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Code for America · 2 days ago

Chief Technology Officer

United States

Full-time

Remote

Director/Executive

15+ years exp

Code for America is a civic technology organization dedicated to improving government services through technology. The Chief Technology Officer will lead the technical and AI vision, overseeing engineering functions and ensuring the organization remains at the forefront of modern civic technology.

LegalLegal TechNon ProfitOpen Source

H1B Sponsor Likely

Responsibilities

Unify and elevate Code for America’s technical direction, bringing together Product Engineering, Solutions Engineering, DevOps, and data science under a clear architectural vision and long-term roadmap

Build and empower high-performing technical teams, cultivating engineering leadership, clarity of roles, and strong pathways for professional growth and collaboration

Advance Code for America’s secure use of AI, ensuring our approach strengthens both the impact of our products and our credibility as a trusted partner to government

Drive excellence in execution, improving velocity, scalability, and reliability across Code for America’s software and data systems

Bridge disciplines by partnering closely with Product, UX, Programs, and Client Success to ensure our technology is responsive to user needs, policy realities, and strategic opportunities

Accelerate product development and deployment by strengthening the technical foundations and cross-disciplinary collaboration needed to move from concept to delivery quickly and effectively

Shape Code for America’s future technology leadership model, bringing curiosity and adaptability to how we organize and evolve our technical disciplines as the landscape and our mission evolve

Develop and articulate a long-term technical, data, and AI strategy that positions Code for America at the forefront of modern, resilient, and human-centered civic technology

Define and evolve Code for America’s core architecture across products and systems, ensuring scalability, security, and resilience

Partner with senior leadership to align technology decisions with organizational strategy, funding priorities, and public sector needs

Ensure Code for America’s technology practices anticipate and adapt to shifts in the civic tech and AI landscapes

Oversee engineering delivery across Product Engineering, Solutions Engineering, and Data Science, ensuring consistent velocity, quality, and reliability

Drive the development of common processes and tools that streamline delivery while supporting innovation across diverse project teams

Clarify ownership and governance for technical infrastructure, security, and compliance, in coordination with IT leadership

Ensure teams have the resources, systems, and clarity needed to deliver high-impact work on time and within budget

Partner with Product, UX, and Delivery leaders to ensure Code for America’s technology systems and practices enable rapid, high-quality product development and deployment that meet user and government partner needs

Lead, mentor, and inspire Code for America’s engineering leaders, cultivating a culture of curiosity, excellence, and collaboration

Recruit and retain senior engineering, data, and AI talent with the values, technical skill, and mission commitment to thrive in civic technology

Foster an environment that values curiosity, learning, experimentation, and shared accountability for results

Ensure the right AI leadership and expertise are in place to drive Code for America’s AI strategy across how we work internally, ensure AI is embedded in our products and services, and strengthen Code for America’s external positioning as a credible, responsible voice in public sector AI innovation

Oversee Code for America’s AI work by providing executive-level guidance, resourcing, and integration with engineering and product strategies

Partner with AI-focused leadership to develop Code for America’s external voice on responsible AI in government, and to guide internal adoption and experimentation

Ensure Code for America’s use of AI enhances public trust and impact, both in our products and in how we support government partners

Build systems and practices that balance innovation and efficiency with safety, responsibility, and transparency

Serve as a key member of the CxO team, helping steer organizational priorities, annual planning, and strategic decision-making

Partner with the COO and discipline leads in Product, UX, Programs, and Client Success to ensure seamless coordination and shared stewardship across Code for America’s delivery ecosystem

Model flexibility and adaptability in an evolving structure, helping to shape how technology, product, and design leadership are best aligned over time

Collaborate with the executive team to ensure long-term strategic relationships with clients, partnerships, and the broader civic tech community

Other duties as assigned

Qualification

Technical StrategyAI StrategyData ScienceSoftware EngineeringCloud InfrastructureAgile MethodologiesTeam LeadershipCross-Disciplinary CollaborationEmpathyCommunication Skills

Required

15+ years of experience in software engineering, data science, or related technical fields, with at least 5 years in senior technical leadership

Demonstrated success leading multi-disciplinary technical teams at scale (100+ engineers, data scientists, or technologists)

Proven ability to define and execute cohesive technical and data strategies across diverse product and service portfolios

Experience overseeing or partnering on AI strategy, data infrastructure, or applied machine learning programs preferred

You have a track record of delivering impactful web products in an agile, AI environment, and leveraging technology creatively to improve the experience for partners and users

You have experience managing those who manage others, and setting up systems or operations to support your team, such as career ladders or paths for professional development

You are skilled at recruiting, networking, and hiring and believe our team needs to be representative of the communities we serve

Track record of leading without ego, and a commitment to shared success across disciplines

Skilled at bridging technical and non-technical teams, ensuring technology decisions serve strategic, policy, and user goals

Adept at managing through complexity, balancing the need for structure with flexibility in a rapidly evolving environment

Strong communication and storytelling skills, with the ability to represent Code for America internally and externally and build trusted partnerships across disciplines, departments, and sectors - including government

You approach your work with empathy, humility, care, and intention; and you're excited to grapple with extremely challenging problems

Belief that government at all levels can and should work well for people

A deep interest and passion for how we can use human-centered technology to improve public service delivery and make government work well for everyone

Curious, adaptive, and comfortable operating in ambiguity

Committed to building inclusive, resilient teams and developing the next generation of civic technologists

Preferred

Background in product management or product leadership, with a strong understanding of how technical and product decisions intersect

Experience working in or with government, civic technology, or mission-driven organizations, ideally focused on public service delivery or digital transformation

Familiarity with human-centered design, UX, and service design principles

Track record of successfully leading matrixed, multidisciplinary teams in dynamic or evolving organizational structures

Experience managing or integrating data science, AI, or machine learning capabilities into real-world products or services

Ability to represent an organization externally through public speaking, thought leadership, or partnership development with public, private, or philanthropic stakeholders

Company

Code for America

Glassdoor3.3

Government can work for the people, by the people, in the digital age. Let’s make it work for everyone.

Founded in 2009

San Francisco, California, USA

201-500 employees

https://www.codeforamerica.org/

H1B Sponsorship

Code for America has a track record of offering H1B sponsorships. Please note that this does not guarantee sponsorship for this specific role. Below presents additional info for your reference. (Data Powered by US Department of Labor)

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2023 (1)