Head of Engineering - Authentica Solutions

About Authentica Solutions

Authentica Solutions is a leading EdTech organization that aims to reimagine the education sector by providing innovative solutions that empower educators, students, and institutions. We are dedicated to enriching the educational landscape by providing cutting-edge solutions to K-12 institutions, Higher Education, MOE/DOEs (Ministries of Education/Departments of Education), EdTech Software Providers, and Strategic Partners. Our commitment to education goes beyond the conventional. We thrive on the opportunity to tackle intricate data issues and transform them into actionable insights that empower educators, administrators, and students alike. Our passion for data solutions knows no bounds as we work hand-in-hand with educational institutions and partners to create a brighter future through informed decision-making, innovation, and technological advancement.

Job Summary:

The Head of Engineering will lead and manage a dedicated engineering team responsible for the support, maintenance, and product updates of a client-owned solution, with a focus on monthly implementations and rollouts. This role will report to and work closely with the EVP of Product, who also serves as the General Manager for the client relationship, ensuring alignment of engineering efforts with the broader product and business strategy.

In this position, you will provide technical leadership, oversee product lifecycle management, and act as the primary engineering point of contact for the client. You will collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure timely, high-quality delivery of product updates while maintaining a robust, scalable, and secure technology environment that adheres to strict security protocols and regulatory compliance standards.

Your role will involve implementing and enforcing best practice methodologies across the development process, ensuring the team follows industry-standard practices in security, compliance, and performance optimization. You will manage risk, enhance team performance, and drive continuous improvements in processes and product outcomes. Clear and effective communication with both internal teams and client stakeholders is essential to the success of this role.

Key Responsibilities:

• Technical Leadership and Architecture:
  Oversee and provide strategic direction for all technical aspects, ensuring high-quality support, maintenance, and enhancements of the product using the .NET framework. Guide the technical vision and strategy for a scalable, secure, and compliant platform. Collaborate with senior engineers to define, design, and evolve the platform architecture, particularly in cloud infrastructure (Azure), databases, and possible data lakes as the platform and product grows. Mentor the engineering team in adhering to best practices, coding standards, and technical standards.

• Team and Engineering Management:
  Build, mentor, and lead a diverse engineering team, fostering a high-performance culture. Manage and coordinate the activities of developers, tester and technical staff to ensure smooth execution of monthly rollouts and implementations. Drive professional development and maintain high team morale, ensuring alignment with project timelines, task assignments, and deliverables.

• Product Roadmap and Release Planning:
  Collaborate with the Product team (EVP, Technical Business Analyst) to define the product roadmap and release schedule. Work closely with cross-functional teams to develop technical approaches, estimate level of effort, and deliver timely, high-quality product updates.

• Hands-on Engineering and Coding:
  Lead by example with hands-on development and architecture design. Contribute to coding in languages like .NET, C#, Python, and Typescript. Engage in code reviews, pair programming, and drive sprint-based development processes to ensure the team delivers secure and scalable solutions.

• Security and Compliance:
  Ensure the platform adheres to strict security protocols and regulatory compliance standards. Implement and enforce best practices across the technology stack, especially in cloud environments (Azure) and data management, to ensure a secure, reliable platform.

• Operational Excellence and Risk Management:
  Drive continuous improvement in engineering processes and practices, including deployment, monitoring, maintenance, and incident response. Proactively manage risks, troubleshoot complex technical issues, and improve system efficiency while reducing downtime.
• Quality Assurance and Product Maintenance:
  Oversee the delivery of product updates, bug fixes, and enhancements on a monthly release cycle. Implement quality control processes, including automated testing, to ensure that updates meet required standards before deployment, minimizing risks in rollouts.
• Cloud and Database Expertise:
  Leverage deep expertise in Azure cloud technologies and relational databases to ensure the platform is secure, scalable, and aligned with industry best practices.
• Collaboration and Stakeholder Management:
  Act as the primary point of contact between the EVP-Product/GM and internal teams, ensuring effective communication of requirements, expectations, and progress. Align with client teams on product updates, feature releases, and address any support issues efficiently.

• Trends and Innovation:
  Stay updated with industry standards and technological advancements to continually drive innovation, improve engineering output, and enhance platform resilience.
• Budget and Resource Management:
  Manage external resources or vendors as necessary, ensuring seamless integration and optimal project execution.

Technical Skills:

• Designing back-end database structures for the web applications and also generating stored procedures that are complex in nature for the software's maintenance purposes.
• Design, develop, and maintain software applications using ASP.NET MVC, ASP.NET Core, .NET 6, Angular, SQL Server, and Azure.
• Implement and manage backend solutions with SQL Server and MySQL.
• Develop front-end components with Angular, TypeScript, HTML, and JSON.
• Utilize Entity Framework and Dapper for ORM solutions and manage database interactions.
• Leverage Azure services for cloud-based solutions and deployment.
• Implement authentication, authorization, and security best practices.
• Develop SSRS reports and handle ETL processes as needed.
• Debug, troubleshoot, and resolve issues in software applications.
• Manage performance and optimize applications for efficiency and scalability.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure software quality and alignment with business goals.

Required Skills and Experience:

• 12+ years of experience in software design and development.
• Expertise in ASP.NET MVC, ASP.NET Core, .NET 6, Cosmos, Data Lakes, Angular, SQL Server, and Azure.
• Proficiency in TypeScript, HTML, and JSON.
• Knowledge of Entity Framework and Dapper for ORM.
• Experience with SSRS reporting and Power BI
• Deep understanding of authentication, authorization, and security practices and implementations.
• Deep experience with ETL tools and processes.
• Deep familiarity with Kendo UI HTML Framework.
• Good experience with mobile app development.
• Knowledge of continuous integration and source control systems (e.g., Git).
• Experience with JavaScript/JQuery and unit testing (xUnit, nUnit).

Qualifications:

• History of leading engineering teams across different skills sets and demonstrated acumen.
• A minimum of 10 years of senior level software architecture and development experience
• Deep knowledge and experience with agile development methodologies and common practices
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, including the ability to collaborate effectively with stakeholders.
• Strong strategic and analytical skills, with the ability to set clear priorities, delegate, and guide investment in people and systems.

Join Authentica Solutions and be part of a dynamic team that's shaping the future of education through data-driven insights. If you are passionate about solving complex problems, building scalable data platforms, and making a positive impact on education, we encourage you to apply! If you don't meet all the qualifications, but feel you are a strong candidate overall, please apply and tell us why.

Authentica Solutions is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status. We provide a workplace free from discrimination and harassment, and where employees an contractors are treated with respect and dignity. Our employment decisions are based on business needs, job requirements, and individual qualifications.

We encourage candidates from all backgrounds to apply, as we believe a diverse workforce brings a variety of ideas, perspectives, and experiences that enhance our ability to meet the needs of our customers and drive innovation.

Applicants must be authorized to work for any employer in the United States. We are unable to provide sponsorship or assume responsibility for employment Visa sponsorship.