Director, Software Engineering – Team Art Locker Platform

Varsity Brands

. Build, coach, develop, and retain a high-performing backend engineering team .

Posted 9/30/2026full-timeRemote • United StatesLeadWebsite

Core Competencies

Role fit

Core Competencies

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Demonstrates expertise in building and leading high-performing backend engineering teams, with a strong focus on structured onboarding, mentorship, and performance management. Proficient in modern server-side web application engineering, CI/CD practices, and incident response for customer-facing production systems.

Highest-signal resume keywords

Team LeadershipBackend EngineeringCI/CD PracticesIncident ResponseAgile Delivery

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills

Software EngineeringBackend DevelopmentPHPSymfonyMySQLReactAWSAutomated TestingObservabilityRoot-Cause Analysis

Soft Skills

CoachingMentorshipPerformance ManagementCommunicationCollaboration

Certifications & Qualifications

Bachelor’s Degree in Computer ScienceMaster’s Degree in Computer Science

Industry Keywords

Agile DeliveryCode ReviewProduction SupportTechnical DirectionBusiness-Critical Systems

Tech Stack

Tools & technologies

AWSMySQLPHPReactSymfony

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Build, coach, develop, and retain a high-performing backend engineering team
Design and run structured onboarding for new hires and recently converted contractors
Create individualized development plans, mentorship pairings, growth paths, and succession depth
Establish and reinforce code review, automated testing, CI/CD, observability, documentation, and secure development practices
Build learning loops through design review forums, pairing, tech talks, and shared standards
Translate senior-architect technical direction into daily team practices
Lead backend delivery workstreams, including QOE→VOE and CC→VOE migrations, core services, and API work
Run sprint planning, capacity management, dependency coordination, and blocker removal
Monitor delivery health and quality and improve predictability
Ensure production support, incident response, and blameless root-cause analysis
Partner with senior architects, Product Management, Security, Quality Engineering, and business stakeholders
Report delivery status, team health, risks, and capacity to the SVP

Requirements

What you’ll need

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Information Systems, or a related technical discipline; equivalent combination of education and relevant experience will also be considered
8+ years of software engineering experience, including 4+ years directly leading, coaching, and developing software engineers on business-critical systems
Proven track record building, developing, and retaining engineering teams
Skilled at structured onboarding, mentorship, individualized development planning, and performance management
Solid grounding in modern server-side web application engineering
Comfortable working in a PHP/Symfony, MySQL, React, and AWS environment, or able to quickly become credible in new stacks
Understanding of CI/CD, automated testing, observability, and secure development
Experience with disciplined Agile delivery across concurrent workstreams
Experience operating customer-facing production systems, including incident response and root-cause analysis
Experience partnering with Product Management, Architecture, and Security functions
Hands-on engineering background sufficient to review code and designs and coach on engineering craft
Master’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Business Administration, or a related field preferred

Benefits

Comp & perks

Comprehensive Health Care Benefits
HSA Employer Contribution/ FSA Opportunities
Wellbeing Program
401(k) plan with company matching
Company paid Life, AD&D, and Short-Term Disability
Generous My Time Off & Paid Holidays
Varsity Brands Ownership Program
Employee Resource Groups
Access to Financial Coaching and member-owned Credit Union
St. Jude Partnership & Volunteer Opportunities
Employee Perks including discounts on personal apparel and equipment!