Assistant Director - Engineering, Mainframe Services

What You'll Do

We’re looking for an Assistant Director of Engineering to join our Information Services team. In this role, you’ll lead the strategy and evolution of our mainframe platform while guiding an engineering team and vendor partners through a period of modernization and transformation.

You’ll have the opportunity to

• Set strategic direction: Define and execute the long-term strategy and roadmap for our mainframe platform, including modernization and transformational efforts
• Lead and inspire: Lead an infrastructure engineering team, setting direction, priorities, and clear accountability across a multi-layered global organization while coaching and developing engineering talent (both direct and matrixed), fostering a culture of ownership, collaboration, and continuous improvement across a global team
• Drive alignment: Partner with business and technology leaders to align platform capabilities with enterprise priorities and evolving business needs
• Innovate for impact: Ensure stability, resiliency, and performance of the platform through strong operational governance, root cause analysis, and continuous improvement practices
• Stay future-focused: Champion modernization, automation, and self-service capabilities to improve developer and user experience while optimizing cost and efficiency
• Vendor Management: Build and manage strong vendor relationships (including managed service partners), ensuring quality delivery, accountability, and alignment to business outcomes

Operating at the intersection of financial services and technology, Principal builds financial tools that help our customers live better lives. We take pride in being a purpose-led firm, motivated by our mission to make financial security accessible to all. Our mission, integrity, and customer focus have made us a trusted leader for more than 140 years.

Who You Are

• Bachelor's degree (preference in a computer science, technology, engineering or math-related field) or equivalent experience
• 8+ years of enterprise-level technical experience, demonstrating progressive responsibility and impact
• Formal people leadership experience, coaching talent, and building a culture of accountability and collaboration
• Experience leading complex infrastructure or platform teams, with exposure to mainframe environments
• Strong background in vendor management, including managing managed service providers and holding partners accountable for outcomes
• Experience defining strategy, influencing across stakeholders, and leading through organizational and technology change
• Proven ability to influence across global teams and leaders in a highly matrixed environment
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to translate between technical and business stakeholders

Skills That Will Help You Stand Out

• 4+ years of technology leadership managing and mentoring direct reports; proven ability to build strong teams and a culture of accountability
• Deep experience with mainframe platforms and architecture
• Experience leading modernization or platform transformation efforts (e.g., offloading, integration, or migration strategies)
• Familiarity with capacity planning, infrastructure lifecycle management, and large-scale system integrations
• Experience working in highly regulated environments with strong security and audit requirements
• Background partnering closely with business units to align technology roadmaps to evolving business strategies

Salary Range Information

Salary ranges below reflect targeted base salaries. Non-sales positions have the opportunity to participate in a bonus program. Sales positions are eligible for sales incentives, and in some instances a bonus plan, whereby total compensation may far exceed base salary depending on individual performance. Actual compensation for all roles will be based upon geographic location, work experience, education, licensure requirements and/or skill level and will be finalized at the time of offer.
Salary Range (Non-Exempt expressed as hourly; Exempt expressed as yearly)

$145000 - $185000 / year
Time Off Program

Flexible Time Off (FTO) is provided to salaried (exempt) employees and provides the opportunity to take time away from the office with pay for vacation, personal or short-term illness. Employees dont accrue a bank of time off under FTO and there is no set number of days provided.
Pension Eligible

Yes Work Environments

This role offers an in-office and hybrid (blending at least three office days in a typical workweek) work arrangement in Des Moines, IA.

Our Engineering Culture

Through our product-driven Agile/Lean DevOps environment, we’ve fostered a culture of innovation and experimentation across our development teams. As a customer-focused organization, we work closely with our end users and product owners to understand and rapidly respond to emerging business needs.

Collaboration is embedded into everything we do – from the products we develop to the quality service we provide. We’re driven by the belief that diversity of thought, background, and perspective is critical to creating the best products and experiences for our customers.

Work Authorization/Sponsorship

At this time, we're not considering applicants that need any type of immigration sponsorship (additional work authorization or permanent work authorization) now or in the future to work in the United States. This includes, but IS NOT LIMITED TO: F1-OPT, F1-CPT, H-1B, TN, L-1, J-1, etc. For additional information around work authorization needs please use the following links.

Nonimmigrant Workers and Green Card for Employment-Based Immigrants

Investment Code of Ethics

For Principal Asset Management positions, you’ll need to follow an Investment Code of Ethics related to personal and business conduct as well as personal trading activities for you and members of your household. These same requirements may also apply to other positions across the organization.

Experience Principal

At Principal, we value connecting on both a personal and professional level. Together, we’re imagining a more purpose-led future for financial services – and that starts with you. Our success depends on the unique experiences, backgrounds, and talents of our employees. And we support our employees the same way we support our customers: with comprehensive, competitive benefit offerings crafted to protect their physical, financial, and social well-being. Check out our careers site to learn more about our purpose, values and benefits.

Principal is an Equal Opportunity Employer

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status.

Posting Window

We will accept applications for 3 full days following the Original Posting Date, after which the posting may remain open or be removed based upon applications received. If we choose to post the job again, we will accept additional applications for at least 1 full day following the Most Recently Posted Date. Please submit applications in a timely manner as there is no guarantee the posting will be available beyond the applicable deadline.
Original Posting Date

6/1/2026
Most Recently Posted Date

6/2/2026

Principal uses artificial intelligence tools to assist in reviewing and evaluating job applications, fraud prevention, and candidate matching and comparisons. These AI tools support our human recruiters in the initial review process but do not make final hiring decisions without human involvement. By submitting your application, you acknowledge this use of AI in our recruitment process. Please review our Workforce (U.S.) Privacy Notice for more details on our practices and your data privacy rights.

LinkedIn Hashtag

#LI-EW1