Director of Software Engineering

Guardian Alarm•Southfield, MI

About The Position

The Director of Software Engineering leads the design, development, and delivery of software applications and system integrations that support Guardian Alarm’s business operations and customer experience. This role is responsible for building and managing a high-performing software engineering team and ensuring consistent, high-quality execution across the software development lifecycle. Operating within a broader IT structure that includes Data and Infrastructure leadership, the Director of Software Engineering ensures strong alignment and collaboration across all technology functions. This role establishes the software engineering team as a shared service across the organization, delivering scalable, secure, and reliable solutions that meet evolving business needs.

Requirements

Strong leadership and team management skills with the ability to build and develop high-performing teams.
Experience managing software development teams in a structured delivery environment.
Strong understanding of software development lifecycle (SDLC) methodologies, including Agile practices.
Ability to implement and maintain technical project management discipline within engineering teams.
Strong collaboration and communication skills with the ability to work effectively across business and technical teams.
Knowledge of secure software development practices and application security principles.
Experience working with cloud-based platforms strong Azure experience preferred.
Strong problem-solving, decision-making, and organizational skills.
Bachelor’s degree in computer science or related field required.
5–8 years of experience in software engineering or application development.
3–5 years of experience leading or managing software development teams.
Experience delivering scalable applications and managing system integrations.
Experience working within Agile or similar development methodologies.
Experience working in cloud-based environments (Azure preferred).
Drives accountability and results within the team.
Builds strong partnerships across technical and business functions.
Communicates effectively with both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
Promotes a culture of collaboration, service, and continuous improvement.
Demonstrates strategic thinking while maintaining strong execution focus.

Responsibilities

Lead, manage, and develop a team of software engineers, including both entry-level and senior team members.
Establish clear performance expectations, provide ongoing coaching and feedback, and support employee development.
Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement.
Support hiring, onboarding, and retention strategies to build a high-performing engineering team.
Oversee the full software development lifecycle (SDLC), ensuring projects are delivered on time, within scope, and aligned with business priorities.
Implement and enforce strong technical project management practices, including backlog management, prioritization, sprint planning, and delivery tracking.
Partner with business stakeholders to define requirements, scope, and priorities for development initiatives.
Ensure consistent application of Agile or similar development methodologies across the team.
Establish and operate the software engineering function as a shared service supporting multiple business units.
Collaborate closely with business leaders to align development efforts with organizational goals and priorities.
Translate business needs into actionable development work and ensure transparency in delivery timelines and outcomes.
Promote a service-oriented mindset within the engineering team focused on responsiveness and stakeholder partnership.
Oversee application design and system architecture to ensure scalability, reliability, and alignment with enterprise standards.
Lead system integration efforts across internal platforms, third-party vendors, and customer-facing applications.
Partner with the Data team to support data integration and ensure applications effectively leverage data platforms.
Collaborate with Infrastructure and Security team to ensure applications are deployed, monitored, and maintained according to company standards.
Evaluate and recommend tools, technologies, and frameworks that support long-term application scalability and performance.
Promote and implement CI/CD pipelines, automated testing, and deployment strategies.
Experience designing and managing API-driven and event-driven architecture
Secure architecture principles (auth, encryption, least privilege) OWASP risks and compliance awareness.
Ensure development processes include appropriate testing, quality assurance, and code review standards.
Promote continuous improvement in development practices to enhance quality, efficiency, and time-to-market.
Ensure compliance with organizational standards related to application security, data protection, and system reliability.
Manage relationships with external vendors and development partners to ensure quality, efficiency, and alignment with organizational goals.
Oversee resource planning, budgeting, and allocation for software engineering initiatives.
Monitor and report on development performance, project delivery timelines, system reliability, and team productivity.
Provide regular updates to IT and executive leadership on project status, risks, and outcomes.