CVS Health

Lead Director, Software Development Engineering

CVS Health$144K — $288K *
Information Technology
8 - 10 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 10+ years as a hands-on software development engineer
  • 5+ years designing & building high-volume distributed software systems
  • 5+ years recruiting, managing, and retaining high-performing software teams in agile environments
  • 2+ years developing containerized software applications in public cloud
  • 2+ years in analytics, data engineering, and machine learning lifecycles
  • 2+ years designing, building, and operating real-time streaming systems
  • 1+ year managing engineering managers
  • 1+ year using generative AI in software solutions
  • 1+ year in the healthcare or health insurance industry

Responsibilities

  • Provide technical oversight for complex distributed systems in a fast-paced analytics organization
  • Direct and support data, software, and ML engineers, ensuring best-in-class solutions
  • Monitor and optimize team and system performance, establishing relevant KPIs and OKRs
  • Recruit, manage, and mentor a high-performing engineering team, fostering a supportive culture
  • Lead teams through strategy and delivery in complex engineering projects
  • Guide team prioritization in alignment with strategic objectives, facilitating necessary pivots
  • Collaborate with cross-functional technical teams to develop compliant solutions
  • Build effective relationships with partners and customers to help fulfill their vision
  • Proactively identify and mitigate internal and external risks, communicating progress to stakeholders
  • Stay current on industry trends and technologies to drive innovation.

Benefits

  • Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage
  • Paid time off to support work-life balance
  • Retirement savings options to secure financial future
  • Wellness programs to enhance physical and emotional well-being
  • Additional resources designed to support employee families.
Full Job Description
Position Summary

Our Analytics Engineering team within the Data & Analytics division of our Data, Digital, Analytics, Technology (DDAT) organization is seeking a Lead Director, Software Development Engineering. We are looking for passionate, driven individuals who are ready to lead a team of analytics engineers (software, ML, data) who support Aetna's data science teams. Our work ensures that we apply the tools and resources at our disposal to deliver a best-in-class experience for our members, providers and plan sponsors.

This leadership role has a broad technical portfolio of data, analytics, software and machine learning assets that ensure our teams are able to build and deploy intelligence at scale across batch and real-time use cases. As the healthcare landscape evolves and changes, our team's work is a crucial part of the overall CVS Health mission: transforming care to drive superior health outcomes and a seamless patient and consumer experience.

As a Lead Director, you will be responsible for guiding teams as they build best-in-class applications that integrate advanced analytics capabilities (predictive models, LLMs, vector search) into applications and data products built within the Google Cloud Platform. You will develop the strategies and tactics that we use on the path to delivering cutting-edge products, leveraging your expertise in engineering management, software architecture, and agile development lifecycles. As you join a high-caliber group of engineering leaders dedicated to delivering impact quickly while ensuring our technical assets and architecture are constantly maturing, your experience, instincts, and insights will enable us to iterate quickly while we explore bold technical solutions to complex problems. You encourage the team and champion the delivery of the right software at the right time, ensuring that we maximize our impact.

Responsibilities:
  • Technical oversight: Technical leader capable of designing and overseeing the build-out and operations of complex distributed systems at scale in a fast-paced analytics organization
  • Engineering leadership: Able to technically direct, support, and evaluate data, software, and ML engineers and their work product, ensuring we are building best-in-class solutions that can scale to meet our future non-functional requirements
  • System performance: Monitor and optimize both team & system performance, identifying opportunities for enhancement and addressing any issues or bottlenecks. Establish KPIs and OKRs that unlock quantitative insight so we can change processes with confidence.
  • Talent management: Recruit, manage, mentor, and retain a high-performing engineering team while contributing to a positive and supportive culture, encouraging innovation, and driving a pragmatic balance of continuous improvement and effective value delivery.
  • End-to-end ownership: Lead teams from strategy through delivery in complex and highly visible engineering projects.
  • Prioritization and pivots: Guides team's work prioritization in alignment with our strategic objectives. Coach implementation teams through pivoting as needed while remaining steadfastly focused on the overall objective.
  • Cross-functional collaboration: Collaborate closely with other technical teams (engineering, platform, infrastructure, security, governance) to understand their expectations and develop solutions in accordance with appropriate guidelines.
  • Coalition building: Establish effective relationships with partners and customers, ensuring that you understand their vision and can help them deliver on their goals.
  • Risk management: Proactively identify, communicate, and mitigate both internal and external risks. Communicate clearly on progress, challenges, and opportunities to senior management and stakeholders, including presenting technical concepts to non-technical audiences.
  • The big picture: Understand how data, data science, and AI/ML can drive clinical and healthcare delivery strategies. Build partnerships that enable business innovation through data and analytics.
  • Staying current: Stay updated on industry trends, emerging technologies, and best practices in software development, analytics, data engineering, and machine learning technologies to drive innovation and efficiency.

Required Qualifications
  • 10+ years as a hands-on software development engineer
  • 5+ years designing & building high-volume distributed software systems
  • 5+ years recruiting, managing, and retaining a high-performing team of software development professionals in an agile environment
  • 2+ years developing containerized software applications in public cloud
  • 2+ years exposure to analytics, data engineering and machine learning lifecycle, tools, and best practices
  • 2+ years designing, building, and operating real-time streaming systems and associated system-building blocks (messaging, caching, etc.)
  • 1+ year managing engineering managers
  • 1+ year using generative AI as an integrated component in software solutions
  • 1+ year in the healthcare or health insurance industry with deep understanding of health care value chain

Preferred Qualifications
  • Strong experience in web services, microservice and service-oriented architectures
  • Expert in Python, Java, Go, .NET or other similar programming languages
  • Expert in SQL, relationship database management systems, and non-relational or no-SQL database management systems.
  • Ability to diagram complex software architectures and communicate complex engineering ideas to non-technical stakeholders both visually and verbally
  • Expert in relationship management for both technical and non-technical customers and stakeholders
  • Strong understanding of cloud-based technologies (GCP, Azure, AWS), engineering frameworks and tools
  • Experience delivering in Agile, SAFE, Kanban, and Lean practices.
  • Experience in data strategy, data architecture, cloud software engineering design patterns, data science & machine learning methodologies, systems integrations, analytics/BI program management (SQL, Python, R, Java)
  • Understanding and familiarity with CI/CD, cloud devops, containers (kubernetes/Docker, etc.), Python/PySpark, dataproc, dataflow, pub/sub, and other GCP managed services

Education

Bachelor's degree in a software discipline, or equivalent work experience.

Master's degree preferred.

Pay Range

The typical pay range for this role is:

$144,200.00 - $288,400.00

This pay range represents the base hourly rate or base annual full-time salary for all positions in the job grade within which this position falls. The actual base salary offer will depend on a variety of factors including experience, education, geography and other relevant factors. This position is eligible for a CVS Health bonus, commission or short-term incentive program in addition to the base pay range listed above. This position also includes an award target in the company's equity award program.

Great benefits for great people

We take pride in offering a comprehensive and competitive mix of pay and benefits that reflects our commitment to our colleagues and their families.

This full-time position is eligible for a comprehensive benefits package designed to support the physical, emotional, and financial well-being of colleagues and their families. The benefits for this position include medical, dental, and vision coverage, paid time off, retirement savings options, wellness programs, and other resources, based on eligibility.

Additional details about available benefits are provided during the application process and on Benefits Moments.

We anticipate the application window for this opening will close on: 06/29/2026

About CVS Health

Omnicare provides comprehensive pharmaceutical services to patients and providers across the United States. As the market-leader in professional pharmacy, related consulting and data management services for skilled nursing, assisted living and other chronic care settings, Omnicare leverages its unparalleled clinical insight into the geriatric market along with some of the industry's most innovative technological capabilities to the benefit of its long-term care customers. Omnicare also provides key commercialization services for the bio-pharmaceutical industry through its Specialty Care Group.

CVS Health Careers

Joining CVS Health presents a unique opportunity to advance your career in a company where innovation, leadership, and growth go hand in hand. As a leader in the healthcare industry, CVS Health is more than just a pharmacy. We are a team of professionals dedicated to improving lives and optimizing health outcomes.

Work You’ll Do

At CVS Health, you will be part of a culture that values diversity and inclusivity, fostering an environment where every team member’s contribution is valued. Engage in meaningful work that directly impacts lives, driving innovation in healthcare services and solutions.

Explore Job Opportunities

Whether you’re looking for a position in pharmacy services, corporate leadership, or in-store management, CVS Health offers a variety of employment opportunities that will help you harness your skills and thrive professionally. Our job opportunities span across a wide range of professional fields and geographic locations, ensuring that your career at CVS Health aligns with your professional goals and lifestyle.

Internship Programs

Kickstart your career with CVS Health through our internship programs. These opportunities are designed for ambitious students eager to develop their skills in a real-world setting. Internships at CVS Health are not only about gaining work experience but also about making meaningful contributions to our ongoing projects.

Professional Growth and Development

CVS Health is committed to the professional growth of our employees. With access to cutting-edge technology, industry-leading experts, and comprehensive diversity training, our team members are equipped to lead and innovate. We support career advancement through professional development programs, leadership training, and opportunities for networking and internal mobility.

Benefits and Culture

Our employees enjoy a range of benefits that reflect our commitment to their well-being and success. From health and wellness benefits to professional development programs, CVS Health is dedicated to ensuring our team members have the resources they need. Our inclusive culture encourages collaboration and continuous learning, making CVS Health a place where you can grow and succeed.

Join Our Team

Ready to take the next step in your career? Explore the open positions at CVS Health that match your skills and interests. We are continuously hiring and looking for passionate, curious, and solution-driven team players.

Stay Connected

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Search CVS Health Jobs

Don’t just look for a job. Look for a place where you can be a part of something bigger. Visit our careers page to find the position that’s right for you and join a team that values innovation and leadership in healthcare.

READ CAREERS BLOG

Stay ahead in your career with insights from those who know CVS Health best – our team. Learn from their experiences and get insider tips that can help you succeed in your next interview, craft a standout resume, and build a career you’re proud of at CVS Health.
Learn more about CVS Health
Size
300,000 employees
Market Cap
$122 billion
Industry
Net Income
$7.1 billion
Founded
1963
5 Year Trend
+10.5%
Revenue
$268.7 billion
NASDAQ

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