Director of Software Engineering

Location: Wilmington, DE, United States

Job Family: Software Engineering

About the Role

As the Director of Software Engineering at JP Morgan Chase in Wilmington, DE, you will spearhead innovation and solution delivery within a key technical domain, acting as the primary decision-maker for your engineering teams. In this pivotal role, you will lead the development of cutting-edge software solutions that power our global financial services, including investment banking, asset management, and consumer banking platforms. Your leadership will ensure that our systems are robust, scalable, and compliant with stringent financial regulations, driving efficiency and security in a high-volume, 24/7 operational environment. Collaborating with executive stakeholders, you will shape the technical strategy to support JP Morgan Chase's digital transformation initiatives, leveraging emerging technologies to enhance client experiences and operational resilience. Key to success in this position is your ability to mentor and inspire a diverse team of engineers, fostering a culture of excellence and continuous learning. You will oversee the full software development lifecycle, from architectural design and prototyping to deployment and optimization, with a focus on cloud-native architectures and DevOps practices. At JP Morgan Chase, we prioritize innovation in areas like AI-driven fraud detection, real-time payments processing, and predictive risk modeling, and you will champion these efforts to deliver measurable business impact. Your decisions will directly influence the reliability of mission-critical systems that handle trillions in transactions annually, requiring a deep understanding of financial industry challenges and regulatory landscapes such as SOX and GDPR. This role offers the opportunity to thrive in a dynamic, collaborative environment at one of the world's leading financial institutions. You will work alongside top talent in Wilmington, DE, benefiting from JP Morgan Chase's commitment to work-life balance, professional growth, and inclusive culture. If you are a visionary leader passionate about technology's role in finance, join us to drive the future of banking innovation.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor a team of software engineers in designing, developing, and deploying scalable solutions for JP Morgan Chase's financial platforms
• Serve as the primary technical decision-maker, overseeing architecture, code quality, and system performance in critical banking systems
• Drive innovation by identifying emerging technologies and integrating them into risk management, payments, or investment banking workflows
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including product managers, data scientists, and compliance experts, to align engineering efforts with business goals
• Ensure adherence to financial industry standards, implementing secure coding practices and regulatory compliance in all software deliverables
• Manage project timelines, budgets, and resources to deliver high-quality software on schedule, minimizing downtime in 24/7 financial operations
• Foster a culture of continuous improvement, conducting code reviews, performance optimizations, and post-mortem analyses for system enhancements
• Partner with senior leadership to define technical roadmaps that support JP Morgan Chase's strategic initiatives in digital transformation
• Oversee the adoption of cloud-native technologies and microservices architectures to enhance scalability and resilience in global financial services
• Monitor and mitigate technical risks, ensuring robust cybersecurity measures against evolving threats in the banking sector

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field; Master's degree preferred
• 10+ years of progressive experience in software engineering, with at least 5 years in a leadership role managing engineering teams
• Proven track record of leading large-scale software development projects in the financial services industry
• Deep expertise in modern software development practices, including agile methodologies and DevOps
• Strong understanding of financial regulations such as GDPR, SOX, and PCI-DSS compliance
• Experience in cloud platforms like AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud, with a focus on secure financial applications
• Demonstrated ability to drive innovation and deliver high-impact solutions in a fast-paced environment

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree or certifications in software engineering or financial technology (e.g., AWS Certified Solutions Architect, PMP)
• Experience leading teams in developing trading platforms, risk management systems, or core banking applications at a major financial institution
• Knowledge of machine learning and AI applications in fraud detection or predictive analytics for finance
• Prior experience at JP Morgan Chase or similar global banks, with familiarity in their technology stack
• Publications or speaking engagements on software engineering in fintech

Required Skills

• Proficiency in Java, Python, or C++ for backend development
• Expertise in cloud computing platforms (AWS, Azure) and containerization (Docker, Kubernetes)
• Strong knowledge of databases (SQL/NoSQL) and data modeling for financial datasets
• Experience with CI/CD pipelines and automation tools (Jenkins, GitLab CI)
• Understanding of cybersecurity principles and secure software development lifecycle (SDLC)
• Agile and Scrum methodologies for team management
• Leadership and mentoring skills for building high-performing teams
• Analytical problem-solving in complex, high-stakes financial environments
• Communication skills for stakeholder engagement and technical presentations
• Familiarity with big data technologies (Hadoop, Spark) for financial analytics
• Knowledge of API design and microservices architecture
• Risk assessment and compliance expertise in fintech
• Project management tools (Jira, Confluence) proficiency
• Innovation mindset for adopting AI/ML in banking applications
• Adaptability to regulatory changes and fast-evolving tech landscapes

Benefits

• Competitive base salary and performance-based annual bonuses
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance plans
• 401(k) retirement savings plan with generous company matching
• Paid time off, including vacation, sick days, and parental leave
• Professional development opportunities, such as tuition reimbursement and access to internal training programs
• Employee stock purchase plan and financial wellness resources
• On-site fitness centers, wellness programs, and mental health support
• Relocation assistance for eligible positions in Wilmington, DE

JP Morgan Chase is an equal opportunity employer.