Director, Engineering

Summary

Join DataKind as their Director, Engineer to spearhead the technical strategy and execution of their education software products. This role demands a technical leader comfortable with hands-on engineering and providing technical guidance. The ideal candidate thrives in ambiguous situations, creating structure and clarity while directly contributing to code and resolving complex technical challenges. This remote position, based anywhere in the U.S., offers a salary range of $150,000-$170,000. You will report to the Vice President, Technology and be deeply involved in the day-to-day technical work, establishing processes and infrastructure. Collaboration with various teams is crucial to ensure software solutions meet customer and funder needs.

Requirements

• Alignment and enthusiasm for DataKind’s mission and values
• 8+ years of hands-on software engineering or data science experience with 2-3 years in technical leadership roles
• Passion for educational mission and commitment to social impact
• Strong full-stack development skills with experience in modern web technologies, databases, and cloud platforms
• Experience with data science workflows, including model development, deployment, and evaluation
• Strong understanding of data science applications in software products and ability to evaluate data science work
• Proven track record of building and shipping software products in resource-constrained environments
• Experience implementing agile methodologies suited to small, remote flexible teams
• Demonstrated ability to translate mission-oriented goals into technical execution plans
• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Data Science, or related field
• Strong problem-solving skills and ability to work independently in ambiguous situations

Responsibilities

• Architect and build scalable technical solutions for our education products from the ground up
• Write production code and lead critical technical implementations across the full stack
• Design and implement core features, APIs, and data processing pipelines
• Debug and optimize system performance and resolve complex technical challenges
• Conduct code reviews and establish technical standards through example and direct contribution
• Establish scalable technical architecture and infrastructure to support the development and scale of our education products
• Design and implement standardized development processes, coding standards, and quality assurance practices
• Oversee the full software development lifecycle across multiple education products simultaneously
• Balance feature development with technical debt management and platform stability
• Implement metrics and analytics frameworks to measure product success and inform development priorities
• Directly manage and mentor data scientists and software engineers for our education products
• Partner with Head of Education Programs and Director, Product Management to translate educational needs into technical requirements and solutions
• Work closely with Customer Success to incorporate user feedback into technical planning
• Collaborate with Data Security and Compliance teams to ensure adherence to education-specific regulations
• Develop realistic technical roadmaps that align with organizational resources and mission
• Establish resource allocation frameworks across products to maximize overall impact
• Align technical planning and resource allocation with grant commitments and milestone requirements

Preferred Qualifications

• Understanding of the unique technical challenges in nonprofit space
• Experience in education technology or working with educational institutions
• Knowledge of education data privacy regulations (FERPA, COPPA, etc.)
• Background in scaling technical products from early stage to wider adoption
• Familiarity with data infrastructure needed for educational software products
• Ability to directly contribute to data science implementations and model development
• Strong communication skills for engaging with non-technical stakeholders

Benefits

• Flexibility and time off . Enjoy genuine flexibility that goes beyond adjustable hours. We build in shared time off, organization-wide recharge days, bi-weekly meeting-free days, and flexible PTO (with a minimum of 20 vacation days encouraged annually)
• Comprehensive Wellness Support . We care for your total wellbeing with 100% employer-paid medical, vision, and dental benefits for employees (72% for dependents), a wellness reimbursement program for the activities and purchases that matter to you, and 12 weeks paid parental leave when you need it most
• A Culture of Growth . Every team member receives professional development funding each year, alongside mentorship and advancement opportunities. We invest in your future with a 401(k) plan with 5% employer matching
• Meaningful Connection . Despite being distributed across time zones, we value being able to come together in person for conferences, strategic planning, and at our annual staff retreat