About metacto
At metacto, we specialize in helping startups and growing companies build exceptional digital products through mobile and web app development and fractional CTO services. As Software Engineering Director, you’ll lead the engineering organization, set technical direction across multiple teams and managers, and shape how we build products at the forefront of AI-first development.
Job Overview
We’re seeking a Software Engineering Director who can run an engineering organization without losing the builder’s instinct. You’ll lead through managers and tech leads, set engineering strategy across a portfolio of teams, and stay close enough to the work to make sharp technical calls when it matters.
You’ll also define how an AI-first engineering organization actually operates — the tools, the standards, the workflows, and the cultural expectations that turn AI from a buzzword into a step-change in how we ship. This is an opportunity to shape an entire engineering function at the leading edge of how software gets built.
Responsibilities
Engineering Leadership & Org Building
- Lead an engineering organization spanning multiple teams, managers, and tech leads — own overall org health, performance, and delivery
- Coach and develop engineering managers and senior ICs; raise the bar on what leadership looks like at every level
- Own the engineering hiring strategy — define roles, calibrate the bar, and build a pipeline of senior, AI-native talent
- Design the org structure, career ladders, and operating rhythms that let teams move fast without breaking trust
Technical Direction & Delivery
- Set technical direction across the portfolio — architecture standards, platform choices, and the engineering principles teams build against
- Own delivery outcomes across concurrent client engagements and internal initiatives — set priorities, resolve cross-team dependencies, and keep the org shipping
- Step in as a hands-on technical leader when stakes are high — drive architecture decisions, debug critical production issues, or unblock a stuck workstream
- Spot organizational and technical risks early, communicate them clearly to executives, and course-correct before they become problems
AI-First Engineering Strategy
- Define what AI-first engineering means at metacto — the tools, workflows, evaluations, and standards every team operates against
- Drive measurable adoption of AI development tools across the org and quantify the impact on velocity, quality, and cost
- Stay hands-on with emerging AI tooling and translate it into practical, high-leverage applications for every team
- Champion the cultural shift to AI-native development — hiring, onboarding, code review, and performance expectations
Executive Partnership & Stakeholder Leadership
- Partner with executive leadership and client stakeholders to shape strategy, scope major engagements, and align engineering investment to business outcomes
- Represent engineering in the highest-stakes conversations — translate technical tradeoffs into business language and drive decisions at the C-level
- Own technical pre-sales, estimation, and architecture reviews for the most strategic new initiatives
- Collaborate across product, design, and revenue functions to keep the company moving in one direction
Requirements
- 10+ years of software engineering experience with 6+ years in engineering leadership, including managing managers
- Proven experience running an engineering organization of 20+ engineers across multiple teams or product areas
- Strong technical background in modern web and mobile development (React, React Native, Node.js, Python, AWS/GCP, or similar)
- Track record of setting technical direction at the organization level — architecture, platform, and engineering standards
- Demonstrated ability to hire, develop, and retain engineering managers and senior ICs
- Excellent executive communication — comfortable representing engineering to founders, C-suite, and client executives
- Deep understanding of AI development tools and a point of view on how to operationalize them across an engineering org
- Comfort operating with autonomy and ambiguity in a fast-paced, growth-stage environment
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience scaling engineering organizations in agency, consulting, or multi-client delivery environments
- Background in mobile app development with iOS (Swift) and Android (Kotlin) experience
- Hands-on experience with AI coding assistants like GitHub Copilot, Cursor, or Claude Code, and a track record of driving adoption at scale
- Experience building AI/ML products, including RAG systems, LLMs, or agent orchestration
- Previous experience standing up new engineering functions, practices, or geographies from scratch
- Familiarity with modern DevOps practices, infrastructure-as-code, and cloud-native architectures
Position Details
- Type: Full-Time
- Location: 100% Remote (US time zones preferred for client and executive collaboration)
Compensation & Benefits
- Base Salary Range: $160,000 - $200,000
At metacto, we believe that great work starts with a great workplace. We offer a competitive total rewards package that supports your well-being, growth, and financial security.
Our benefits include:
- 100% remote work with flexibility to manage your schedule
- Unlimited paid vacation to recharge and maintain work-life balance
- 401(k) plan with a 400% company match on the first 6% deferred
- Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance
- Health Savings Account (HSA) and Flexible Spending Account (FSA) options
- Group term life insurance, plus additional coverage options