Powering the world’s payments ecosystem
ACI powers the payments ecosystem – globally, and you power ACI. You’ll innovate, collaborate, and grow – in an energetic technology culture with decades of proven success. ACIers – in all roles and levels – are truly your colleagues and many are your friends. Our size and reach allow you to see the global impact of your work. You are visible, your talents are valued, and you are empowered to shape the future of payments.
JOB PURPOSE
The Director, Software Engineering defines and executes engineering strategy for major product lines. This senior leadership position owns end-to-end delivery accountability for significant engineering organizations, drives technical excellence at scale, manages substantial budgets, and builds strategic partnerships that enable business success.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Strategic Leadership & Business Impact
Lead significant engineering organization of 30-60 engineers across 3-5 managers
Define and execute engineering strategy for major product lines
Own end-to-end delivery accountability with executive visibility
Manage substantial budget ($2M-$5M+) including headcount and operational expenses
Lead critical initiatives that directly impact business outcomes and revenue
Engineering Excellence & Organizational Development
Drive engineering excellence including architecture, quality, velocity, and reliability
Define engineering standards, practices, and methodologies for the organization
Build and scale high-performing engineering organization through strategic hiring
Develop leadership pipeline including managers and senior technical talent
Shape organizational culture emphasizing innovation, quality, and collaboration
Cross-Functional Partnership & Executive Communication
Build strategic partnerships with Product, Design, and other Engineering leaders
Present engineering strategy, progress, and recommendations to executive leadership
Collaborate with peers on enterprise initiatives and technical strategy
Drive adoption of AI-assisted development and transformative engineering practices
Represent engineering in customer and partner engagements as needed
QUALIFICATIONS
Education
Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or related field; Master's preferred
Equivalent experience (12+ years) may substitute for degree
Experience
10-15 years of software engineering or technology leadership experience
5+ years managing engineering managers and leading large team
Proven track record of delivering complex, enterprise-scale software products
Experience with P&L management, budget ownership, and resource planning
Payments, financial services, or regulated industry experience preferred
Technical Skills
Deep understanding of software architecture at enterprise scale
Expert knowledge of modern engineering practices and methodologies
Understanding of scalability, reliability, and performance at high scale
Knowledge of security, compliance, and regulatory requirements
Strong understanding of engineering metrics and organizational effectiveness
Proficiency in evaluating and adopting emerging technologies including AI/ML
Talented in AI tool adoption and integrating AI capabilities across systems
Leadership & Management Skills
Exceptional leadership and organizational transformation capabilities
Strategic vision with strong business acumen
Executive presence and communication skills
Proven ability to build and scale engineering organizations
Strong influence and partnership across all organizational levels
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
Experience leading engineering through company growth or transformation
Track record of technical innovation and competitive differentiation
Experience with M&A integration or organizational restructuring
Industry thought leadership through speaking or publications
Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis. This position does not offer sponsorship for employment visa status or work permit now or in the future.
In return for your expertise, we offer opportunities for growth, career development, and a competitive compensation and benefits package—all within an innovative and collaborative work environment.
Are you ready to help us transform the payments ecosystem? To learn more about ACI Worldwide, visit our web site at www.aciworldwide.com Job ID (Requisition #18897)
ACI Worldwide is an AA/EEO employer in the United States, which includes providing equal opportunity for protected veterans and individuals with disabilities, and an EEO employer globally.
Important Notice About Recruitment Scams
Job seekers should be aware of ongoing recruitment scams where individuals or organizations impersonate legitimate companies to offer fake job opportunities. These scams often involve requests for personal information, payments, or interviews through unofficial channels. Please be cautious and verify any communications claiming to be from our company (www.aciworldwide.com / @aciworldwide.com). The ACI Worldwide recruitment team will always follow official channels and will never request payment.
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Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or related field (or equivalent experience)
- Master's degree (preferred)
- 10-15 years of software engineering or technology leadership experience
- 5+ years managing engineering managers and leading large teams
- Proven track record delivering complex, enterprise-scale software products
- P&L management, budget ownership, and resource planning experience
- Payments, financial services, or regulated industry experience
- Deep understanding of software architecture at enterprise scale
- Expert knowledge of modern engineering practices and methodologies
- Understanding of scalability, reliability, and performance at high scale
- Knowledge of security, compliance, and regulatory requirements
- Proficiency in evaluating and adopting emerging technologies including AI/ML
- Experience driving AI tool adoption and integrating AI capabilities across systems
- Exceptional leadership, organizational transformation, and executive communication skills
- Must be currently authorized to work in the United States; does not offer sponsorship
ACI Worldwide Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about ACI Worldwide and has not been reviewed or approved by ACI Worldwide.
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Healthcare Strength — Health, dental, and vision coverage are complemented by HSA options, disability insurance, AD&D, and wellbeing programs. Offerings span core medical protection with added wellness support.
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Retirement Support — A 401(k) with company match and pension/retirement options support long‑term savings. Additional programs such as an employee stock purchase plan contribute to financial security over time.
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Flexible Benefits — A flexible, hybrid office culture with work‑from‑home options and adaptable schedules supports work‑life balance. Paid time off and country‑tailored packages allow alignment of benefits to local needs.
ACI Worldwide Insights
What We Do
ACI Worldwide is a global software company that provides mission-critical real-time payment solutions to corporations. Customers use our proven, scalable and secure solutions to process and manage digital payments, enable omni-commerce payments, present and process bill payments, and manage fraud and risk. We combine our global footprint with local presence to drive the real-time digital transformation of payments and commerce.
