AVP, Software Engineering (Platform)

About the role

Who Are We? Taking care of our customers, our communities and each other. That's the Travelers Promise. By honoring this commitment, we have maintained our reputation as one of the best property casualty insurers in the industry for over 170 years. Join us to discover a culture that is rooted in innovation and thrives on collaboration. Imagine loving what you do and where you do it. Job Category Technology Compensation Overview The annual base salary range provided for this position is a nationwide market range and represents a broad range of salaries for this role across the country. The actual salary for this position will be determined by a number of factors, including the scope, complexity and location of the role; the skills, education, training, credentials and experience of the candidate; and other conditions of employment. As part of our comprehensive compensation and benefits program, employees are also eligible for performance-based cash incentive awards. Salary Range $169,400.00 - $279,600.00 Target Openings 1 What Is the Opportunity? Collaborative Environment, Transformational Projects and a Growing Team! Join our strategic and collaborative team in Enterprise Technology Solutions, where we are passionate about transforming our business and technology capabilities to pave the way for best-in-class solutions. We are seeking an AVP, Software Engineering within the Engineering Solutions organization to drive innovation and influence impactful solutions through modern technology. In this role, we will look to you for: Leadership and Direction: Set the direction and lead multiple teams of engineers, empowering them to provide critical services and drive innovation across the organization. Strategic Planning and Resource Management: Strategically plan and oversee the efficient utilization of team resources to ensure optimal performance and the delivery of essential services. Platform Ownership and Evolution: Own and evolve a self-service platform, integrating AI Assistant capabilities, product mindset, automation, and empowerment features. Collaborate with internal providers such as end-user services, hosting services, architecture services, and dev-ops services to enhance platform capabilities. Design and Development: Oversee the design, development, operational maintenance, and implementation of enterprise-wide core systems and services that support the business. Strategic Influence: Influence business and technology leaders on strategic technical direction, enabling sound decision-making and fostering a culture of innovation. Join us in transforming our technology landscape and empowering our teams with cutting-edge solutions that drive business success. What Will You Do? Partner with the business to set strategic direction, develop product roadmaps, oversee large programs, and implement solutions that meet business needs. Own the development and enhancement of a self-service platform, integrating AI Assistant capabilities, product mindset, automation, and empowerment features. Align work with business and engineering priorities to achieve meaningful impact. Build collaborative relationships with key leaders and peers to optimize resource use. Utilize industry knowledge and expertise to address software engineering challenges effectively. Offer unique opportunities and challenges to develop team members, address skill gaps, and enhance engineering practices and skill sets. Apply knowledge of industry trends to solve software engineering problems. Lead a team of Software Engineers by providing technical guidance and mentorship, fostering a positive team environment. Perform other duties as assigned. What Will Our Ideal Candidate Have? 10 years of experience in technology. Experience in the insurance/financial services industry preferred. Proven expertise in implementing current technology trends, such as cloud-based solutions and microservices. Ability to interpret business challenges and recommend best practices to enhance SDLC processes. Excellent delivery skills, including assessing software design strategies, ensuring system quality, and developing technical metrics. Domain expertise to consult on business priorities, optimize value, and introduce industry concepts and technologies. Strong problem-solving skills to create robust architecture and address future needs. Excellent communication skills to explain technology concepts, document effectively, and collaborate across groups. Leadership skills to engage with leaders, improve the engineering organization, and identify development opportunities. Experience with agentic architecture and cloud-native technologies, ideally using Java, Python, NodeJS, and Kubernetes. Exposure to IT Service Management (ITSM) and ServiceNow, enhancing service delivery and operational efficiency. Experience leading large-scale technology organizations and building out teams. Ability to set cross-functional objectives and influence a