Director, Application Engineering

The Director, Application Engineering leads the strategy, architecture, and delivery of mobile applications and GenAI-powered capabilities. This role partners closely with Product, Design, Data, Security, and Operations to build reliable, scalable, and user‑centric experiences.

The individual will be responsible for managing a highly efficient, effective and successful engineer-driven team that partners with the business to provide outstanding software development and delivery to support for operational systems and related processes.

Bright Horizons is a leading education and care company that helps employees thrive at work and at home by partnering with employers to offer high-quality child care, elder care, and educational support. Our workplace reflects this commitment—with collaborative environments, meaningful benefits, and a culture that supports both career growth and personal well-being. Whether you’re caring for children or powering the systems and partnerships that make it all possible, at Bright Horizons, you’re the difference.

Essential Functions/Responsibilities

• Mobile and Gen AI Engineering

  • Lead end‑to‑end development and delivery of mobile and AI/GenAI applications using modern engineering practices.

  • Define mobile and GenAI architecture, including modularization, release processes, CI/CD, observability, and platform strategy.

  • Drive AI/GenAI feature development; select models, build pipelines, design evaluation frameworks, optimize latency, and ensure responsible AI usage.

  • Guide teams through technical decisions; remove blockers; promote best‑in‑class engineering practices.

  • Establish engineering KPIs, quality standards and drive continuous improvement.

  • Own Cloud and AI‑inference cost governance and resource allocation.

  • Manage staffing strategy and talent development for mobile and GenAI engineering teams.

  • Maintain clear technical documentation and progress reporting for leadership.

• Product Partnership

  • Translate product strategy into engineering roadmaps, sequencing, and technical trade‑offs.

  • Partner with PMs on KPI creation, prioritization, and customer‑centric decisions.

  • Work cross‑functionally with design, support, research, operations, and marketing.

  • Communicate engineering impacts in clear, business‑aligned language.

• People Management & Leadership

  • Lead, mentor, and grow engineers, senior ICs, and engineering managers.

  • Build a high‑performing culture centered on accountability, collaboration, and modern engineering excellence.

  • Recognize contributions; develop succession plans; guide career development.

  • Influence engineering strategy across the team including architecture, security, data, and cloud teams.

  • Present technical strategy and program updates to executive leadership.

  • Drive enterprise‑level modernization initiatives (mobile platform upgrades, AI adoption, cloud modernization).

  • Exercise independent judgment in technical strategy, staffing, architectural choices, and delivery commitments.

  • Manage risk, compliance, privacy, and AI governance considerations in decision making.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree in Engineering, Technology or related field , 3 additional years of experience would be considered in lieu of the applicable degree.

• 7+ years technical engineering experience with coding for application engineering

• 5+ years experience and skills in leading engineering teams

• 3+ years experience and skills in building cloud-based SaaS applications

Preferred Qualifications:

• 1+ years delivering AI and GenAI applications, including model integration, evaluation, RAG, and deployment

• 5 years experience and skills in building mobile development and technology (Angular(Ionic), React Native, Flutter or native IOS/Android and similar) or building applications with Python, Perl or similar - Preferred

• Proven track record delivering mobile or AI powered products at scale.

• Familiarity with modern LLM providers and tooling (Azure OpenAI, Anthropic, Google Gemini, LangSmith, vector databases).

• Experience with reliability engineering, automated testing, CI/CD, APM/observability, and performance optimization.

• Experience working with security, privacy, and AI governance requirements.

• Strong verbal and written communication; able to communicate complex topics to both technical and non technical audiences.

• Demonstrated success in architectural modernization efforts.

At this time, Bright Horizons will not sponsor an applicant for employment authorization/visa for this position.

Be part of a community where people grow, futures are shaped, and lives are changed. We offer the rewards, opportunities, and support you deserve because making a difference goes both ways. We’re changing the world of work and family, and it starts with you. At Bright Horizons, you’re the difference.

The annual salary for this position is between $170,000 - $215,000 annually. The pay range listed here is what Bright Horizons in good faith anticipates offering for this job opening. Actual compensation offers within this range will depend on a variety of factors including experience, education and training, certifications, geography, and other relevant business or organizational factors.

This position is also eligible for a bonus and RSUs.

Benefits:

• Bright Horizons offers the following benefits for this position, subject to applicable eligibility requirements:

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance

• Paid vacation, sick, holiday, and parental bonding leave

• 401(k) retirement plan

• Long-term and short-term disability insurance

• Life insurance

• Money-saving discounts and financial planning tools

• Tuition assistance and education coaching

• Caregiving support and resources for the children and adults in your family · Learn more at https://careers.brighthorizons.com/us/en/health-and-wellness

Life at Bright Horizons:

At Bright Horizons, you’re more than your job title — you’re the difference. Whether you’re nurturing a child’s first steps or supporting the systems behind the scenes, your work creates real impact. We’re a community that celebrates individuality, invests in your growth, and supports your whole self. Because when you thrive, so do the children, families, and clients we serve. Join us and help build a brighter future — for yourself and for others.

Bright Horizons provides equal opportunity in all aspects of employment and does not discriminate against any individual on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, national origin, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected under federal, state, or local law. Bright Horizons complies with the laws and regulations described in the following federal government resources: Know Your Rights, Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and Employee Polygraph Protection Act (EPPA).

If you require assistance or a reasonable accommodation in completing these application materials or any aspect of the application and hiring process, please contact the recruitment helpdesk at 855-877-6866 or [email protected]. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.