Director of Software Engineering

Director of Software Engineering Information Technology POSTED: 5/14/2026 ABOUT CJA The New York City Criminal Justice Agency (CJA) is a not-for-profit service and research organization that operates in partnership with the New York City Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice. CJA is the City’s main pretrial services agency, combining operations, pilot projects, and research under one roof. CJA utilizes procedural justice practices to provide pretrial services to over 100,000 arrested annually in New York City. Information collected about these arrestees and subsequent case processing is maintained in the agency’s internal and externally shared database systems, which are used to conduct descriptive and evaluation research on arrestee characteristics, case processing and court outcomes, and on issues and potential reforms to criminal justice policy in New York City. CJA’s programs operate in the criminal courts and detention facilities 24 hours a day seven days a week within the 5 boroughs of NYC, employing over 300 employees, citywide. DEPARTMENT SUMMARY NYCJA’s Information Technology team provides strategic vision, leadership, and innovative solutions so that CJA’s internal and external stakeholders have the trusted data and applications they need to deliver high-quality IT solutions to support pretrial services and research. Our data platform powers operational decision-making that impacts individuals, programs, and city-wide strategy. Our systems and platform powers daily operations, and we are expanding our capabilities into a scalable cloud environment to support real-time data needs and long-term analytics and research. The Software Engineering team designs, builds, and operates secure, scalable applications that support the agency’s mission-critical criminal justice functions. The team delivers modern, reliable solutions through strong engineering practices, cloud-native architecture, and continuous improvement. Position Summary The Director of Software Engineering leads the design, delivery, and operation of CJA’s enterprise application platforms, ensuring secure, scalable, and reliable systems that support mission-critical operations. This role owns the full software development lifecycle and provides technical leadership across architecture, engineering standards, and delivery practices. Reporting to the Executive Director of IT, the Director is accountable for application performance, system reliability, and long-term platform sustainability. The role partners with business and IT leadership to translate operational needs into scalable solutions while balancing delivery speed, stability, and governance in a regulated, high-availability environment. Primary Responsibilities (Major Duties) Lead the design, delivery, and operation of enterprise application platforms, ensuring secure, reliable, and scalable systems that support mission-critical operations Own the full software development lifecycle, including application architecture, feature delivery, release management, and production readiness, ensuring coordinated deployment and reliable operation in partnership with Infrastructure teams Establish and enforce software engineering standards, best practices, and governance frameworks, including code quality, testing, CI/CD, and technical decision-making Ensure high availability and performance of applications supporting 24/7 operations, including monitoring, incident response, and continuous improvement of system stability Define and drive application architecture and modernization strategy, including cloud-native patterns, API-driven design, and containerized environments Lead and grow the Software Engineering team, including hiring, mentoring, and driving accountability for delivery, quality, and professional development Partner with executive leadership and business stakeholders to translate operational needs into scalable technical solutions Oversee software-related vendors, consultants, and service providers, ensuring alignment with engineering standards, delivery expectations, and cost management Contribute to IT strategy, roadmap planning, and cross-functional initiatives, collaborating with Data Platform, Infrastructure, and Solution Delivery teams Champion NYCJA’s values and principles. IDEAL CANDIDATES We are seeking a hands-on technical leader with experience building and operating enterprise application platforms in regulated, mission-critical environments. This role is responsible for leading and growing the Software Engineering team, with full accountability for delivery, system reliability, and long-term platform sustainability. The ideal candidate brings experience owning application systems at scale and has demonstrated the ability to set technical direction while maintaining strong execution. They are comfortable operating in complex environments, balancing competing priorities, and making sound trade-offs across speed, stability, and cost. This individual is an effective leader and collaborator, able to influence across teams and translate business needs into practical, scalable solutions. They operate confidently across application, data, and infrastructure domains and can align stakeholders toward common outcomes. Minimum Qualifications * Minimum of ten (10) years of progressively responsible experience in software development, including production systems Minimum of five (5) years leading software engineering teams with accountability for delivery and outcomes Demonstrated experience owning and operating application platforms in production environments Proven experience supporting high-availability or mission-critical systems Strong experience with cloud-based platforms and distributed systems (e.g., Azure, AWS, GCP) Experience working in containerized or cloud-native environments (e.g., Docker, Kubernetes or equivalent) Experience integrating enterprise systems and third-party platforms Strong communication and collaboration skills across technical and non-technical teams Experience working in regulated or high-accountability environments preferred Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent experience Ability to meet background check requirements and work within a hybrid schedule *Note: Internal applicants must be 1 year in their current roles and in good standing (no disciplinary action within the last 90 days) to apply. SALARY : 155k-185k, with generous benefits (salary commensurate with candidate’s experience and the CJA compensation framework) BENEFITS: CJA offers a very generous benefit plan including health, dental and vision insurance, a comprehensive mental health, and wellness, Employee Assistance Program (EAP) plan, four weeks’ vacation, paid holidays, and a retirement plan with employer matching contributions.  CJA is also strongly committed to professional learning and development for its staff members and offers staff varied opportunities for learning and development through partnerships and vendor services for web based, in-person professional development training, as well as in-house job training and development. HYBRID WORKSCHEDULE: M-F 9AM-5PM (T-Thurs in office/ Mon & Fri remote) CJA VALUES Each employee at CJA is guided by these values in our work: Commitment: We are active partners in criminal justice reform. Fairness: We are guided by fairness and the presumption of innocence for those who are detained and work with integrity and without bias to protect the privacy and interest of court-involved people and their families. Innovation: We value curiosity and use innovative techniques in research, pilot programs, and engaging justice-involved communities to reduce unnecessary pretrial detention. CJA is seeking applicants who pursue professional development pathways by participating in educational opportunities, reading professional publications, maintaining professional networks, and engaging with professional associations The New York City Criminal Justice Agency is an Equal Opportunity Employer CJA is committed to creating a diverse work environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, sex, gender identity, religion, sexual orientation, age, disability, parental status, veteran status, or any other protected status under applicable laws. We encourage individuals of all backgrounds to apply. *Note: Only those candidates being considered will be contacted.