Director of Engineering (Web & Applications)

Codazen•Irvine, CA

73d•$185,000 - $230,000•Hybrid

About The Position

Codazen is looking for a Director of Engineering (Web & Applications) with a proven track record of leading high-performing software engineering teams, delivering impactful digital products, and managing client relationships in an agency or consultancy setting. 5+ years of Agency experience, providing software engineering services for other companies is a must have for this role. This position requires a unique combination of technical depth, leadership, business acumen, and delivery oversight. The ideal candidate is a hands-on technical leader who thrives in fast-paced environments, excels at building client trust, and can drive strategic growth while maintaining engineering excellence.

Requirements

12+ years of software engineering experience, including at least 4+ years in Director of Engineering or management roles.
5+ years experience in an Agency, consultancy, or client-facing services environment.
Hands-on experience as a full-stack engineer (e.g., JavaScript, PHP, Java, React.js) and comfort across frontend/backend systems.
Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science or equivalent practical experience.
Experience leading distributed teams, managing performance, and fostering team culture.
Proven ability to recruit, coach, and develop high-performing engineers.
Strong understanding of agile methodologies and delivery operations.
Hands-on experience designing and deploying secure, scalable web-based products and services.
Deep understanding of API design, system integrations, and full-stack architecture.
Experience managing project budgets, forecasts, and financial metrics.
Ability to thrive in a high-autonomy environment and make hard technical and business decisions.
Passion for coaching future engineering leaders and scaling technical teams.

Responsibilities

Engineering Leadership & Technical Strategy
Lead and mentor a cross-functional team of software engineers and production staff (e.g. project managers, product managers, BA, QA) to deliver high-quality, scalable solutions.
Provide architectural and technical direction across the full stack (frontend, backend, APIs, infrastructure).
Drive adoption of best-in-class engineering practices, tools, and processes.
Ensure teams are continuously improving in efficiency, quality, and technical innovation.
Manage technical debt and maintain sustainable development velocity.
Client Ownership & Relationship Management
Act as the primary point of contact for client delivery and relationship management.
Develop a trusted advisor relationship with client stakeholders, aligning delivery to strategic goals.
Proactively manage client expectations, mitigate concerns, and lead executive-level syncs as needed.
Project Delivery & Oversight
Ensure successful delivery of all scoped work—on time, on budget, and to quality standards.
Oversee execution strategy, staffing plans, and team velocity to maintain healthy project outcomes.
Make critical trade-off decisions and maintain delivery excellence culture.
Collaborate with TPMs or serve in a dual-delivery/technical lead role when needed.
Financial Ownership & Strategic Growth
Own P&L responsibility for one or more projects, ensuring margin and profitability targets are met.
Collaborate with Finance on forecasting, billing cadence, and revenue recognition.
Author and approve SOWs, renewals, and change orders with a keen eye on scope and value.
Identify upsell opportunities, pitch new scopes, and extend long-term client roadmaps.
Team Development & Culture
Recruit, structure, and grow diverse, high-performing engineering teams.
Act as a functional manager providing performance feedback, coaching, and mentorship.
Foster a culture of accountability, psychological safety, and career development.
Collaborate with the Resource Manager to plan staffing and team compositions across project phases.
Governance, Risk, & Escalations
Own project-level decisions, resolving issues with clarity and diplomacy.
Escalate strategic risks to executive leadership when necessary.
Ensure adherence to contractual, operational, and ethical standards.

Benefits

Competitive salary
Hybrid schedule with on-site electric vehicle charging
On-site catered meals
Generous paid time off and sick leave
Paid holidays
Health, dental, vision
401k (with company contribution)
Income protection plans (life, accidental death and dismemberment, short- and long-term disability)
Free meals, drinks and snacks
An incredible leadership team that cares about your development
Fun, smart, diverse colleagues