Head of Software Engineering

Position Summary

The Head of Software Engineering serves as the enterprise leader for application engineering strategy, systems integration architecture, DevOps execution, automation, and AI-enabled solution development across The Fedcap Group.

This role advances and scales an established engineering function to ensure enterprise-developed applications, integrations, and intelligent automation capabilities are secure, scalable, innovative, compliant, and aligned with enterprise architecture and governance standards across a geographically distributed organization.

As the organization continues to expand across regions and service lines, the Head of Software Engineering will accelerate modernization, reduce technical fragmentation, embed AI-driven capabilities into enterprise workflows, and position engineering as a strategic driver of operational excellence and innovation.

Reporting to the SVP, Enterprise Systems & Digital Platforms, this leader partners closely with IT Infrastructure & Operations, Security, Data & Analytics, and operating leadership to ensure engineering practices are standardized, performance-driven, resilient, financially disciplined, and aligned with enterprise governance requirements.

Mission

To deliver secure, scalable, intelligent, and cost-effective enterprise applications that strengthen mission delivery, enable automation and data-driven decision-making, reduce system fragmentation, and support sustainable organizational growth.

Scope of Accountability

The Head of Software Engineering is accountable for:

• Enterprise software development standards and advanced SDLC governance • Application architecture patterns and approved engineering frameworks • API and enterprise integration architecture standards • DevOps pipelines, release automation, and engineering productivity optimization • Application performance monitoring and operational observability standards • Technical debt prioritization and modernization acceleration • Automation platforms (RPA, workflow engines, low-code governance) • AI-enabled application capabilities embedded within enterprise systems • Intelligent workflow and decision-support integration in collaboration with Data & Analytics • Engineering documentation and configuration discipline • Secure coding practices and vulnerability remediation coordination • Application lifecycle management and decommissioning governance • Engineering vendor lifecycle management • Engineering budget management and cost discipline • Build-versus-buy analysis and financial justification of custom development initiatives • Engineering capacity planning, delivery forecasting, and productivity optimization • Application components of acquisition integration and enterprise platform consolidation • Implementation of security control requirements • Leadership of distributed onshore, nearshore, and offshore engineering teams

Core Responsibilities

Application Strategy, Architecture & Innovation

• Define and evolve enterprise application architecture standards. • Establish consistent development frameworks and approved technology stacks. • Lead modernization of legacy applications while enhancing scalability and maintainability. • Identify and prioritize opportunities to embed automation and AI-enabled decision support within enterprise workflows. • Drive rationalization of redundant custom solutions across business units. • Evaluate emerging technologies and pilot innovation initiatives aligned with enterprise strategy.

Engineering Portfolio & Demand Governance

• Establish structured intake and prioritization processes for engineering initiatives. • Align development roadmaps with enterprise portfolio governance and strategic objectives. • Ensure engineering resources are allocated to the highest-value initiatives. • Prevent proliferation of unauthorized, redundant, or non-strategic custom solutions. • Partner with Systems leadership to ensure build-versus-buy decisions are financially and strategically justified.

Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC) & Engineering Maturity

• Advance existing SDLC governance to improve consistency, automation, and measurable quality outcomes. • Optimize requirements management, code review, testing, and documentation standards. • Govern version control, branching strategies, and release management protocols. • Maintain formal Dev/Test/Production controls with disciplined change management. • Ensure audit-ready engineering documentation aligned with compliance requirements.

DevOps, Release Management & Engineering Productivity

• Mature CI/CD pipelines to enhance deployment reliability and scalability. • Introduce measurable engineering productivity and quality benchmarks. • Implement AI-assisted development tools where appropriate to enhance developer efficiency and code quality. • Define application monitoring, logging, and observability standards. • Improve deployment consistency while enabling faster innovation cycles.

Enterprise Integration, Intelligent Automation & AI Enablement

• Govern API standards and modern integration architecture patterns across systems. • Replace legacy point-to-point integrations with scalable API-first models. • Expand workflow automation and RPA initiatives with measurable operational impact. • Partner with Data & Analytics to embed predictive models and AI-enabled insights into operational systems. • Ensure responsible, secure, and governed implementation of AI-enabled application features. • Maintain disciplined oversight of automation and AI experimentation to prevent fragmentation.

Application Security & Compliance Alignment

• Embed secure coding standards and shift-left security practices. • Partner with Security to maintain strong vulnerability remediation performance. • Ensure engineering alignment with HIPAA, SOC 2 Type II, ISO 27001, and other required control frameworks. • Support audit evidence production for application development controls. • Ensure identity and role-based access enforcement is consistently implemented in application design.

Acquisition Integration & Expansion Enablement

• Lead application and integration due diligence assessments for acquisitions. • Execute standardized application integration during entity onboarding. • Ensure engineering readiness for geographic expansion and new program launches. • Support enterprise system consolidation aligned with modernization strategy.

Success Metrics (First 12 Months)

• Measurable advancement in engineering maturity, deployment reliability, and release predictability across enterprise applications. • Reduction of prioritized technical debt while maintaining operational stability. • Expansion of intelligent automation and AI-enabled capabilities with documented operational impact. • Standardized integration architecture adopted across major enterprise platforms. • Demonstrated financial discipline through optimized engineering spend and justified build-versus-buy decisions. • Engineering organization strengthened across onshore, nearshore, and offshore teams to support modernization and enterprise scale.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of progressive leadership in software engineering and enterprise application environments. • Demonstrated expertise in secure SDLC advancement, DevOps optimization, and API-first architecture. • Experience leading distributed onshore, nearshore, and offshore engineering teams. • Experience implementing automation and AI-enabled capabilities within enterprise systems. • Experience modernizing legacy systems in distributed, multi-entity organizations. • Experience operating in regulated environments. • Proven ability to scale engineering capabilities while maintaining financial discipline. • Strong executive communication and cross-functional leadership skills.

Leadership Profile

The ideal candidate will:

• Lead with engineering discipline and innovation orientation. • Balance speed, quality, scalability, compliance, and cost efficiency. • Build structured governance while fostering a culture of modernization and creativity. • Drive responsible AI-enabled transformation aligned with enterprise strategy. • Operate as a strategic partner within an enterprise governance model.

Mission & Stewardship Commitment

• Ensure enterprise applications protect client data and enable intelligent decision-making. • Advance engineering capabilities that directly strengthen frontline impact. • Promote responsible innovation and ethical AI implementation. • Deliver secure, scalable, and financially responsible systems that support mission growth across all operating entities.