NRG Energy

Sr. Director, Platform Engineering

NRG Energy$228K — $377K *
US-AnywhereRemote in Washington, US
Enterprise Technology
8 - 10 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 10+ years of software engineering experience, including 5+ years in leadership roles overseeing backend or SRE teams.
  • Deep expertise in cloud architecture, distributed systems, and backend service design.
  • Strong background in container orchestration and modern CI/CD practices.
  • Experience in establishing SLOs and managing incident response in a 24/7 production environment.
  • Proven track record in defining and executing multi-year platform roadmaps for cloud or IoT product companies.
  • B.S. in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or related field.
  • Willingness to travel as required.

Responsibilities

  • Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing team of software engineers and SREs.
  • Foster a culture of reliability and operational excellence within the team.
  • Define technical direction and set performance expectations for the Platform organization.
  • Develop the architectural vision for the cloud platform focusing on resilience, security, and scalability.
  • Drive platform practices such as CI/CD and automation to enhance backend delivery.
  • Own the reliability and performance of backend services powering the smart home experience.
  • Establish SLOs and incident management protocols that emphasize customer uptime.

Benefits

  • Paid holidays and flexible paid time off.
  • Employee discounts for friends and family.
  • Comprehensive medical, dental, vision, and life insurance.
  • 401(k) plan with employer matching.
  • Participation in Employee Resource Groups.
  • Annual bonus potential.
  • Employee Stock Purchase Plan available.
  • Quarterly Innovation Weeks for creative projects and growth.
Full Job Description
About the Role

Vivint is seeking a Senior Director of Platform Engineering to lead the backend engineering teams that power our smart home and energy management platforms. Reporting to the SVP of Engineering, this leader owns Vivint's backend cloud services and APIs, core infrastructure, data and streaming pipelines, and the integrations that connect Vivint to other parts of the business and to strategic third-party partners. The Platform organization delivers the services that millions of Vivint customers depend on every day.

Primary Responsibilities
  • Leadership & Team Development
    • Lead, mentor, and grow a high-performing organization of software engineers and SREs.
    • Foster a culture of reliability, operational excellence, and engineering rigor.
    • Define career paths, set performance expectations, and invest in the growth of every engineer.
    • Partner with recruiting to attract top platform engineering talent.
  • Technical Strategy & Architecture
    • Set the multi-year technical direction and roadmap for the Platform organization, balancing near-term delivery with long-term technical health.
    • Define the architectural vision for Vivint's cloud platform, ensuring it is resilient, secure, cost-efficient, and scalable for future growth.
    • Drive modern platform practices: CI/CD, infrastructure-as-code, observability, and automation that improve backend delivery velocity and quality.
  • Backend Services & Reliability
    • Own the reliability, availability, and performance of the backend services that power the Vivint smart home experience.
    • Establish and enforce SLOs, error budgets, and incident management practices that reflect Vivint's commitment to customer uptime.
    • Manage infrastructure cost-effectively as the platform grows.


Required Qualifications:
  • 10+ years of software engineering experience, with 5+ years in engineering leadership roles overseeing backend or SRE teams.
  • Deep expertise in cloud and data center architecture, distributed systems, and large-scale backend service design.
  • Strong background in container orchestration and modern CI/CD practices.
  • Experience establishing SLOs, on-call practices, and incident response programs in a 24/7 production environment.
  • Proven ability to define and execute multi-year platform roadmaps in a cloud or IoT product company.
  • B.S. in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or related field.
  • Some travel is required.


Preferred Qualifications:
  • Experience building backends for IoT or connected-device platforms.
  • Familiarity with major cloud providers.
  • Experience with Kubernetes and container orchestration.
  • Familiarity with streaming and messaging technologies (Kafka, RabbitMQ, MQTT).
  • Experience operating MongoDB at scale.
  • Background in platform security including API security, secrets management, and zero-trust networking.


Why You'll Love Working Here

Learn about the Vivint Culture and why it's a great place to grow your career! Here are some highlighted perks you should ask us about:
  • Paid holidays and flexible paid time away
  • Employee/Friends/Family Discounts
  • Medical/dental/vision/life coverage
  • 401(k) + Employer Match
  • Employee Resource Groups
  • Annual Bonus
  • Employee Stock Purchase Plan
  • Quarterly Innovation Weeks


Working Conditions

This job operates in a professional office environment. This role routinely uses standard office equipment.

Safety

Vivint enforces a safety culture whereby all employees have the responsibility for continuously developing and maintaining a safe working environment. Each new employee is responsible for completing all training requirements. Additionally, the employee must accept they have responsibility for maintaining the safety of themselves, their co-workers, and the public. Employee must adhere to all written and verbal instructions, promptly report and correct all hazards or unsafe conditions, question non-standard operations or unmitigated hazards, and provide feedback to management on all safety issues.

The base salary range for this position is: $228,880- $377,640* *The base salary range above represents the low and high end of the salary range for this position. Actual salaries will vary based on several factors including but not limited to location, experience, and performance. The range listed is just one component of the total compensation package for employees. Other rewards may include annual bonus, short- and long-term incentives, and program-specific awards. In addition the position may be eligible to participate in the benefits program which include, but are not limited to, medical, vision, dental, 401K, and flexible spending accounts.

Official description on file with Talent.

About NRG Energy

NRG is at the forefront of changing how people think about and use energy. Whether as the largest solar power developer in the country or by giving customers the latest tools to better manage their energy use, NRG is a pioneer in developing smarter energy choices. Our diverse power generating facilities have a capacity of about 52,000 megawatts, capable of supporting almost 42 million homes. Our retail electricity providers — Reliant and Energy Plus — and thermal energy division serve nearly 3 million residential, business, commercial and industrial customers. A Fortune 250 company, NRG supports clean energy resources and technologies critical to our transition to a sustainable, low carbon society. We built the nation's first privately-funded electric vehicle charging infrastructure and continue to create new, clean energy solutions for our customers. In addition to our environmental efforts, we actively contribute to the local communities where NRG employees live and work. Since 2004, our Global Giving program has provided millions of dollars to organizations and charities that have a direct impact on the lives of the people in our communities, including food banks and those that foster self-sufficiency, improve housing and provide supplemental education to people in need. NRG has also organized special responses for victims of extreme catastrophe, such as the Haitian earthquake and the Japanese tsunami in 2010. Employee donations were tripled to maximize the contributions. NRG has won numerous awards for industry leadership and many of its nationwide econrg initiatives, which are targeted toward meeting the challenges of climate change, clean air and natural resources protection.

NRG Energy Careers

Join the vibrant team at NRG Energy, a leader in the power and energy sector, and contribute to a sustainable future while advancing your career. At NRG Energy, we are committed to innovation, leadership, and diversity, ensuring a dynamic workplace where growth and opportunity are at the forefront.

Work You’ll Do

At NRG Energy, you’ll engage in meaningful work that powers communities and fosters environmental stewardship. Our team of professionals is dedicated to leading the energy sector through cutting-edge innovation and sustainable practices. By joining us, you help shape the future of energy, leveraging your skills to make a significant impact.

Explore Job Opportunities and Internships

Whether you’re a seasoned professional or a recent graduate, NRG Energy offers a range of job opportunities and internships that will harness your potential and polish your skills. Our positions span from technical roles in energy management to leadership tracks in corporate functions. Each role is crucial in driving our mission of a sustainable energy future.

Career Development and Benefits

NRG Energy is deeply invested in the professional growth of its employees. We offer robust career development programs, including leadership training, professional networking opportunities, and diversity training. Our benefits package is designed to support the well-being and financial security of our team members and their families, promoting a healthy work-life balance.

Culture of Innovation and Diversity

Our company culture celebrates diversity, encourages innovation, and fosters a collaborative environment. At NRG Energy, you’ll work alongside a diverse team of experts, each bringing unique perspectives that drive our success. We believe that inclusive teamwork and innovative thinking are the keys to our continued growth and leadership in the energy sector.

Join Our Team

Embark on a rewarding career path at NRG Energy by exploring our current hiring opportunities. Tailor your job search to match your career aspirations and skills. Prepare your resume, ace the interview, and join a team that’s committed to making a difference.

Stay Connected

Keep up to date with the latest from NRG Energy: - **Career Insights**: Gain industry-leading insights and read about the latest trends in the energy sector on our careers blog. - **Job Alert Emails**: Customize your subscription to receive job alerts and insider tips that align with your career preferences. At NRG Energy, your career is more than a job—it’s a journey of growth, learning, and leadership. Join us in powering the world’s energy future while building a promising career for yourself. Explore opportunities, embrace our culture, and be part of our mission to lead the energy transition.

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Learn more about NRG Energy
Size
6,635 employees
Market Cap
$7.4 billion
Industry
Net Income
$510 million
Founded
1989
5 Year Trend
+24.8%
Revenue
$9 billion
NASDAQ

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