[Hiring] Director I - Applications Development @BAE Systems

Role Description

We are seeking a Director I, IT Service Owner - Software Development & Integrations to lead the enterprise strategy, architecture, and service delivery for software engineering, API‑led integrations, and automation platforms across the company. This senior leader will reduce complexity, drive standardization and reuse, and enable seamless interoperability across mission‑critical systems - accelerating delivery while improving quality and resiliency.

Operating as the authoritative owner of engineering and integration services, this leader will define the vision for:

• API lifecycle management
• Reusable services
• Modern SDLC
• Requirements management & traceability
• Automated testing
• Toolchain automation

The ideal candidate combines deep software engineering expertise, architectural leadership, and executive presence to influence across a large, matrixed enterprise.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Engineering, or related technical field; advanced degree preferred.
• Minimum 12+ years of progressive experience in software development, integration architecture, or technical leadership.
• Deep expertise in system integrations via APIs, automation & tools, and enterprise development practices.
• Experience with SDLC governance, requirements management & traceability, and testing automation.
• Proven ability to reduce complexity and drive reuse across a diverse technology landscape.
• Exceptional communication, executive presence, and the ability to influence leaders outside the direct reporting line.
• Experience in aerospace/defense, manufacturing, or other highly regulated industries.
• Familiarity with integration platforms, API gateways, cloud‑native development, and DevOps tooling.
• Professional certifications (e.g., ITIL, PMP/Agile, cloud certifications) are advantageous.

Requirements

• Own the enterprise strategy and roadmap for software development and system integrations, including API lifecycle management, integration patterns, and service reuse.
• Drive simplification and reduced complexity across the application and integration landscape; rationalize patterns, remove duplication, and promote standardized platforms.
• Establish development standards—SDLC governance, requirements management, architecture/design reviews, coding guidelines, automated testing, and CI/CD pipelines.
• Implement automation frameworks and tools to improve development velocity, quality, reliability, and observability; measure impact via cycle time and defect trends.
• Lead requirements traceability across complex, multi‑system programs; enforce end‑to‑end linkage from business need to test evidence and production outcomes.
• Advance testing maturity including automated unit, integration, functional, performance, and regression testing; embed quality gates in pipelines.
• Develop and enforce enterprise architecture patterns and reusable design components; curate a catalog of services and reference implementations.
• Provide technical mentorship and talent development across software engineering and integration teams; build a bench of future technical leaders.
• Champion customer‑centric solution design—co‑create with stakeholders, instrument feedback loops, and ensure solutions deliver measurable business outcomes.
• Lead change management for software and integration initiatives—deployment readiness, communications, training, and adoption metrics.
• Partner with cybersecurity, infrastructure, program management, and product teams to ensure secure, scalable, and reliable integrations with strong operational SLAs.
• Own support and sustainment for enterprise integration platforms and custom applications: incident/problem/change management, release orchestration, vendor management, and lifecycle planning.
• Communicate with executive clarity; frame technical and non‑technical concepts, options, risk posture, and ROI to senior leaders and boards.
• Influence across the matrix without direct authority; align business and engineering functions to adopt standards, processes, and controls.
• Lead leaders and build talent pipelines across engineering disciplines; establish clear career paths and succession plans.

Benefits

• Health, dental, and vision insurance
• Health savings accounts
• 401(k) savings plan
• Disability coverage
• Life and accident insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Legal plan
• Paid time off and paid holidays
• Paid parental, military, bereavement, and applicable federal and state sick leave
• Company recognition program for monetary or non-monetary awards
• Incentives based on position level and/or job specifics