[Hiring] Software Development Director @Illinois Tool Works

Role Description

The Software Development Director is a strategic and operational leader responsible for overseeing Alpine’s entire software development function. This role drives the vision, execution, and continuous evolution of software development initiatives aligned with business objectives and digital transformation goals. The Director leads multiple development teams through Software Development Managers, establishes engineering best practices, and ensures the delivery of scalable, high-quality software solutions. This role fosters a culture of innovation, accountability, and continuous improvement while partnering closely with executive leadership and cross-functional stakeholders.

Core Responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership:
  • Define and execute the overall software development strategy aligned with organizational goals.
  • Lead and mentor Software Development Managers and senior technical leaders.
  • Build a high-performing, scalable engineering organization.
  • Drive long-term technology roadmaps and innovation initiatives.
• Organizational Leadership & Talent Development:
  • Attract, develop, and retain top software engineering talent.
  • Establish leadership pipelines and succession planning.
  • Foster a culture of collaboration, inclusivity, accountability, and continuous learning.
  • Coach leaders to effectively manage team performance and growth.
• Software Excellence & Best Practices:
  • Establish and enforce software development standards, frameworks, and governance.
  • Promote best practices in architecture, coding standards, testing, CI/CD, and DevOps.
  • Ensure high levels of code quality, security, performance, and maintainability.
  • Champion continuous improvement and operational excellence.
• Delivery & Execution:
  • Oversee execution of multiple software initiatives across teams.
  • Ensure consistent, predictable delivery of high-quality products on time and within scope.
  • Align development priorities with business needs and product strategy.
  • Identify and mitigate risks across projects and portfolios.
• Agile & Process Leadership:
  • Champion Agile methodologies (Scrum, Kanban) at scale across the organization.
  • Drive agile maturity, continuous delivery, and iterative development practices.
  • Optimize processes to improve efficiency, transparency, and team productivity.
• Technology Strategy & Digital Transformation:
  • Lead digital transformation initiatives through innovative software solutions.
  • Evaluate and adopt new technologies and tools to drive competitive advantage.
  • Collaborate with engineering, sales, and product teams to modernize platforms and systems.
• Stakeholder Collaboration:
  • Partner with executive leadership, product management, design, and business stakeholders.
  • Communicate progress, challenges, and outcomes clearly to senior leadership.
  • Align technical execution with organizational priorities and customer needs.
• Problem Solving & Innovation:
  • Address complex organizational and technical challenges at scale.
  • Foster innovation and encourage new approaches to solving business problems.
  • Promote data-driven decision-making across teams.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in a senior leadership role (Director or above) in software development.
• Strong technical background with deep understanding of modern software engineering practices.
• Experience managing multiple teams and leaders (e.g., Managers, Leads).
• Demonstrated success in delivering large-scale, complex software initiatives.
• Experience leading Agile transformations across organizations.
• Strong experience driving digital transformation initiatives.
• Exceptional leadership, communication, and decision-making skills.
• Ability to influence and collaborate at the executive level.
• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field.

Competencies

• Strategic Thinking: Ability to align technical strategy with business goals.
• Building Partnerships: Creates strong cross-functional collaboration to achieve objectives.
• Leadership & Talent Development: Builds and grows high-performing teams.
• Communication: Clearly conveys complex ideas to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Innovation: Drives creative, forward-thinking solutions.
• Adaptability: Leads effectively through change and evolving priorities.
• Analytical Thinking: Uses data to inform decisions and improve outcomes.
• Results-Driven: Focuses on delivering measurable business value.

Compensation Information

Certain states require that pay information be included in job postings. The specific hiring rate within the posted pay range will depend on the successful candidate’s qualifications, prior experience, and the geographic location. For example, in Florida, the pay rate will be between $144,000-$200,000 (highly experienced).