Director, Technology(Supply-chain, Logistics, Omni, Corporate Systems)

Director, Technology (Supply-chain, Logistics, Omni, Corporate Systems)

The Williams-Sonoma Supply-chain & Logistics organization is seeking an energetic and talented Engineering Director to lead the teams development, drive high-value, high-quality features to our industry-leading engineering delivery. At Williams-Sonoma, The ideal candidate would have the ability to attract, recruit and retain the industrys best engineering talent and have the technical expertise to effectively influence/participate in architectural discussions, strategic planning, roadmaps, and decisions to ensure we build impactful, compelling, and scalable solutions in an incremental fashion, unlocking hyper-growth, data-driven decision making and creating a world of possibilities for our customers/business at our Technology Center in Pune, India

Success in the role requires agility and results orientation, strategic and innovative thinking, a proven track record of delivering software products at scale, rigorous analytical skills, and a passion for automation and data-driven approaches to solving problems.

Director of Engineering - Responsibilities

1. Leadership and Delivery

• Oversee and lead the engineering project delivery ensuring high availability, scalability, and performance to support global business
• Define and execute the engineering strategy, aligning with the company s business goals and long-term vision for omnichannel retail.
• Ensure high-quality deliverables by establishing robust processes for code reviews, testing, and deployment.

2. Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Actively collaborate with Product Management, Business Stakeholders, and other Engineering Teams to define project requirements and deliver customer-centric solutions.
• Serve as a key point of contact for resolving technical challenges and ensuring alignment between business needs and technical capabilities.
• Promote seamless communication between teams to deliver cross-functional initiatives on time and within budget.

3. Talent Acquisition and Development

• Build a strong and diverse engineering team by attracting, recruiting, and retaining top talent.
• Design and implement a robust onboarding program to ensure new hires are set up for success.
• Coach team members to enhance technical expertise, problem-solving skills, and leadership abilities, fostering a culture of continuous learning and improvement.
• Maintain a strong pipeline of talent by building relationships with local universities, engineering communities, and industry professionals.

4. Performance Management

• Define clear, measurable goals for individual contributors and teams, ensuring alignment with broader organizational objectives.
• Conduct regular one-on-one meetings to provide personalized feedback, career guidance, and development opportunities.
• Manage performance reviews and recognize high-performing individuals, while providing coaching and support to those needing improvement.
• Foster a culture of accountability, where team members take ownership of their work and deliver results.

5. Technology Leadership

• Champion the adoption of best practices in software engineering, including agile methodologies, DevOps, and automation.
• Facilitate and encourage knowledge sharing and expertise in critical technologies, such as cloud computing, microservices, and AI/ML.
• Evaluate and introduce emerging technologies that align with business goals, driving innovation and competitive advantage.

6. Continuous Education and Domain Expertise

• Develop and execute a continuous education program to upskill team members on both key technologies and the Williams-Sonoma business domain.
• Organize training sessions, workshops, and certifications to keep the team updated on the latest industry trends.
• Encourage team members to actively participate in tech conferences, hackathons, and seminars to broaden their knowledge and network.

7. Resource Planning and Execution

• Accurately estimate development efforts for projects, considering complexity, risks, and resource availability.
• Develop and implement delivery plans, timelines, and budgets to deliver initiatives on schedule.
• Oversee system rollouts and implementation efforts, ensuring smooth transitions and minimal disruptions to business operations.
• Optimize resource allocation to maximize team productivity and ensure proper workload distribution.

8. Organizational Improvement

• Champion initiatives to improve the engineering organization s culture, focusing on collaboration, transparency, and inclusivity.
• Continuously evaluate and refine engineering processes to increase efficiency and reduce bottlenecks.
• Promote team well-being by fostering a positive and supportive work environment where engineers feel valued and motivated.
• Lead efforts to make the organization a "Great Place to Work", including regular engagement activities, mentorship programs, and open communication.

9. System Understanding and Technical Oversight

• Develop a deep understanding of critical systems and processes, including architecture, APIs, data pipelines, and DevOps practices.
• Provide technical guidance to the team, addressing complex challenges and ensuring alignment with architectural best practices.
• Partner with senior leaders to align technology decisions with business priorities and future-proof the company s systems.

10. Innovation and Transformation

• Play a pivotal role in transforming Williams-Sonoma into a leading technology organization by implementing cutting-edge solutions
• Drive the future of omnichannel retail by conceptualizing and delivering innovative products and features that enhance customer (both external and internal) experiences.
• Actively represent the organization in the technology community, building a strong presence through speaking engagements, partnerships, and contributions to open-source projects.
• Identify opportunities for process automation and optimization to improve operational efficiency.

11. Additional Responsibilities

• Be adaptable to perform other duties as required, addressing unforeseen challenges and contributing to organizational goals.
• Stay updated on industry trends and competitive landscapes to ensure the company remains ahead of the curve.

Criteria:

Experience and Expertise

1. Extensive Industry Experience
   • 12+ years of experience in developing and delivering Supply Chain and Logistics solutions with multiple concurrent tracks of development and operations.
   • Proven success in leading initiatives that drive business outcomes, scalability, and innovation
   • In-depth understanding of Order Management, Payment processors, Inventory management, and Warehouse management applications and products
2. Leadership and Team Management
   • 5+ years of experience in building and managing medium-scale teams (15-50+ team members) of engineers, technical leads, and managers.
   • Demonstrated ability to optimize team performance, foster a culture of collaboration, and implement career development initiatives.
   • Ability to guide the team in code reviews, setting coding standards, and adopting best practices in Java and related technologies.
   • Hands-on experience in mentoring and growing engineering talent.
   • Ability to collaborate with Product Managers and UX/UI Designers to align technical implementation with business goals and user experience
3. Project Lifecycle Management
   • Skilled in managing projects through the entire lifecycle, from concept and design to development, testing, deployment, and maintenance.
   • Adept at balancing technical, business, and resource constraints to deliver high-quality outcomes
4. Project and Technical Leadership
   • Strong project management skills with the ability to lead and mentor technical professionals.
   • Proven experience in scoping, prioritizing, and delivering projects on time, within budget, and aligned with business objectives.
5. Analytical and Decision-Making Skills
   • Ability to systematically gather and analyze relevant data from diverse sources to address complex issues.
   • Skilled in making prompt, insightful decisions under pressure and in ambiguous situations.
6. Business Relationships and Conflict Management
   • Demonstrated ability to build trust-based business relationships across teams and external stakeholders.
   • Proven capability to anticipate, mitigate, and resolve conflicts across workgroups to maintain team cohesion and productivity.
7. Communication Excellence
   • Strong verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to articulate complex ideas effectively to technical and non-technical audiences.
   • Experienced in delivering engaging presentations to different audiences, including senior leadership and external partners.
8. Interpersonal Effectiveness
   • Exceptional interpersonal skills, including team collaboration, negotiation, and mentorship.
   • A team player who values diverse perspectives, respects all individuals regardless of seniority, and actively contributes to team success.
9. Execution and Results Orientation
   • Proven track record in developing and executing detailed plans, managing budgets, and delivering results under tight deadlines.
   • Demonstrated ability to handle complex, fast-paced projects with competing priorities.
10. Vendor and Stakeholder Management
    • Skilled in negotiating and managing vendor relationships, contracts, and service-level agreements (SLAs).
11. Self-Motivation and Independence
    • Self-driven with the ability to work independently, take initiative, and proactively solve problems.
    • Comfortable operating in ambiguous environments, making calculated decisions, and managing risks effectively.
12. Educational Qualification
    • Bachelor s degree in computer science, Engineering, or a related field. Equivalent work experience will also be considered.

Core Technical Criteria

• Expertise in Java frameworks such as Spring & Spring Boot
• In-depth understanding of RESTful API design, implementation, and optimization.
• Knowledge of microservices architecture and tools like Kubernetes, Docker, and API Gateway.
• Experience in building scalable, high-performance backend systems to handle high traffic.
• Hands-on experience with relational databases like Oracle, MySQL, PostgreSQL, and NoSQL databases like MongoDB, Cassandra, or Redis.
• Ability to optimize database queries and manage large datasets effectively.
• Ability to troubleshoot and resolve issues across the stack (frontend, backend, and database).
• Proficiency in cloud platforms like AWS, GCP, or Azure.
• Experience with CI/CD pipelines using Jenkins, GitLab CI/CD, or equivalent tool
• Familiarity with containerization (Docker) and orchestration tools like Kubernetes.
• Good knowledge of security standards and best including PCI DSS compliance for payments
• Knowledge of logging and monitoring tools like ELK Stack (Elasticsearch, Logstash, Kibana), Prometheus, Grafana, and Datadog.
• Experience in implementing robust error tracking and alerting mechanisms.
• Proven experience in designing and delivering products/solutions that are scalable, reliable, and fault-tolerant.
• Knowledge of event-driven architectures using Kafka, RabbitMQ, or similar tools.
• Expertise in load balancing, caching strategies (e.g., CDN, Redis, Memcached), and database partitioning.
• Knowledge of AI/ML relevant to Supply chain and Logistics applications
• Expertise with Git workflows, and tools like GitHub, Bitbucket, or GitLab.
• Familiarity with Agile tools such as Jira & Confluence.