At the MBTA, we envision a thriving region enabled by a best-in-class transit system. Our mission is to serve the public by providing safe, reliable, and accessible transportation. MBTA’s Core Values are built around safety, service, equity, sustainability, and culture. Each employee that works for the MBTA performs their roles based on our vision, mission, and values. This includes attendance, participation, and contribution in local safety committee meetings as needed.

In the Technology Innovation Department (TID), the Director of Software Engineering role encompasses technical management, operational planning, mentorship and growth, culture development, internal stakeholder management, internal project management, and ensuring adherence to modern software development principles.
 
 The Director of Software Engineering is responsible for ensuring quality custom software development by managing software engineering operations, process, standards and rituals. The Director of Software Engineering manages a team practicing adapted Agile development in a DevOps environment. Currently, all infrastructure is infrastructure-as-code hosted in AWS; almost all software is written in Elixir.

Software Engineering Management

• Ensure the software engineering function for the department is reliable, secure, and responsive to the needs of internal teams.

• Ensure the software engineering standards are documented and communicated throughout the function.
• Work closely with the software engineering infrastructure teams to ensure compliance with process and data controls. 
• Document and share the software engineering operating model.

Financial & People Oversight

• Manage the financial processes for the engineering function, including reviewing financial statements for accuracy, participate in developing pro forma, inform operating budget, support development of capital improvement project budgets, and approve budgeted procurements.
• Oversee and establish best practices for people management, including retention, hiring, and performance management for the engineering function.
  • When required, collaborate with other projects and programs on joint recruitment efforts.
  • Support the professional development of individual contributors and technical leads, helping them navigate their challenges, and ensuring they have the necessary skills and resources. Foster collaboration between different functional groups and ensuring that technical staff work effectively with product managers, researchers, writers, and designers.

Strategic Alignment & Planning

• Inform and incorporate strategic plan goals into team processes, monitor status of action items and report status to stakeholders within the department and across the authority.
• Define and articulate standards for software engineering and technology is developed to enhance public service delivery.

Risk, Safety, & Quality Management

• Oversee risk mitigation through quality assurance programs and compliance with MBTA policies.
• Investigate and report incidents related to safety or quality concerns to appropriate departments.
• Partner with MBTA Information Security to maintain compliance and observability standards.
• Refine internal policies in line with security best practices and cloud/software development standards.

Push TID to be Better

• Be a committed, vocal, collaborative member of TID Leads and push for TID to do better in any/all dimensions of its work.  

• As a member of TID's leadership team, this role is responsible for leading, practicing and upholding TID's working agreements, which are essential to the department's success.
• Participate in on-call rotation for technology systems and services.
• Perform all other duties and projects that may be assigned.

• This role supervises up to twenty (20) software engineers.

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution is required. 
• Seven (7) years of experience in agile software development environment.
• Five (5) years of management experience directing design-led software development teams (where the digital product is not the core service of the organization as a whole).
• Experience with 2+ programming languages from the TIOBE top 20 (https://www.tiobe.com/tiobe-index/).
• Experience with Infrastructure-as-Code (IaC).
• Experience with APIs / microservices / Service-Oriented Architecture (SOA) 
• Ability to work in a primarily sedentary environment as significant periods of time spent at a desk and on a screen. 

• A High School Diploma or GED with an additional seven (7) years of directly related experience substitutes for the bachelor's degree requirement.
• An associate degree from an accredited institution an additional three (3) years of directly related experience substitutes for the bachelor's degree requirement.
• A master's degree in a related subject may substitute for two (2) years of general experience.
• A nationally recognized certification, or statewide/professional certification in a related field substitutes for one year of experience

Preferred Experience and Skills

• Experience in public sector, transportation agency, and/or civic technology team. 
• Experience developing code as part of an open-source project.
• Experience with Terraform/OpenTofu.

Job Conditions:

• Ability to effectively read, comprehend, communicate, and respond to instructions, orders, signs, notices, inquiries, etc. in English.
• Be at least eighteen (18) years of age, except if participating in an approved high school internship / co-op program.
• Ability to commute to assigned work locations in the Boston, MA metro area, as required by the role.
• Ability to provide internal and external customers with courteous and professional experiences.
• Ability to work effectively, independently, and as part of a diverse workforce team (or supervise, if required).
• Ability to uphold the rights and interests of the MBTA while building and maintaining effective relationships with employees and co-workers.
• Ability to adhere to rules, regulations, collective bargaining agreements (if applicable), and policies of the MBTA, including the EEO, anti-discrimination, anti-harassment, and anti-retaliation policies.
• Have a satisfactory work record for the two (2) years immediately prior to the closing date of this posting (unless if current student or recent graduate), including overall employment, job performance, discipline, and safety records (infractions and/or offenses occurring after the closing of the posting and before the filling of a vacancy may preclude a candidate from consideration for selection).
• Ability to pass a Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) check, comprehensive background screening, and / or medical Clinic screening, potentially including physical examination and drug and alcohol screenings.
• Ability to work all shifts and / or locations assigned, directed, or necessary for this position, including (for some transit / operations roles) up to twenty-four (24) hours per day, seven (7) days per week as necessary to accommodate severe weather conditions, emergencies, or any other circumstances that may potentially impact service or the safety of service.
• Intern / co-op staff must be enrolled full or part-time in an accredited educational program and maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 2.5 for the entire duration of the internship / co-op. Additionally, interns / co-ops must have valid work authorization and U.S. Social Security Number prior to starting their positions and throughout the duration of their program.

Disclaimers and Definitions:

1. General Disclaimer: The statements contained in this job description are intended to describe a summary, general nature, and complexity of typical job functions and do not represent an exhaustive list of all duties, tasks, and responsibilities required of staff assigned to this position.
2. Application Completion: It is each applicant’s responsibility to ensure application details are entered completely and correctly, including updated work and education histories (past and current). Incomplete applications may not be considered. Attachments do not substitute for application fields. The recruitment team does not have access to existing employee data / history.
3. Application Deadlines: Applicants should apply as soon as possible, as the MBTA may stop considering applicants after a sufficiently large applicant pool is established.
4. Work Environment: The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here-in are representative of those an employee may encounter while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations can be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions. See job description for role-specific requirements.
5. Work Eligibility: All employees must be legally authorized to work in the United States and on an unrestricted basis. The MBTA does not have an employer work sponsorship program. However, if you have unrestricted work authorization, or are sponsored by a separate entity, you are welcome to apply. Further, all persons hired will require a U.S. Social Security Number prior to starting the position and employees will be required to complete a Form I-9 to verify their identity and eligibility to work in the U.S.
6. Interviews: Candidates should ensure they arrive on time, are prepared, can remain for the duration, and if remote, are in a quiet place without distraction, for the interview. Candidates who do not attend their interview without advance authorization, including an email confirmation of a rescheduled time/date from Human Resources, will be considered a no-show and disqualified from consideration for the position. Related to rescheduling, on a one-time basis, and due to something emergent, you may be allowed to reschedule the interview. In addition, Human Resources may require documentation supporting the request. However, should you need to reschedule, you will need to contact your Recruiter directly by email.
7. Safety Sensitive Positions: Employees working in this classification will be subject to periodic physical examinations plus random drug and alcohol testing.
8. On-call or 24/7 Positions: Employees working in this classification must be available to respond to page / text / call and report to work as determined by assigned department or the Authority.
9. Essential / Emergency Staff: During declared "states of emergency," employees working in this classification are required to report to work for their assigned work hours or as directed by management.
10. ADA Accommodations: The MBTA makes reasonable accommodations for applicants with disabilities. If you require an accommodation during this process, please contact the MBTA's ADA Unit at 617-222-5751 or hradaaa@mbta.com.
11. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: The MBTA is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. For terms, descriptions, and definitions related to diversity, equity, inclusion, veteran status, and immediate family members that you may find on the application form, please visit mbta.com/careers-app-definitions.
12. Intern / Co-Op Benefits: Employees taking part in an internship or co-op at the MBTA are eligible to receive accrued paid sick leave as well as a monthly transportation pass, based on the city from which the intern / co-op commutes to work, at no cost. However, no additional benefits are currently offered for interns or co-ops.