Director, Software Engineering
Confirmed on the employer's own hiring board on Oct 12, 2026. First seen by Alion on Jul 28, 2026. Mister Car Wash scores B on the Alion truth index.
We’re currently seeking a Director, Software Development to join our Headquarters team!
The Director, Software Engineering will be a strategic technology leader responsible for the design, development, and delivery of software platforms supporting both digital and in-store retail operations. This role oversees eCommerce platforms, while also driving engineering excellence across store systems, integrations, and internal applications.
This leader will inspire and develop highly performing engineering teams, driving the delivery of scalable, secure, and reliable solutions to enhance customer experiences, optimize store operations, and enable sustained business growth. Partners closely with cross-functional across Marketing, Operations, and other key functions to ensure technology solutions are aligned with enterprise priorities and to accelerate the modernization of the retail technology ecosystem.
What You Will Do:
Strategic Leadership:
Define and execute the technology strategy for software platforms, including eCommerce, integration, and backend services.
Identify and evaluate emerging technologies, architectures, and engineering practices to modernize the technology stack.
Drive standardize and promote reusable, platform-driven solutions across digital ecosystems, collaborating closely with store environments.
Promote a culture of engineering excellence, innovation, and continuous improvement.
Team Leadership & Development:
Lead, mentor, and grow a multidisciplinary engineering team (both internal and contractors).
Build capabilities across full-stack development, APIs, and enterprise integrations.
Establish clear performance expectations and career pathways.
Foster a collaborative, agile, and product-oriented engineering culture.
Software Engineering & Platform Delivery:
Oversee the design, development, and support of:
eCommerce platforms (web, mobile, APIs).
Integrations with Retail store systems (POS integrations, site systems, operational tools).
Internal applications and services supporting business operations.
Ensure systems are scalable, reliable, secure, and maintainable.
Drive engineering standards including coding practices, testing strategies, CI/CD, and release management.
Lead integration efforts across critical systems (CRM, POS, payments, data platforms, etc.).
Reduce technical debt and improve system performance and resilience.
Retail & Digital Experience Enablement:
Support digital customer journey initiatives including eCommerce and lifecycle engagement.
Partner with Store Operations and Business Intelligence to enhance in-store technology capabilities and connect digital + physical experiences.
Enable omnichannel experiences by collaborating with both Store Systems and Business Intelligence teams.
Budget & Resource Management:
Manage engineering budgets, vendor relationships, and resource planning.
Optimize team structure and sourcing strategy (internal vs. external).
Ensure efficient delivery against priorities and timelines.
Note: The job duties above provide a general sense of the role; though, additional duties may be assigned as necessary.
How You Will Shine:
Education:
Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Information Technology, or a related field, Master's degree preferred.
Experience:
10+ years of progressive experience in software engineering or technology leadership roles.
Experience leading engineering teams delivering both customer-facing and operational systems.
Experience in retail, multi-location environments, or transaction-based systems preferred.
5+ years experience with Agile/DevOps practices and modern engineering tooling.
Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities:
Strong communication and leadership skills.
Strong software engineering background across:
Backend services, APIs, and integrations.
Modern web/mobile development frameworks.
Cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP).
Experience building and supporting distributed systems and enterprise applications.
Familiarity with eCommerce platforms and digital customer experiences (important but not primary).
Experience integrating with systems such as POS, CRM, payments, ERP, or similar.
Solid understanding of digital marketing technologies (e.g., SEO, SEM, analytics, personalization engines, CDPs).
Strong understanding of system scalability, reliability, and security.
Experience with Agile/DevOps practices and modern engineering tooling.