AVP OF SOFTWARE ENGINEERING

We currently have a new career opportunity for a full-time AVP of Software Engineering based out of our corporate office (Enterprise) in Appleton! After initial onboarding onsite, this position could have the opportunity for hybrid (3+ days onsite/week, 2 remote) work consideration. However, candidates must reside in Wisconsin to be considered.

The AVP of Software Engineering leads the evolution of our software engineering discipline and drives the credit union’s AI strategy. This role blends hands‑on engineering with strategic leadership—designing modern architectures, building AI‑enabled solutions, and shaping the engineering culture that will power Fox’s next decade of growth. You will serve as a player‑coach: writing production‑quality code, guiding engineers, and setting the vision for AI, automation, and integration across the enterprise. You will partner closely with business and technology leaders to deliver scalable, secure, and innovative solutions that create meaningful member and employee impact.

The primary responsibilities of the AVP of Software Engineering role include but are not limited to:

Engineering Leadership & Team Development

• Promoting and upholding the Fox Purpose, Mission, Vision, and Values
• Hiring, monitoring, and supporting development for the IT Software Engineering team, providing daily performance and growth and development coaching to team members
• Building a culture of innovation, accountability, and continuous improvement
• Maintaining and evolving engineering career paths, and establishing a regular growth and development cadence
• Managing team priorities, capacity, and delivery commitments

AI Strategy & Intelligent Automation

• Defining and owning Fox’s AI vision, roadmap, and adoption strategy
• Building AI-enabled solutions, including agents, copilots, intelligent workflows, and automation patterns
• Developing proof of concept opportunities to demonstrate feasibility and business value
• Evaluating emerging AI technologies and recommend investments aligned to strategic goals
• Establishing best practices for responsible AI development, governance, and model lifecycle management

Software Engineering Excellence

• Architecting, designing, and delivering high‑quality software solutions using modern engineering practices
• Writing and reviewing production code as a hands‑on technical leader
• Defining and implementing engineering standards, patterns, and SDLC practices
• Leading the creation of a Software Engineering Center of Excellence (CoE) to drive consistency, quality, and innovation
• Implementing application monitoring, alerting, and operational KPIs to ensure reliability and performance

Integration Architecture & Platform Ownership

• Owning the design, implementation, and evolution of Fox’s enterprise integration platform, including the enterprise service bus (ESB)
• Defining integration standards, reusable patterns, and governance models
• Ensuring integrations are scalable, secure, and aligned with enterprise architecture

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partnering with product, architecture, infrastructure, data, and security teams to deliver cohesive solutions
• Working with business stakeholders to define requirements, scope, and priorities
• Translating business needs into technical strategies that deliver measurable value
• Maintaining application roadmaps and communicate future capabilities to stakeholders

Compliance, Security & Risk Management

• Ensuring all software and AI solutions comply with credit union regulations, privacy requirements, and security best practices
• Conducting code reviews, vulnerability assessments, and secure development practices
• Partnering with Information Security to ensure alignment with enterprise risk frameworks

What Success Looks Like

• A modern, scalable engineering practice with strong standards and predictable delivery
• AI capabilities embedded across the organization, improving member experience and operational efficiency
• A high‑performing engineering team that is engaged, innovative, and continuously developing
• A robust integration platform that accelerates digital transformation
• Strong partnerships across business and technology teams, grounded in trust and transparency
• Healthy Engineering team-culture, driven by a mindset of collective success and skill development

Candidates for the AVP of Software Engineering position should possess:

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or related field. Master’s degree is a plus
• Desired: Certified Scrum Master (CSM), Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO)
• Desired: Cloud Certifications (AWS, Azure)
• Ten plus years of experience in software engineering with significant hands-on development experience
• Five plus years in technical leadership role (Engineering Manager, Senior Manager, Director)
• Practical experience with AI development, automation, and RPA
• Strong understanding of cloud-native architectures, Dev Ops, and CI/CD practices
• Experience in credit union operations and regulatory compliance is desirable
• Exposure and experience with financial industry specific applications
• Knowledge of financial services products and member engagement strategies

Technical Expertise:

• Experience developing or integrating AI/LLM powered solutions into production systems
• Experience implementing or modernizing an enterprise service bus or iPaaS platform
• Understanding of cloud platforms (e.g., Azure, AWS)
• Track record of leading teams that successfully balance delivery and technical excellence
• Proficiency in modern programming languages and frameworks (e.g., Python, TypeScript/JavaScript, Java, C#, SQL, PowerShell, YAML/JSON)
• Experience with integrating and developing with SDKs and APIs from vendor platforms
• Strong understanding of software engineering best practices and Agile methodologies
• Excellent interpersonal skills, with the ability to communicate effectively at all levels of the organization
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities, with keen attention to detail
• Strong math skills and the ability to create and monitor budgets
• Sound judgment and the ability to make informed decisions while working independently and collaboratively in a team environment
• Excellent communication, collaboration, leadership and soft skills
• Ability to translate complex business requirements into actionable technical solutions

Fox Communities Credit Union is an over $3 billion in assets community-based credit union serving more than 130,000 members at over 20 locations. We take pride in being a progressive, member-owned, full service financial institution dedicated to serving the community.

Fox Communities Credit Union believes our team members are our most important asset. We offer a great team environment, competitive salary and an excellent benefit package which includes, medical, dental, vision, life, short term and long-term disability insurance, 401k (Roth and Traditional), which includes company contributions including match, paid time off and caregiver leave! As part of our commitment to the communities we serve we also offer all team members Paid Volunteer Time Off! If you are enthusiastic about a rewarding career with a successful & growing credit union, apply now!

Equal Opportunity Employer of Protected Veterans, and Individuals with Disabilities.