CVS Health

Lead Director, Software Engineering

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

Qualifications

  • 10+ years of software engineering experience with 5+ years in leadership of large-scale teams (50-150+ engineers).
  • Hands-on expertise in distributed systems, cloud-native architectures, and modern backend engineering at scale.
  • Experience in deploying production-ready AI systems, including model deployment pipelines and LLM orchestration.
  • Proven track record in transforming engineering processes, such as migrating monoliths to microservices under business pressure.
  • Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or a related technical discipline; master's degree preferred.

Responsibilities

  • Drive technical strategy across a multi-team engineering organization.
  • Embed innovative AI and ML technologies into the engineering lifecycle for operational efficiency.
  • Ensure timely delivery and accountability for project outcomes.
  • Collaborate with executives to translate business strategies into engineering initiatives.
  • Serve as the technical advocate, addressing architectural debts and ensuring necessary engineering investments.

Benefits

  • Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage.
  • Paid time off to support work-life balance.
  • Retirement savings options to plan for the future.
  • Wellness programs to promote physical and mental health.
  • Resources for emotional and financial well-being.
Full Job Description
Position Summary
We're looking for a Lead Director of Software Engineering who thinks like a founder, executes like a principal engineer, and leads like someone who's done it at the highest levels of the industry. You will set the bar - and then raise it.

What You'll Actually Do
  • Drive technical strategy across a multi-team engineering organization (50-150+ engineers), setting architectural standards, defining engineering excellence benchmarks, and personally reviewing and elevating the work.
  • Operational Efficiency. Every system design decision you make should start with the question: How to create10x leverage? You will actively embed LLMs, generative AI, agentic workflows, and ML-powered automation into the engineering lifecycle, not just as experiments, but as production-grade differentiators.
  • Own delivery at velocity. You ship. You are accountable for outcomes, not roadmaps. You hold your teams to the same standard.
  • Partner at the executive level - with Product owners, Data Engineers, and Health care business leaders - translating business strategy into engineering bets with precision and conviction.
  • Be the technical voice in the room You call out architectural debt, push back on infeasible timelines, and advocate for the right engineering investment.


Required Qualifications
  • 10+ years of progressive software engineering experience, including 5+ years leading large-scale engineering organizations. You have built and scaled systems that serve tens of thousands of users. You know what happens when your system goes down.
  • Deep, hands-on technical foundation in distributed systems, cloud-native architectures, and modern backend engineering at scale.
  • Proven AI platform ownership. You have deployed production AI systems - not POCs, not demos, not limited to prompt engineering. You understand model deployment pipelines, vector databases, RAG architectures, LLM orchestration, inference optimization, and responsible AI principles.
  • Track record of engineering transformation. You have migrated monoliths to microservices, modernized legacy platforms under real business pressure, and lived the consequences of every architectural decision you've made.


Preferred Qualifications
  • Healthcare or highly regulated domain experience - You have navigated HIPAA, CMS compliance, PHI data handling development.
  • Platform engineering ownership - You have built or led internal developer platforms, engineering productivity tooling.

Education

Minimum
  • Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Mathematics, or a closely related technical discipline - or equivalent demonstrated engineering depth through work history, open source portfolio, or verifiable technical contribution at scale.

Preferred
  • Master's degree (M.S. or M.Eng.) in Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Data Science, or a related quantitative field. Graduate-level training in algorithms, distributed systems, statistical learning, or systems design gives us confidence in your technical ceiling.


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: 07/06/2026

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

Keep up to date with the latest news, career tips, and industry insights from CVS Health. Personalize your experience by subscribing to job alert emails, tailored to your preferences and professional interests. Discover the rewarding opportunities that await at CVS Health, where your career development is always a priority.

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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