Lead DevOps Engineer

Position Summary

We’re looking for a Lead DevOps Engineer to play a key role in driving the delivery, performance, and reliability of our Guidewire insurance platforms. In this role, you’ll sit at the intersection of development, operations, and security-helping accelerate software delivery while ensuring stable, scalable infrastructure.

As a technical leader, you’ll define the DevOps vision by shaping architecture, establishing roadmaps, and continuously improving our CI/CD pipelines, automation strategy, and environment governance. You’ll partner closely with engineering and business teams to identify bottlenecks, streamline workflows, and implement solutions that enhance speed and quality across the software lifecycle.

This is an opportunity to make a lasting impact-mentoring team members, setting engineering standards, and leading initiatives that modernize how we build, deploy, and maintain applications at scale.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• The Lead DevOps engineer and their teams streamline the software development lifecycle to improve developer productivity, delivery speed, and code quality. Key responsibilities include automating delivery processes and maintaining the continuous integration and continuous deployment (CI/CD) pipeline
• Own the lifecycle management of Jenkins including backups, upgrades, plugin management, and pipeline stability.
• Automate database restore jobs, patch pipelines, backups, and data integrity processes.
• Engineer Guidewire build and deployment pipelines, configuration scripts, and environment management.
• Administer secrets, credentials, and secure runtime configurations across environments to minimize deployment risks.
• Automate production releases, maintenance, and service orchestration to minimize downtime.
• Maintain and enhance Enterprise Data Warehouse (EDW) and Extract, Transform, and Load (ETL) automation processes.
• Implement Infrastructure-as-Code using tools such as Terraform and Ansible.
• Lead and Support containerization and orchestration technologies.
• Enhance monitoring, alerting, and reliability engineering.
• Collaborate with development, QA, and operations teams on delivery and architecture practices.
• Provide Technical Leadership on DevOps best practices, security standards, and Guidewire platform updates.

MINIMUM REQUIRED EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field or equivalent experience.
• 4+ years relevant experience, including experience in:
  • Deployment/configuration in Jenkins
  • Network infrastructure, database, cloud and data center operations and security protocols
  • Programming and scripting languages like Python, Perl, Bash, PHP, Java, SQL, Groovy, or C++
• 5+ years hands on full SDLC software development (with experience in JAVA preferred)

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

• Strong knowledge of CI/CD pipeline design and automation, including build, test, deployment, and rollback workflows.
• Working knowledge of Java-based application runtimes and configuration/deployment models.
• Working knowledge of relational databases and SQL, including automation of database restores, data integrity processes, and deployment-related operations
• Strong knowledge of source code management systems (e.g., Git) and modern branching and merging strategies
• Ability to automate infrastructure, environments, and operational tasks using scripting and Infrastructure-as-Code concepts. Proficiency in scripting and automation languages such as Shell, Python, PowerShell, or Groovy.
• Knowledge of secure environment and secrets management practices across multiple environments.
• Ability to integrate quality controls and test automation into CI/CD workflows in agile delivery environments.
• Knowledge of IT operations, monitoring, alerting, and incident response concepts supporting production reliability.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision, proactively manage workload, and remain fully engaged during scheduled work hours. Good communication skills for coaching and cross-team influence will be critical.

PREFERRED REQUIRED EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

• Familiarity with agile methodologies. PMI-ACP certification is a plus
• Experience in working within AWS infrastructure
• Experience using Aurora/Postgres is a plus
• Experience in the property and casualty insurance industry is a plus

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: This position requires the ability to sit, hear, converse over the telephone, and key frequently on a computer for long periods of time.

Why work with TWIA?

The Association offers a comprehensive and competitive benefits package designed to support both your professional success and personal well-being. A key highlight of our offering is a fully remote work environment, allowing you to contribute from home with no relocation required.

In addition to our benefits, Texas Windstorm Insurance Association fosters a collaborative and mission-driven work environment where employees are valued, supported, and encouraged to grow. Our teams work closely across departments, promoting transparency, innovation, and a shared commitment to serving our policyholders and communities.

Employees also enjoy:

• Comprehensive medical, dental, vision, group life, AD&D, and dependent life insurance coverage
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) and Health Savings Accounts (HSA)
• A 401(k) retirement plan with employer matching contributions up to 6%, in addition to a pension plan
• Performance-based incentives, ongoing training and professional development, and certification support
• Generous paid time off, including vacation, sick leave, paid holidays, and personal days
• Flexible scheduling to support work-life balance