Instrument is a design and technology company. We build brands, products, and experiences that move businesses forward—by making the complex simple.
For over 20 years, we’ve partnered with companies like Google, ServiceNow, Uber, Eventbrite, and ŌURA, helping them navigate change, launch new ideas, and grow with intention.
Our work spans Brand, Marketing, and Product, but what defines us is how we work. We bring strategy, design, and engineering together from the start, moving quickly from idea to execution and refining as we go. We aim to do great work and be great to work with, because both matter.
We’re a collaborative, hands-on team with roots in Portland and New York and a distributed presence across the U.S. and Europe. We build teams around the needs of the work, staying nimble without sacrificing craft.
We value curiosity, perspective, and continuous learning, and we’re committed to building an inclusive environment where people can do their best work.
If that sounds like you, we’d love to meet you.
We're looking for an Executive Technical Director to lead our engineering practice, guide technical strategy across complex digital experiences, and help define what an AI-enabled software organization looks like.
This is more than an engineering leadership role. You'll partner closely with creative, product, and delivery leaders to bring ambitious ideas to life while serving as the technical voice for enterprise clients. You'll set engineering direction, mentor senior technical leaders, and build the systems, processes, and teams that deliver exceptional work.
This role is ideal for someone who loves balancing strategic leadership with technical craft. You're just as comfortable discussing architecture with engineers as you are advising executive stakeholders. You stay close to emerging technology, especially AI, and know how to turn new capabilities into practical solutions that improve both client outcomes and the way teams work.
West coast candidates preferred.
What You'll Do
- Lead the technical vision for Wizard Studio, setting engineering standards, architecture direction, and delivery practices across the team.
- Serve as the senior technology partner for one of Instrument's most significant client relationships, building trusted partnerships with engineering and product leaders.
- Drive our evolution into an AI-first engineering organization by championing AI adoption, developing team capabilities, and identifying new ways AI can improve delivery.
- Guide technical strategy across complex digital products, helping teams make thoughtful decisions around architecture, scalability, performance, security, and maintainability.
- Partner closely with Delivery, Design, and Product leadership to shape technical approaches, staffing plans, project scopes, and long-term roadmaps.
- Mentor engineering managers and technical leads, fostering a culture of technical excellence, continuous learning, and inclusive leadership.
- Review technical scopes, estimates, and solution approaches, ensuring work is grounded in sound engineering and realistic planning.
- Build scalable engineering operations through reusable patterns, automation, AI-enabled workflows, and modern development practices.
- Stay ahead of emerging technologies and translate industry shifts into meaningful opportunities for both our clients and our engineering practice.
What You'll Bring
- Significant experience leading engineering organizations within a digital agency, consultancy, or product development environment.
- Deep expertise in modern software architecture, web technologies, cloud platforms, development workflows, and engineering best practices.
- Experience leading senior engineers and technical managers while building high-performing, collaborative teams.
- Demonstrated success translating business goals into scalable technical solutions and guiding organizations through technical transformation.
- Strong AI fluency and genuine curiosity about emerging technologies, with experience applying AI to engineering workflows and product development.
- Experience partnering directly with executive stakeholders and communicating complex technical concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences.
- A collaborative leadership style that balances technical excellence, business priorities, and team development.
- A hands-on mindset—you enjoy reviewing architecture, mentoring engineers, prototyping ideas, and helping teams solve difficult technical challenges.
- Experience working with enterprise clients and navigating large, cross-functional organizations is a plus.
Pay Range
- The expected pay range for this position is $200k-$280k. We have three regional pay ranges that are adjusted for cost of living (US1 +15%, US2 +7.5%, US3 Base), learn more about our pay philosophy and cost of living adjustments
What We Offer
- Medical, dental, and vision coverage
- 401k with employer matching
- Unlimited PTO + company wide closures
- Work From Home and Wellbeing monthly stipend
- HSA Employer Contribution
- Professional Development Stipend
- Paid Parental Leave
Flexible, Hybrid Work Environment
Great Compensation with Annual Reviews (Learn more about our Pay Philosophy)
401(k) Matching with Immediate Vesting
Robust Medical, Vision, and Accident Insurance
Generous Paid Holidays and unlimited PTO
Monthly Wellbeing Stipend
Career Management and Leadership Training
Skills Required
- Significant experience leading engineering organizations within a digital agency, consultancy, or product development environment
- Deep expertise in modern software architecture, web technologies, and cloud platforms
- Experience leading senior engineers and technical managers and building high-performing teams
- Proven ability to translate business goals into scalable technical solutions and lead technical transformation
- Strong AI fluency with experience applying AI to engineering workflows and product development
- Experience partnering with executive stakeholders and communicating complex technical concepts to technical and non-technical audiences
- Collaborative leadership style balancing technical excellence, business priorities, and team development
- Hands-on mindset: reviewing architecture, mentoring engineers, prototyping, and solving technical challenges
- Experience working with enterprise clients and navigating large, cross-functional organizations
What We Do
We’re a team of technologists, strategists, and creative problem solvers seeking to make a positive impact on your business and the world around us
