Chicago - Director, Data and Software Engineering

ABOUT US
For Business Professionals, Winston & Strawn presents an exciting opportunity to be a part of a leading global law firm. With our commitment to excellence, diversity, a collaborative work environment, and an emphasis on professional growth, Winston offers a platform for individuals seeking to advance their careers in a dynamic and rewarding environment. Winston is known for its collaborative and collegial culture. We believe teamwork is an essential component in providing high-quality legal services and we value the talents and skills of our entire business professional team.

POSITION SUMMARY
This leadership role is responsible for the strategy, delivery, and evolution of the firm's data platform and custom software solutions. The Director will lead multidisciplinary teams in data engineering and software engineering to deliver innovative, secure, and scalable solutions tailored to the firm's global legal operations. This role will work closely with the Managing Director of the department as well as the Director of Enterprise Applications and others in IS leadership on the firm's build versus buy determinations, data and application architectures, and operational support frameworks to build cohesion across platforms and solutions, ensuring a unified technology framework that is aligned with the firm's overall strategic direction.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Responsibility for all operational and strategic aspects of the following areas of technology:
  • data infrastructure and frameworks, data integrations and data warehouse / lake / marts
  • custom applications, intranet and collaboration platforms, low-code / no-code workflow platforms
• Responsibility for any custom solutions and automations engineered by the firm as directed by IS senior leadership when commercial off-the-shelf solutions do not meet the firm's business requirements or fit within our technology strategy, or commercial solutions requiring additional application or data engineering efforts to operate within the firm's complex environment

STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT

• In coordination with IS Leadership, partner with operations and practice stakeholders across the firm to build and manage technology strategies and roadmaps that serve the evolving priorities and operational challenges of the business
• In coordination with the Director of Enterprise Applications, present regularly to department and firm leadership on the health and maturity of the portfolio, building an understanding in the business of the value of technology investments, as well as opportunities for improved efficiency and capabilities
• In coordination with leadership across the firm, advance the practice of data governance and standards, focusing on key business taxonomies, data quality methodologies, and modern data integration practices

LEADERSHIP

• Manage multidisciplinary teams of engineers in the areas of data engineering, software engineering and low-/no-code automation
• Optimize the structure of teams and collaboration processes, focused on transparency, discipline, agile methodologies and continuous improvement
• Strategically leverage outsourced engineering services to ensure scalability, performance and best-in-class delivery for specialized and critical projects
• Ensure collaboration with product teams supporting off-the-shelf applications to guarantee robust interoperability and shared standards
• Inspire teams to deliver and innovate with purpose, focused on customer satisfaction, through coaching, feedback and metrics
• Ensure adoption of modern engineering practices across all disciplines, including AI-enabled development and data-driven decision making

ENGINEERING FRAMEWORK AND STRATEGY

• In collaboration with architecture and infrastructure teams, define and execute strategy for scalable, best-in-class enterprise data platforms and integrations and custom development architecture, ensuring robust integration with enterprise systems including HR, finance, marketing, and legal
• Align data systems strategy and custom solutions with firmwide digital transformation initiatives
• Advance all DataOps and DevOps practices in line with industry best practices
• Ensure compliance with data privacy and security regulations
• Manage vendor relationships and evaluate emerging technologies that enhance the firm's data and software capabilities and developer experience

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree in computer science, engineering, or a related technical field required, advanced degree preferred
• 15+ years in data engineering, data science, systems architecture, software engineering or enterprise integration required
• 7+ years in leadership roles managing global, cross-functional engineering teams including both data engineers and software engineers required
• Experience in law, legal services, or professional services preferred
• Must live within a commutable distance to the firm office with the ability to come into the required office 3-4 days per week

COMPETENCIES

• Experience coaching, mentoring and developing high-performing, diverse teams
• Experience attracting, hiring retaining and leading top engineering talent
• Experience in an IT department of a professional service organization
• Experience driving enterprise-wide technology transformations and delivering measurable business impact
• Proven success delivering enterprise data programs
• Proven success delivering custom business solutions
• Deep expertise in modern data and software engineering frameworks and practices (e.g., cloud-native architecture, modern application design, CI/CD, DevOps, data mesh).
• Experience with Agile, Scrum or other rapid application development methodologies
• Strong understanding of data governance, security, and compliance

BENEFITS

Winston offers comprehensive benefits that provide a full spectrum of coverage and support for our full-time employees and their families. Additional information about benefits and rewards can be found here.

SALARY

The target annual salary range for this role is currently $235,000 - $270,000 based on a regular, full-time schedule. The amount of compensation offered will be determined by several factors, including but not limited to experience, qualifications, market data and internal equity. Total compensation includes a comprehensive healthcare benefits package, yearly retirement contribution, and may include an annual discretionary merit bonus.

We are an equal opportunity employer and welcome applicants from all backgrounds and experiences. #LI-DC2