Senior Director, Engineer

DataKind is looking for a Senior Director, Engineering!

DataKind is seeking a Senior Director, Engineer to lead the technical strategy and execution for our education software products at DataKind. This is an exceptional opportunity for a technical leader who is eager to build from the ground up and has a high level of influence in creating software to support education. The ideal candidate will excel in ambiguous environments, creating structure and clarity while solving complex problems.

Location

Remote position available anywhere in the U.S. with working hours primarily between 8am-6pm Eastern Time.

Salary Range

The salary range is $170,000 - $190,000.

Actual salary within this range will be based on the candidate’s experience and internal salary equity scan of active employee(s) with similar role and experience.

About the Opportunity

Reporting to the Vice President, Technology, this role will oversee a team of data scientists and software engineers across our two major education products, providing technical leadership and strategic direction.

In this role, you’ll establish essential processes, infrastructure, and team structure to grow our technical capabilities. Working closely with our Education Programs, Customer Success, and Data Security/Compliance teams, you’ll ensure our software solutions meet our customer and funder needs, while also meeting the highest standards of data protection.

Core Responsibilities:

The Senior Director, Engineer will be responsible for the following in addition to any other project assigned by the Vice President, Technology:

Technical Infrastructure Design

• 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
• Create data governance frameworks that balance innovation with compliance requirements
• 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
• Make strategic decisions to prioritize development efforts that fulfill grant obligations while advancing product goals

Team Leadership & Collaboration

• Directly manage and mentor data scientists and software engineers for our education products
• Develop career growth paths, performance standards, and technical skill development for team members
• Lead hiring efforts to build out technical team capacity in alignment with strategic priorities
• Partner with Head of Education Programs 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
• Present technical strategies and progress to executive leadership and board members
• Serve as technical ambassador when engaging with educational partners and stakeholders

Resource Allocation and Growth Planning

• Develop realistic technical roadmaps that align with organizational resources and mission
• Create and manage engineering and data science budgets effectively
• Establish resource allocation frameworks across products to maximize overall impact
• Align technical planning and resource allocation with grant commitments and milestone requirements

Qualifications

Required

• Alignment and enthusiasm for DataKind’s mission and values
• 10+ years of software engineering or data science experience with at least 4-5 years in leadership roles
• Passion for educational mission and commitment to social impact
• Proven experience managing cross-functional technical teams including both software engineers and data scientists
• Experience building technical infrastructure and processes from the ground up in growing organizations
• Strong understanding of data science applications in software products and ability to evaluate data science work
• Track record of delivering software products with limited resources in lean/startup 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
• Experience balancing technical excellence with pragmatic solutions in a shifting work environment

Preferred

• 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
• Strong communication skills for engaging with non-technical stakeholders
• Master's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field

About DataKind

At DataKind, we believe in the transformative power of data science and AI to create a more promising future. Since our founding in 2012, we’ve been at the forefront of designing scalable, data-driven tools that address some of the world’s toughest challenges—ranging from frontline health, humanitarian action, climate and environment, economic opportunity, education, and more. As both a product innovator and a movement catalyst, we set new standards in the social sector, empowering organizations to harness the full potential of data science and AI while putting communities first.

Why Work with DataKind

At DataKind, we believe that people are the most important asset to delivering on our mission. As a people-first remote organization, we offer the following for all our employees:

• 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.
• Living our Values. DataKind is committed to a diverse, equitable and inclusive work environment in our day-to-day work and via special initiatives driven by our DEI Steering Committee.

Encouraging Applicants of All Backgrounds

We encourage people from all backgrounds to apply, especially people of color, people with disabilities, veterans, and members of the LGBTQ+ community.

DataKind is an equal opportunity employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other category/characteristics protected by law. No matter one’s background, all roles must value and advocate for inclusion and equity.

Applicants must have a U.S.-based permanent address and be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis indefinitely without employer visa sponsorship.

Why Work with DataKind

At DataKind, we believe that people are the most important asset to delivering on our mission. As a people-first remote organization, we offer the following for all our employees:

• 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.
• Living our Values. DataKind is committed to a diverse, equitable and inclusive work environment in our day-to-day work and via special initiatives driven by our DEI Steering Committee.