MBTA
Join to apply for the
Director of Software Engineering
role at
MBTA .
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 who works for the MBTA performs their roles based on our vision, mission, and values.
Job Summary 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, project management, and ensuring adherence to modern software development principles. The candidate will manage software engineering operations, processes, standards, and rituals for a team practicing adapted Agile development in a DevOps environment, with infrastructure-as-code on AWS and a majority of software written in Elixir.
Duties & Responsibilities
Software Engineering Management
Ensure the engineering function is reliable, secure, and responsive to internal team needs.
Ensure engineering standards are documented and communicated throughout the function.
Work closely with infrastructure teams to maintain compliance with process and data controls.
Document and share the software engineering operating model.
Financial & People Oversight
Manage financial processes for the engineering function, including reviewing statements, budgeting, and approving procurements.
Oversee best practices for people management, including retention, hiring, and performance management.
Collaborate with other projects and programs on joint recruitment efforts.
Support professional development of individual contributors and technical leads, fostering collaboration with product managers, researchers, writers, and designers.
Strategic Alignment & Planning
Incorporate strategic plan goals into team processes and monitor action items.
Define and articulate standards for software engineering that enhance public service delivery.
Risk, Safety, & Quality Management
Oversee risk mitigation through QA programs and compliance with MBTA policies.
Investigate and report incidents related to safety or quality.
Partner with Information Security to maintain compliance and observability standards.
Refine internal policies in line with security best practices and development standards.
Push TID to be Better
Be a committed, vocal, collaborative member of TID Leads and push for improvement in all dimensions.
Lead, practice, and uphold TID’s working agreements.
Participate in on‑call rotation for technology systems and services.
Perform all other duties and projects as assigned.
Supervision
This role supervises up to twenty (20) software engineers.
Minimum Requirements & Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution is required.
Seven (7) years of experience in an agile software development environment.
Five (5) years of management experience directing design‑led software development teams.
Experience with 2+ programming languages from the TIOBE top 20.
Experience with Infrastructure‑as‑Code (IaC).
Experience with APIs / microservices / Service‑Oriented Architecture (SOA).
Ability to work in a primarily sedentary environment.
Substitutions Include
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 with 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 in English.
Be at least eighteen (18) years of age, except for approved high‑school internship/co‑op programs.
Ability to commute to assigned work locations in the Boston, MA metro area.
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.
Ability to uphold the rights and interests of the MBTA while building and maintaining effective relationships.
Ability to adhere to rules, regulations, collective bargaining agreements, and policies of the MBTA, including 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.
Ability to pass a Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) check, comprehensive background screening, and/or medical clinic screening.
Ability to work all shifts and/or locations as necessary, including up to twenty‑four (24) hours per day, seven (7) days per week as required.
Intern/co‑op staff must be enrolled full or part‑time in an accredited program and maintain at least a 2.5 GPA; they must also have valid work authorization and a U.S. Social Security Number.
Disclaimers and Definitions
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.
Applicants must ensure application details are entered completely and correctly; incomplete applications may not be considered.
Applicants should apply as soon as possible, as the MBTA may stop considering applicants after a sufficiently large pool is established.
Reasonable accommodations can be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.
All employees must be legally authorized to work in the United States; the MBTA does not sponsor work visas.
Employees in this classification may be subject to periodic physical examinations and random drug and alcohol testing.
Employees may be required to respond to page/text/call during on‑call or 24/7 positions.
Employees may be required to report to work during declared states of emergency.
Employees with disabilities can obtain accommodations by contacting the MBTA’s ADA Unit at 617-222-5751 or hradaaa@mbta.com.
The MBTA is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. For terms related to diversity, equity, inclusion, veteran status, and immediate family members, see mbta.com/careers‑app‑definitions.
Intern/Co‑Op employees are eligible for accrued paid sick leave and a monthly transportation pass; no additional benefits are offered.
Seniority Level
Director
Employment Type
Full‑time
Job Function
Engineering and Information Technology
Industries
Government Administration
#J-18808-Ljbffr
Director of Software Engineering
role at
MBTA .
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 who works for the MBTA performs their roles based on our vision, mission, and values.
Job Summary 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, project management, and ensuring adherence to modern software development principles. The candidate will manage software engineering operations, processes, standards, and rituals for a team practicing adapted Agile development in a DevOps environment, with infrastructure-as-code on AWS and a majority of software written in Elixir.
Duties & Responsibilities
Software Engineering Management
Ensure the engineering function is reliable, secure, and responsive to internal team needs.
Ensure engineering standards are documented and communicated throughout the function.
Work closely with infrastructure teams to maintain compliance with process and data controls.
Document and share the software engineering operating model.
Financial & People Oversight
Manage financial processes for the engineering function, including reviewing statements, budgeting, and approving procurements.
Oversee best practices for people management, including retention, hiring, and performance management.
Collaborate with other projects and programs on joint recruitment efforts.
Support professional development of individual contributors and technical leads, fostering collaboration with product managers, researchers, writers, and designers.
Strategic Alignment & Planning
Incorporate strategic plan goals into team processes and monitor action items.
Define and articulate standards for software engineering that enhance public service delivery.
Risk, Safety, & Quality Management
Oversee risk mitigation through QA programs and compliance with MBTA policies.
Investigate and report incidents related to safety or quality.
Partner with Information Security to maintain compliance and observability standards.
Refine internal policies in line with security best practices and development standards.
Push TID to be Better
Be a committed, vocal, collaborative member of TID Leads and push for improvement in all dimensions.
Lead, practice, and uphold TID’s working agreements.
Participate in on‑call rotation for technology systems and services.
Perform all other duties and projects as assigned.
Supervision
This role supervises up to twenty (20) software engineers.
Minimum Requirements & Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution is required.
Seven (7) years of experience in an agile software development environment.
Five (5) years of management experience directing design‑led software development teams.
Experience with 2+ programming languages from the TIOBE top 20.
Experience with Infrastructure‑as‑Code (IaC).
Experience with APIs / microservices / Service‑Oriented Architecture (SOA).
Ability to work in a primarily sedentary environment.
Substitutions Include
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 with 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 in English.
Be at least eighteen (18) years of age, except for approved high‑school internship/co‑op programs.
Ability to commute to assigned work locations in the Boston, MA metro area.
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.
Ability to uphold the rights and interests of the MBTA while building and maintaining effective relationships.
Ability to adhere to rules, regulations, collective bargaining agreements, and policies of the MBTA, including 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.
Ability to pass a Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) check, comprehensive background screening, and/or medical clinic screening.
Ability to work all shifts and/or locations as necessary, including up to twenty‑four (24) hours per day, seven (7) days per week as required.
Intern/co‑op staff must be enrolled full or part‑time in an accredited program and maintain at least a 2.5 GPA; they must also have valid work authorization and a U.S. Social Security Number.
Disclaimers and Definitions
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.
Applicants must ensure application details are entered completely and correctly; incomplete applications may not be considered.
Applicants should apply as soon as possible, as the MBTA may stop considering applicants after a sufficiently large pool is established.
Reasonable accommodations can be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.
All employees must be legally authorized to work in the United States; the MBTA does not sponsor work visas.
Employees in this classification may be subject to periodic physical examinations and random drug and alcohol testing.
Employees may be required to respond to page/text/call during on‑call or 24/7 positions.
Employees may be required to report to work during declared states of emergency.
Employees with disabilities can obtain accommodations by contacting the MBTA’s ADA Unit at 617-222-5751 or hradaaa@mbta.com.
The MBTA is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. For terms related to diversity, equity, inclusion, veteran status, and immediate family members, see mbta.com/careers‑app‑definitions.
Intern/Co‑Op employees are eligible for accrued paid sick leave and a monthly transportation pass; no additional benefits are offered.
Seniority Level
Director
Employment Type
Full‑time
Job Function
Engineering and Information Technology
Industries
Government Administration
#J-18808-Ljbffr