The Texas General Land Office is seeking a Director IV ( Director of Engineering ) within the Information Technology Services Department of the agency.

The Director of Engineering performs highly advanced (senior-level) managerial work providing direction and guidance in strategic operations and planning. Work involves establishing the strategic plan and goals and objectives; developing policies, procedures, and guidelines; establishing priorities, standards, and measurement tools for determining progress in meeting goals; coordinating and evaluating program activities and/or business functions; and reviewing and approving budgets within a department or division. Supervises the work of others. Works under minimal supervision, with extensive latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment.

The Director of Engineering is a critical leadership role responsible for overseeing and guiding the strategic direction and execution of the agency’s enterprise application development and modernization efforts. This position performs highly advanced (senior-level) managerial work, including developing and executing the strategic vision, goals, and objectives for software engineering to align with organizational priorities and enable business success.

This role leads the development and execution of engineering strategies that ensure the scalability, security, and user-centric design of the agency’s application ecosystem. The Director is responsible for aligning software development practices with long-term business goals, emphasizing technical excellence, innovation, and agility.

Key responsibilities include defining architecture standards, managing application portfolios, and optimizing the software development lifecycle. The Director plays a central role in establishing engineering governance, promoting modern development frameworks, and ensuring alignment with enterprise architecture and technology directives. The position also champions workforce development—recruiting, mentoring, and retaining high-performing engineering teams while fostering a culture of innovation, accountability, and continuous improvement.

Work is performed under minimal supervision, with extensive latitude for initiative, decision-making, and independent judgment.

The Information Technology Services (ITS) team advances the mission of the State of Texas General Land Office through technology. We deliver innovative technology solutions and services to the agency and are a value partner in our mission success. We are committed to operating with a growth mindset, developing sustainable solutions, providing excellent customer service, and safeguarding the IT resources of the agency. ITS leverages the capabilities of the most advanced technology platforms to drive innovation, transparency, and connection for Texans.

Our Mission

The Texas General Land Office primarily serves the schoolchildren, veterans, and the environment of Texas. The agency does so by preserving our history, maximizing state revenue through innovative administration, and through the prudent stewardship of state lands and natural resources.

What Your Contributions to the GLO Will be: (3-5 duties)

• Direct the design, development, and modernization of enterprise applications that support the agency’s mission-critical operations. Own the strategic application portfolio, driving efforts to rationalize legacy systems, implement cloud-native platforms, and adopt modern architecture patterns such as API-first and event-driven systems. Ensure delivery of scalable, secure, and high-performing application solutions that align with agency priorities and user needs
• Establish and maintain technical standards and architectural frameworks that guide application development across the organization. Ensure engineering practices align with best-in-class design principles, security protocols, and performance requirements. Lead efforts to standardize tools, frameworks, and workflows to promote consistency, reusability, and maintainability across development teams
• Recruit, lead, and mentor a diverse and multidisciplinary engineering workforce. Provide strategic direction, performance feedback, and growth opportunities to team members. Foster a culture of innovation, accountability, and continuous learning, with a strong emphasis on agile practices and engineering excellence.
• Partner with IT leadership, business units, and cross-functional teams to align application strategies with organizational goals. Ensure stakeholder needs are incorporated into engineering solutions through shared planning, regular communication, and strategic collaboration. Advocate for business-technology alignment to enable mission outcomes.
• Support the development and enforcement of enterprise-wide technical governance structures, including development lifecycle policies, risk mitigation strategies, and compliance with IT architecture and security standards. Ensure all engineering efforts adhere to internal policies and external regulatory requirements.     
• Participate in strategic planning activities, IT leadership forums, and cross-agency initiatives. Provide insight into emerging technologies and trends that can drive innovation, efficiency, and long-term value.
  
  

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year college or university with major coursework in computer science, information systems, computer engineering, or a related field. Equivalent IT leadership experience may substitute for the degree requirement, at a rate of one year of professional experience for each year of education.
• 10 years of progressive professional experience in IT leadership, software engineering, or enterprise application delivery.
• Experience leading application development and engineering teams supporting complex enterprise environments.
• Experience in application portfolio management, including modernization, rationalization, and alignment with business strategy.
• Experience with cloud-native platforms, API-led architectures, low-code platforms, and software development lifecycle (SDLC) management.
• Experience with vendor management and solution delivery, particularly in balancing build vs. buy decisions and integrating off-the-shelf solutions.
• Experience working across diverse lines of business, with strong business acumen and a track record of aligning technology decisions with organizational priorities.
  
  

Physical Requirements

This position requires the employee to primarily perform sedentary office work; however, mobility (moving around the worksite) is routinely required to carry out some duties. This position requires extensive computer, telephone and client/ customer contact and communication. It requires the ability to move and position oneself as needed for filing and similar routine office duties. The job also requires normal cognitive abilities requiring the ability to learn, recall, and apply certain practices and policies. It requires the stamina to maintain attention to detail despite interruptions. Ability to read printed materials and computer screens. The individual must be able to move and transport records, documents, boxes, and all related information and materials, weighing up to 20 pounds when required.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year college or university with major coursework in computer science, information systems, computer engineering, or a related field.
• Master’s degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in computer science, information systems, computer engineering, business administration, management, or a related field.
• Experience in recruiting, coaching, and growing high-performing technical teams with a focus on agile delivery and continuous improvement.
  
  

Compensation And Benefits

• Free Parking
• Defined Retirement Benefit Plan Optional 401(k) and 457 accounts
• Medical Insurance - State pays 100% of the health plan premium for eligible full-time employees and 50% of the premium for their eligible dependents. The State pays 50% of the eligible part-time employees’ premium and 25% for eligible dependents.
• Optional Benefits such as dental, vision, and life insurance.
• Minimum of 96+ Hours of Annual Leave a year **Annual leave increases with length of service.
• Professional Development Opportunities: The GLO offers numerous courses to help our employees grow using resources through LinkedIn Learning and our EAP provider.
  
  

Veterans

Use your military skills to qualify for this position or other jobs! Go to www.texasskillstowork.com to translate your military work experience and training courses into civilian job terms, qualifications and skill sets. Also, you can compare this position to military occupations (MOS) at the Texas State Auditor's Office by pasting this link into your browser:

Military Crosswalk for Occupational Category - Program Management

How To Apply

• To be considered, please complete a State of Texas Application for Employment and apply online at www.workintexas.com or in the CAPPS Career Section .
• You may apply for the job directly through the CAPPS Career Section. It is not necessary to apply both through Work in Texas and the CAPPS Career Section.
• Applications must be fully completed with a detailed job history, including job title, employment dates, employer name, supervisor's name and phone number, and a summary of responsibilities. Incomplete applications may lead to disqualification. Please be aware that resumes will not be accepted in place of a completed application.
• In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification document form upon hire.
• A position utilizing this classification will be designated as security sensitive according to the Texas Labor Code, Section 301.042.
• Applicants must be authorized to work for ANY employer in the U.S. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa.