Head of Application Development

About the role

The hire will lead the design and execution of a forward-looking application development strategy within a private technology office in Los Angeles. They will own the establishment of a Technology Center of Excellence that defines and enforces modern development standards across the enterprise. This leader will guide a team of engineers to deliver scalable, secure, and high-quality software solutions aligned with ambitious business objectives. They will act as a strategic bridge between technical capabilities and enterprise priorities, ensuring technology investments drive measurable value. The role requires hands-on technical depth combined with the ability to inspire and mentor high-caliber technologists. The hire will evaluate and adopt emerging technologies, with a specific focus on how AI and machine learning can be integrated into core business applications. They will coordinate closely with cross-functional stakeholders to translate abstract requirements into clear technical direction. Ultimately, the role is about building a resilient, innovative, and collaborative development organization that sets the benchmark for excellence.

Key facts

What you'll do

Define and refine the end-to-end application development lifecycle, establishing robust governance, standards, and metrics that ensure consistency and quality across all engineering initiatives.

Architect and lead the implementation of a scalable Technology Center of Excellence, driving best practices in architecture, security, and delivery methodologies while measuring success through clear KPIs.

Partner with executive sponsors and business leaders to identify strategic technology opportunities, assess evolving needs, and prioritize initiatives that unlock new capabilities and operational efficiencies.

Provide hands-on technical leadership in the design and review of complex application architectures, ensuring solutions are performant, maintainable, and aligned with long-term enterprise goals.

Spearhead the adoption and integration of artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies into business applications, identifying high-impact use cases and overseeing their production deployment.

Build and nurture a high-performing engineering culture by recruiting, developing, and mentoring technical talent, fostering an environment of continuous learning, experimentation, and ownership.

Collaborate with product, operations, and security teams to ensure that all development efforts comply with regulatory requirements, security standards, and risk management frameworks.

Evaluate and recommend new tools, platforms, and infrastructure components, creating clear business cases and rollout plans for enterprise-wide adoption.

Own the oversight of application support resources, optimizing incident response, issue resolution, and continuous improvement of production systems.

Translate ambiguous business problems into well-defined technical solutions, working with stakeholders to clarify requirements, manage scope, and deliver outcomes that exceed expectations.

Champion data-driven decision making by establishing feedback loops, monitoring system performance, and using insights to iteratively enhance application quality and user experience.

Serve as the primary technical liaison for the development organization, representing the team in cross-enterprise discussions and aligning technology roadmaps with strategic priorities.

Promote agile and lean delivery practices, removing impediments, and optimizing workflows to accelerate time-to-market without compromising on quality or security.

Lead by example through deep technical expertise, clear communication, and a demonstrated commitment to building reliable, scalable, and innovative software systems.

Requirements

Candidates must be a Technology Manager with a proven track record of building and leading high-performing application development teams in complex enterprise environments.

You must have extensive experience overseeing application development lifecycles, including requirements definition, architecture, development, testing, deployment, and maintenance.

A strong background in modern software development practices, including Agile methodologies, DevOps principles, and cloud-native architectures, is essential for success in this role.

You should demonstrate deep knowledge of application architecture, integration patterns, and infrastructure concepts, with the ability to evaluate technical trade-offs and make informed decisions.

Experience with data platforms, API design, and integration strategies is required, as you will be responsible for ensuring seamless connectivity across systems.

You must have a solid understanding of security and compliance frameworks relevant to enterprise applications, ensuring that solutions adhere to organizational risk policies.

Proven ability to communicate effectively with both technical and non-technical stakeholders, translating business needs into technical requirements and vice versa.

Candidates must be based in the Los Angeles area and be able to work full-time in an office environment with regular participation in cross-functional meetings and initiatives.

Nice to have

Experience working with emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and machine learning, particularly in the context of integrating these capabilities into enterprise applications.

A background in building and scaling Technology Centers of Excellence within large organizations, with documented success in improving development standards and collaboration.

Practical notes

This is a full-time role based in Los Angeles that requires regular in-person presence at the office. Travel may be required for stakeholder meetings, industry events, or team gatherings. The candidate must be authorized to work in the United States without sponsorship.