Senior Director Software Engineering

Senior Director Software Engineering

At Johnson Outdoors, home to some of the world's most innovative and best-known outdoor recreation brands, we create amazing outdoor experiences - for adventurers, by adventurers. Check out each of the unique Johnson Outdoor brands in Fishing, Watercraft, Camping and Diving!

We are seeking a highly skilled Senior Director Software Engineering to provide strategic leadership and direction for software engineering, driving innovation software solutions that power our diverse consumer product portfolio. With 1,300 employees, 19 global facility locations and selling into over 80 countries, the Senior Director Software Engineering will oversee the development, integration and optimization of software systems across a variety of different product lines. This role will report directly to the Chief Engineering & R/D Officer of Johnson Outdoors and be based out of our Alpharetta, GA location.

About the Role:

The person in this role drives the strategic vision for software engineering, collaborates with senior leadership and ensures alignment with business objectives.

Leadership and Strategy:

• Sets the strategic direction for the software engineering organization, ensuring alignment with the overall business goals of the company, in collaboration with senior leadership.
• Provides thought leadership in adopting new technologies and engineering practices to deliver world-class software solutions across multiple product lines.
• Ensures software engineering initiatives are executed efficiently, with a focus on scalability, reliability, and customer satisfaction.

Technical Oversight:

• Oversees the design, development, and implementation of complex software systems that support product functionalities across various business units.
• Drives the development of secure, high-performance, and maintainable systems that meet both current and future business needs.
• Leads efforts to integrate software systems across multiple platforms and business units, ensuring seamless and efficient operations.
• Provides deep technical expertise in architecture, system design, and software development best practices.

Cross-Functional Collaboration:

• Works closely with other senior leaders including but not limited to product management, operations, and IT, to ensure alignment of software engineering efforts with business priorities.
• Collaborates with marketing, customer service, and other functions to understand user needs, and translate those insights into innovative software solutions.
• Partners with business leaders to develop roadmaps and deliver software solutions that drive growth and efficiency.

Team Development and Mentorship:

• Builds and nurtures a high-performing, cross-functional engineering team through recruitment, mentorship, training, and career development programs.
• Fosters an environment of continuous learning and improvement, ensuring the team stays up to date with the latest software engineering trends and technologies.
• Establishes clear performance metrics and provide regular feedback to team members, encouraging innovation and accountability.
• Promotes a culture of innovation within the software engineering team by encouraging experimentation and creative problem-solving.
• Leads the evaluation and adoption of emerging technologies to enhance the company's competitive edge in the consumer products industry.

Resource Management:

• Optimize resource utilization across global teams, ensuring that the team can deliver on its commitments while maintaining a balance between cost and quality.

Other:

• Performs other duties as assigned.

Supervisory/Management Responsibilities:

• Prepares and approves department budgets while ensuring budgets are managed within approved guidelines.
• Develops and approves departmental policies, procedures, and guidelines to meet business needs.
• In partnership with human resources, performs human resources responsibilities for staff which includes but is not limited to the following: hiring and terminating employees, promotions/pay adjustments, staff development, performance evaluations, resolution of employee concerns and disciplinary counseling.

What you need to succeed:

• Typically requires a bachelor's degree in computer science, electrical engineering, electronic technology or equivalent
• Typically requires a minimum of 10 years of engineering leadership experience which includes providing leadership over multiple engineering disciplines, overseeing complex, innovation driven engineering projects, and successfully overseeing the design and development of products aligned with organizational strategy. Consumer durable goods industry experience is required including integrated hardware, software, firmware, and mobile application systems.

• Strong expertise in software development methodologies, and a deep understanding of software architecture, design patterns, and system scalability.
• Successful experience developing and implementing strategic processes and improvements.
• Expertise in overseeing/directing project management from concept development to implementation and evaluation. Demonstrated leadership skills and abilities to effectively provide direction, guidance, and motivation to a team as well as produce quality and profitable results.
• General business acumen that demonstrates an understanding of the impact that product costs, schedule commitment, and high quality have on the success of a product as well as the overall profitability of the company.
• Expert-level knowledge of developing software systems for embedded microprocessor applications, programming languages such as C/C++, software system architectural design, user-interface design (Graphical User Interface), graphics processing, DSP programming, software development tools and hardware diagnostics tools. Knowledge and leadership in sonar data processing, wired and wireless communications protocols (connected devices/networks), User Experience (UX), Linux, navigation (GPS), cartography, database SQL, web services/mobile apps, game development, real-time data processing, underwater communications protocols, software testing, and AI.
• Exceptional leadership and people management skills to manage and mentor teams, set vision and strategy and drive execution.
• Excellent verbal and written communication and interpersonal skills to effectively partner with multiple departments internally to successfully bring products to market and collaborate with external vendors as needed.

• Demonstrated proficiency in the Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, and PowerPoint) or similar products.

A few pointers about our culture:

• Entrepreneurial spirit and innovation are in our bones! We authentically innovate trusted equipment that gets people out in the great outdoors.
• We are laser-focused on our consumers, and passionate about providing superior solutions flexible to meet any event's needs or mission requirements.
• We strive to create meaningful, healthy change in the world as individuals and as a family of brands.
• We value team members who are willing to wear many hats; who take personal initiative, anticipating what needs to be done, and figuring things out to make them happen; but who are also willing to ask help, to assist others and work together.

What you will receive:

• Share in the company's success with competitive base salary with additional earning potential through participation in the management bonus program, and eligibility for annual pay increases.
• Find work/life balance with generous Paid Time Off and holiday benefits, a full benefits package, and broad range of employee support and fitness and wellness plans.
• Further your career with performance development and training opportunities, including our tuition assistance program.
• Have fun at work, enjoying a collaborative and casual work environment, participating in fun company events, and taking advantage of great employee discounts on all our outdoor recreational products.
• Plan for your future with our 401(k) with company match and deferred retirement contributions, Sons & Daughters Scholarship program, college savings program, life and LTD insurance, and more.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment at Johnson Outdoors (and all subsidiaries) without regard to race; creed; color; religion; national origin; sex; age; disability; sexual orientation; gender identity or expression; genetic predisposition or carrier status; veteran, marital, or citizenship status; or any other status protected by law. Johnson Outdoors is proud to be an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer. If, because of a medical condition or disability, you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application process, please contact Human Resources at HRSpecialAccommodations@johnsonoutdoors.com to let us know the nature of your request and your contact information.

JOHNSON OUTDOORS is a leading global innovator of outdoor recreation equipment and technologies that inspire more people to experience the awe of the great outdoors. The company designs, manufactures and markets a portfolio of winning, consumer-preferred brands across four categories: Watercraft Recreation, Fishing, Diving and Camping. Johnson Outdoors' iconic brands include: Old Town canoes and kayaks; Ocean Kayak; Carlisle paddles; Minn Kota fishing motors, batteries and anchors; Cannon downriggers; Humminbird marine electronics and charts; SCUBAPRO dive equipment; Jetboil outdoor cooking systems. Founded in 1970 by Samuel C. Johnson, the Company has delivered double-digit compound annual growth over its history, evolving from a single brand into a nearly $663 million global enterprise with around 1,300 employees across 20 countries.