Director, Software Engineering, Digital Platform

The Role We are looking for a Director of Software Engineering to lead the technology teams building Morningstar's Plan Advantage and Fiduciary Services platforms. In this role, you'll own the engineering strategy, execution, and talent development for two of the most critical product lines within our Retirement business unit - directly shaping how retirement plan providers, broker dealers, and advisors deliver better outcomes to millions of plan participants. You'll report to the Head of Product and Technology and partner closely with the Director of Product Management to translate product vision into scalable, secure, and increasingly AI-powered technology. This is a leadership role that demands both strong technical judgment and the ability to build and develop high-performing engineering teams. Morningstar is in the middle of a significant AI transformation - on the product side, we're bringing new AI-driven capabilities to market that change how advisors and plan providers interact with our platform. On the engineering side, we're embedding AI-powered tooling into our development workflows to accelerate delivery and raise quality. Location: Chicago, IL (Hybrid-4 days in Office) We intentionally prioritize in-person collaboration, as we've found it strengthens creative quality, alignment, and team momentum. Job Responsibilities Set and execute the engineering strategy and roadmap for Morningstar Plan Advantage and Fiduciary Services technology, ensuring alignment with product and business goals Lead, mentor, and grow a global engineering organization spanning onshore and offshore teams, with a focus on hiring, retention, and developing senior technical talent Partner with the Director of Product Management to define and prioritize the product and technology roadmap, balancing near-term delivery with long-term platform investment Drive the adoption of AI across both product capabilities and internal engineering workflows - championing AI-assisted development practices (code review, testing, documentation) and delivering AI-powered product features to market Own technical architecture decisions for the platform, ensuring systems are scalable, secure, reliable, and built on modern cloud-first principles Establish and maintain engineering standards, development practices, and quality benchmarks across the organization Champion a security-first engineering culture, ensuring secure development practices, code quality standards, and proactive vulnerability management are embedded into the development lifecycle Oversee the full development lifecycle - from design and architecture through deployment, monitoring, and operational excellence Collaborate cross-functionally with design, research, methodology, client service, sales, and compliance to deliver integrated solutions Manage engineering capacity, budgets, and vendor relationships, making tradeoff decisions that optimize for both velocity and sustainability Represent engineering in client-facing contexts as needed, including product demonstrations, technical due diligence, and strategic conversations with prospects and partners Qualifications 10+ years of progressive experience in technology/software engineering, with at least 4 years in engineering leadership roles managing teams and managers Demonstrated ability to build and operate scalable, enterprise-grade software systems - ideally in a cloud-first environment (AWS preferred) Deep technical foundation: fluency in modern backend technologies (Java, Spring Boot, or equivalent), RESTful API design, distributed systems, and relational databases Genuine curiosity about and experience with Artificial Intelligence - whether through shipping AI-powered product features, adopting AI development tools, or both. we want someone who is actively learning and building with AI A passion for developing people - you've built teams, grown engineers into leaders, and created cultures of ownership and continuous improvement Strong understanding of Agile development practices and the judgment to adapt process to context rather than follow it rigidly Excellent communication skills - you can translate between technical depth and business strategy, and you're comfortable presenting to executives, clients, and engineering teams alike A collaborative, low-ego leadership style that earns trust across product, design, and engineering Previous experience in financial services, retirement, or regulated industries is a strong plus but not required A bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Mathematics, or a related experience / field is required Compensation and Benefits At Morningstar we believe people are at their best when they are at their healthiest. That's why we champion your wellness through a wide range of programs that support all stages of your personal and professional life. Financial Health 100% 401k match up to 6% of salary Stock Ownership Potential Company provided life insurance - 1x salary + commission Physical Health Comprehensive health benefits (medical/dental/vision) including potential premium discounts and company-provided HSA contributions (up to $500-$2,000 annually) for specific plans and coverages Additional medical Wellness Incentives - up to $300-$600 annual Company-provided long- and short-term disability insurance Emotional Health Trust-Based Time Off 6-week Paid Sabbatical Program 6-Week Paid Family Caregiving Leave Competitive 8-24 Week Paid Parental Leave Adoption Assistance Leadership Coaching & Formal Mentorship Opportunities Annual Flex Stipend - $1000 annually to cover personal education & well-being expenses Tuition Reimbursement Social Health Charitable Matching Gifts program Dollars for Doers volunteer program Paid volunteering days 15+ Employee Resource & Affinity Groups Total Cash Compensation Range $195,600.00-299,916.66 Inclusive of annual base salary and target incentive If you receive and accept an offer from us, we require that personal and any related investments be disclosed confidentiality to our Compliance team (days vary by region). If any conflicts of interest are identified, then you will be required to liquidate those holdings immediately. In addition, dependent on your department and location of work certain employee accounts must be held with an approved broker (for example all, U.S. employee accounts). If this applies and your account(s) are not with an approved broker, you will be required to move your holdings to an approved broker. Morningstar's hybrid work environment gives you the opportunity to collaborate in-person each week as we've found that we're at our best when we're purposely together on a regular basis. In most of our locations, our hybrid work model is four days in-office each week. 002_MstarAssocLLC Morningstar Investment Management LLC Legal Entity How to Apply for a Job at Morningstar Step 1 When you find a position you're interested in, click the 'Apply' button. Read the job requirements carefully and make sure to attach writing or design samples as required. Applicants must submit their resume and other information through our corporate website to be considered for a job at Morningstar. No phone calls, please. Step 2 You will receive an email notification to confirm that we've received your application. Applicants With Disabilities Who Need Accommodation Morningstar is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. If, because of a medical condition or disability, you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process, please call +1 312 384-3900 or email AskHR@morningstar.We only accept calls from applicants who need accommodation related to a disability. This Organization Participates in E-Verify (English) This Organization Participates in E-Verify (Spanish) Right to Work (English) Right to Work (Spanish) EEO is the Law Pay Transparency Notice Morningstar is strongly committed to creating and preserving equal opportunity for all employees and applicants. We make all employment decisions—including recruitment, hiring, compensation, training, promotion, transfer, discipline, termination, and other personnel matters—without regard to race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, marital status, sexual orientation, genetic information, citizenship, gender identity and expression, parental status, or other legally protected characteristics or conduct.