Director-Engineering

Principal Financial Group•Des Moines, IA

21h•Hybrid

About The Position

We’re looking for a Director of Engineering to join our WPI team. In this role, you’ll help shape the future of our WPI business. This is a high-impact opportunity to join at a pivotal moment—helping define the technology strategy, guide platform transformation, and build the capabilities that will support future growth! This role is ideal for a leader who thrives in transformation environments, understands the complexity of broker-dealer and advisor platform ecosystems, and is energized by the opportunity to build, influence, and deliver at scale. Operating at the intersection of financial services and technology, Principal builds financial tools that help our customers live better lives. We take pride in being a purpose-led firm, motivated by our mission to make financial security accessible to all. Our mission, integrity, and customer focus have made us a trusted leader for more than 140 years. As Principal continues to modernize its systems, this role will offer you an exciting opportunity to build solutions that will directly impact our long-term strategy and tech stack, all while ensuring that our products are robust, scalable, and secure!

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in computer science, information systems, business administration, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience and 10+ years of relevant technology experience.
Excellent leadership, problem solving, analytical, and decision making skills
Able to set strategic direction while also driving execution in complex, highly collaborative environments
Deep experience in broker-dealer, wealth management, retail investing, or closely related financial services technology environments

Nice To Haves

Direct experience with advisor platforms and wealth technology ecosystems that support financial advisors and home office teams
Demonstrated experience with third-party integrations and external ecosystem connectivity, including custodians, clearing firms, or fintech partners
Background in transformation or new-build environments where you helped stand up modern platforms, modernize legacy capabilities, or deliver large-scale integration initiatives

Responsibilities

Lead engineering strategy and delivery across Brokerage platform, brokerage operations, and client servicing capabilities.
Ability to manage integrations with clearing firms such as NFS, Pershing or LPL and vendor tools that provide advisor-client collaboration capabilities
Own delivery across key wealth platform domains, including advisor tools, client experience, brokerage integration, and servicing operations.
Partner with product, architecture, and business leaders to define and scale a modern wealth platform in a new-build or transformation environment.
Guide platform integration efforts with brokerage, custodial, and clearing partners, including third-party ecosystem connectivity.
Translate business strategy into technology direction, roadmaps, and execution plans that improve resiliency, scalability, and value delivery.
Build, lead, and develop high-performing engineering teams by coaching talent and raising the performance bar.
Start with the customer and work backwards. Work vigorously to earn and keep customer trust. Pay attention to competitors, but obsess over customers.