose. We want everyone who works at CVS Health to feel empowered by the role they play in transforming our culture and accelerating our ability to innovate and deliver solutions to make health care more personal, convenient and affordable. We strive to promote and sustain a culture of diversity, inclusion and belonging every day. CVS Health is an affirmative action employer, and is an equal opportunity employer, as are the physician‑owned businesses for which CVS Health provides management services. We do not discriminate in recruiting, hiring, promotion, or any other personnel action based on race, ethnicity, color, national origin, sex/gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, religion, age, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. We proudly support and encourage people with military experience (active, veterans, reservists and National Guard) as well as military spouses to apply for CVS Health job opportunities.

Pay Range

The typical pay range for this role is:

$144,200.00 – $288,400.00

This pay range represents the base hourly rate or base annual full‑time salary for all positions in the job grade within which this position falls. The actual base salary offer will depend on a variety of factors including experience, education, geography and other relevant factors. This position is eligible for a CVS Health bonus, commission or short‑term incentive program in addition to the base pay range listed above. This position also includes an award target in the company’s equity award program.

Our people fuel our future. Our teams reflect the customers, patients, members and communities we serve and we are committed to fostering a workplace where every colleague feels valued and that they belong.

Great benefits for great people

We take pride in offering a comprehensive and competitive mix of pay and benefits that reflects our commitment to our colleagues and their families.

This full‑time position is eligible for a comprehensive benefits package designed to support the physical, emotional, and financial well‑being of colleagues and their families. The benefits for this position include medical, dental, and vision coverage, paid time off, retirement savings options, wellness programs, and other resources, based on eligibility.

Additional details about available benefits are provided during the application process and on Benefits Moments (https://learn.bswift.com/cvshealth-mainland).

We anticipate the application window for this opening will close on: 08/28/2026

Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with all federal, state and local laws.

CVS Health is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, including Disability/Protected Veteran — committed to diversity in the workplace.