Software Engineering Director Save

About Cortico

Cortico is a non-profit committed to fostering constructive conversations and surfacing underheard voices. We believe that intentionally designed and intentionally deployed technology can enable communities to achieve these aims in ways that are more inclusive and scalable.

Our platform brings people together in recorded small-group conversations. Through a powerful combination of AI and human listening, this platform enables organizations to make sense of the conversations they collect, and surfaces community voices into public dialogue and decision making.

Communities have used our platform to lift up voices and perspectives in the selection of Madison, WI’s police chief and the election of Boston’s mayor. Local newsrooms have used our platform to understand citizen agendas and include underheard voices directly in their reporting. Global nonprofits are using our platform to elevate conversations on climate from around the world. Local non-profits have used our platform to surface experiences of people in the margins and amplify their voices through artist collaborations.

Whether in person, on a laptop, or on a phone, we are committed to meeting people where they are. Our platform continues to grow, in both mobile and web format, as we leverage emerging technologies to enhance the process of understanding rich conversation data.Cortico’s unique human/machine system is the product of an effort led by Cortico in cooperation with MIT’s Center for Constructive Communication (MIT CCC).

About this role

We are seeking a Software Engineering Director to lead and manage our team of nine engineers. Our approach is ready to scale. We are looking for a leader who has experience scaling a complex product in a rapidly evolving space. The ideal candidate will be curious to explore the ways in which AI can be used to enhance the human processes central to our mission.

The primary responsibilities of this role include:

• Lead and manage a team of engineers, ensuring alignment with project goals and company mission.
• Oversee engineering workflows, sprints, and deliverables, maintaining a structured and efficient development process.
• Mentor, coach, and support engineers in their professional growth and day-to-day work.
• Partner with Product and Design teams to translate vision into executable engineering plans.
• Advocate for the adoption of AI tools and methodologies to enhance Cortico’s product offerings.
• Ensure best practices in software development, code quality, and system reliability.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with research, product, and leadership teams to align engineering efforts with organizational needs.
• Manage hiring, onboarding, and professional development for the engineering team.

At Cortico, we look at a number of things when setting compensation—like your experience, skills, certifications, training, and what the role needs. Where you land on our range depends on your unique background and experience, as well as where you live. For this role, the estimated pay range is $165,000 – $200,000. We have competitive benefits which can be found here.

Our team members must be based in the U.S. Unfortunately, we are unable to sponsor visas at this time.

About our culture

Cortico’s team is kind, collaborative, inquisitive and inclusive. We have high standards for quality. We help each other learn in order to reach our objectives. We think technology is best built by teams with a diversity of backgrounds, perspectives and experiences. Every team member is a human first, and we strive to create a culture and environment that supports your career goals and respects all of the hats you wear in life, not just the ones that earn you a paycheck.

About our AI approach

At Cortico, we recognize the complexity of building technology that thoughtfully balances human judgement and AI capabilities. We want to avoid push-button AI and instead champion responsible and responsive AI approaches that emphasize transparency, security, human agency, and collaboration.

About you

These are not hard and fast requirements. Some of the best people we’ve ever hired have not ‘fit the profile’ and above all we prize curiosity and ability to learn fast and adapt.

• You’ve read about our mission and values and they strongly align with yours.
• You have deep experience building products that regular folks interact with regardless of whether it’s in a professional or consumer context.
• You have a background in software architecture but now get a kick out of managing teams to collectively achieve more than they could alone.
• You are insatiably curious and love communicating what you’ve learned to others. You love even more listening and learning from the breadth of expertise across the Cortico team.
• You’ve managed enough people in enough teams over the years to see the patterns in behavior that lead to healthy teams and know how to encourage them.
• You are well organized and know how to work with your team to develop plans for deliverables, from development to testing to deployment.
• You have a deep knowledge of Python, Typescript, React or React Native, but don’t limit yourself to any one language or set of tools.
• You think that the more a team reflects the diversity of our customers, the better the product. You like to ensure that you have the widest possible top of funnel for talent.

Next steps

Please click 'Apply' and include the following information:

• A little about you and your interest in the role. Please share with us why this role excites you and how you see yourself in this work.
• A resumé / cv
• Any links you think may be relevant (i.e. portfolio, GitHub, etc.)

We know great candidates come from a wide range of backgrounds. If you’re passionate about what we’re building at Cortico, don’t hesitate to apply—even if you’re not sure you meet every qualification.

About our process

Our interview process includes multiple rounds – mission alignment, system architecture sessions, non-technical collaboration and communication, and a leadership session.  As part of the process, you will be asked to present a technical talk on a project of your choice to the full Cortico team. The final stages include a conversation with our CEO and reference checks. Through all of these sessions we make sure that you have plenty of time to ask questions of Cortico team members. We strive to review and respond to all applicants within three weeks of submission.

Cortico maintains a strong policy of equal opportunity in employment. It is our objective to recruit, hire, and retain the most qualified individuals without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation or identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic or status protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. Our equal employment philosophy applies to all aspects of employment, including recruitment, compensation, benefits, training, promotions, transfers, job benefits, and terminations.