Technology Specialist

Title: Principal Engineer I

Overall Purpose of the Position:

As a Principal Engineer I, your position will be crucial in providing leadership, strategic guidance, and technical expertise in the design, implementation, and optimization of technology solutions within digital transformation projects across your portfolio, with a focus on versatility across digital platforms. You will showcase a strong blend of technical acumen, business knowledge, leadership capabilities, and a track record of successful contributions to digital transformation initiatives.

Key Responsibilities and Duties:

Specialization & Work Product: Your responsibilities will involve designing and implementing critical system components. You'll lead by example in writing clean, efficient, and scalable code and well thought through systems. Your expertise will be instrumental in guiding the team through complex challenges and making architectural decisions. You'll conduct reviews, ensuring adherence to standards and promoting a culture of excellence in software development. Your contributions will significantly impact the overall quality and success of the project/s and the portfolio your work within

Teamwork & Collaboration: You'll play a crucial role in fostering a collaborative environment within the projects you serve, and within the Portfolio. You'll mentor other engineers in effective collaboration practices and lead by example in promoting open communication and knowledge sharing. You'll work closely with other members to resolve conflicts, remove obstacles, and ensure the team operates cohesively towards common goals. Your strong teamwork and collaboration skills will be instrumental in driving project success.

Project Roles: You'll assume a lead role/s in different disciplines within projects, overseeing the end-to-end development lifecycle. You'll work closely with project managers to plan and prioritize tasks, allocate resources effectively, and manage project risks. You'll represent the engineering team in project meetings and communicate progress and challenges to stakeholders. Your project role/s will be critical in driving project success and delivering value to the business.

System Design: You'll lead system design efforts, translating business requirements into scalable and resilient architecture solutions. You'll conduct architecture reviews and provide guidance to ensure that designs meet quality attributes such as performance, security, and maintainability. Your expertise in system design will be instrumental in shaping the long-term technical roadmap and strategy of the portfolio.

Learning & Development: You'll champion learning and development initiatives within the team and across the organization. You'll support and mentor other engineers in their career development planning and provide guidance on skill enhancement opportunities longside portfolio managers. You'll advocate for the adoption of new technologies and methodologies to promote innovation and professional growth. Your commitment to learning and development will inspire others to excel and evolve in their positions within the portfolio.

Sales, Account Development & Client Engagement: You'll play a significant role in client engagement activities, acting as a trusted technical advisor and liaison between the engineering team and clients. You'll participate in pre-sales meetings, providing technical insights and contributing to proposal development. You'll cultivate strong client relationships, understanding their business goals and challenges, and aligning technical solutions to address their needs effectively. Your client engagement skills will be critical in driving customer satisfaction and fostering long-term partnerships.

Solution Design & Architecture: You'll lead solution design efforts, translating business requirements into scalable and resilient architecture solutions. You'll conduct architecture reviews and provide guidance to ensure that designs meet quality attributes such as performance, security, and maintainability. Your expertise in solution design will be instrumental in shaping the long-term technical roadmap and strategy of the organization.

Communication: You'll communicate at a strategic level, influencing technical decisions and driving alignment across multiple teams and departments. You'll represent the engineering team in meetings with management and client stakeholders, advocating for technical excellence and innovation. You'll convey complex technical concepts in a compelling and understandable manner, inspiring confidence and trust in your expertise. Your communication skills will be instrumental in driving organizational objectives and fostering a culture of transparency and collaboration.

Innovation, Experimentation & Improvement: You'll champion innovation as a core value of the engineering organization. You'll create an environment that encourages experimentation and risk-taking, where failures are viewed as learning opportunities. You'll allocate time and resources for innovation projects, empowering teams to pursue breakthrough ideas and technologies. Your ability to lead and foster a culture of innovation will drive continuous improvement and differentiation in the marketplace.

Thought Leadership: You'll be recognized as a thought leader both within your portfolio, technology services and the organization as a whole. You'll influence technical decisions and drive consensus on complex issues through your deep understanding and reasoned analysis. You'll represent the engineering organization in external forums and contribute to industry thought leadership through publications, speaking engagements, or participation in standards bodies. Your thought leadership will shape the direction of technology and inspire others to strive for excellence.

Mentorship & Development: You'll collaborate and partner with Managers within the portfolio, other Portfolio's within Tech Services and other functional groups across the organization. You'll invest time and effort in developing their technical and leadership capabilities, providing constructive feedback and coaching to help them overcome challenges and achieve their career goals. Your ability to lead and influence will be a cornerstone of the organization's talent development strategy, ensuring a pipeline of skilled and motivated leaders for the future.

Portfolio Capability Growth: You'll have established a strong list of projects and achievements that reflect your expertise and technical prowess. You'll have led successful initiatives and delivered tangible results that have made a significant impact to your portfolio. You'll continue to grow your experiences by taking on strategic projects and driving innovation and excellence in your domain. Your impact to the portfolio's capability growth will be a testament to your enduring commitment to personal and professional excellence.

Culture & Strategic Initiatives: Within your project teams, the portfolio and the wider Softway organization, you'll support and foster Softway's culture by living out Softway's values, principles and behaviors.

Skills and Qualifications:

Leadership and Project Management:

Strong leadership skills to guide cross-functional teams and drive projects to successful completion. Proven track record in defining project scopes, establishing timelines, and managing resources effectively. Ability to prioritize initiatives, allocate resources efficiently, and adapt to changing business requirements. Experience in risk management, issue resolution, and stakeholder communication to ensure project success.

Business Acumen:

Understanding of business operations and the ability to align technology initiatives with strategic business goals. Knowledge of industry trends, emerging technologies, and best practices for driving operational efficiencies and competitive advantage. Experience in conducting technology assessments, identifying areas for improvement, and developing technology roadmaps aligned with business objectives.

Problem-Solving and Innovation:

Strong analytical and problem-solving skills to identify root causes of technical challenges and develop effective solutions.

Ability to innovate and propose novel approaches to technology modernization, infrastructure optimization, and process improvement.Experience in evaluating and adopting new technologies, tools, and methodologies to drive continuous improvement and innovation.

Communication and Collaboration:

Excellent communication skills to articulate technical concepts, project status, and recommendations to stakeholders at all levels of the organization. Ability to collaborate effectively with internal teams, external vendors, and business partners to deliver integrated solutions that meet business needs. Experience in facilitating workshops, meetings, and training sessions to foster collaboration, knowledge sharing, and skill development.

Change Management and Adaptability:

Proficiency in change management principles and practices to facilitate organizational change and adoption of new technologies.

Ability to adapt to evolving business requirements, market dynamics, and technology trends, and lead teams through periods of transition and transformation.

Quality Assurance and Risk Management:

Understanding of quality assurance processes, testing methodologies, and risk management practices to ensure the reliability, security, and performance of technology solutions. Experience in implementing robust security measures, data protection strategies, and compliance frameworks to mitigate risks and ensure regulatory compliance.

Continuous Learning and Development:

Commitment to continuous learning and professional development to stay abreast of industry developments, emerging technologies, and best practices.Willingness to mentor and coach team members, share knowledge and expertise, and foster a culture of learning and growth within the organization.