Director - Software Engineering

Location: Chennai, India

Job Title: Director - Software Engineering

GCL: F

## Introduction to role:

Are you ready to lead a full-stack DevOps organization that turns modern science into secure, scalable software used across global R&D? In this role, you will shape and deliver in-house products that help our scientists move faster from discovery to delivery, ultimately improving outcomes for patients. What could you accomplish by combining your cloud-native depth, AI-augmented engineering practices, and leadership to scale critical platforms across the enterprise?

Based in Chennai, you will guide a high-performing, multi-functional team and partner closely with Business Product Owners and collaborators. You will set the engineering bar for quality, security and compliance, drive measurable product outcomes, and cultivate a culture of modern, agile development where automation, observability and continuous improvement are standard.

## Accountabilities:

• Product Strategy and Road mapping: Collaborate with collaborators to validate requirements, prioritize features, and define timelines and achievements that deliver clear business outcomes.
• End-to-End DevOps Ownership: Lead the full product lifecycle from planning and build through development, testing, launch and operations, ensuring reliability, security, and cost efficiency.
• Hands-on Technical Leadership: Give to build and code reviews; act as a senior developer on sophisticated features to unlock velocity and uphold engineering excellence.
• Agile Pod Leadership: Drive an agile POD to deliver sophisticated enterprise systems; embed enterprise standards focused on maintaining quality, security, and conformity; foster continuous integration and del ivery.
• Performance, Observability and Optimization: Supervise product performance, analyze metrics, and implement improvements using robust logging, monitoring and alerting to raise availability and user experience.
• Engineering Culture and Coaching: Mentor engineers, promote cross-team teamwork, and evangelize modern, AI-augmented software practices and rigors.
• People Leadership: Develop talent; handle performance, hiring, pay and training decisions; shape a diverse, high-trust team environment that scales.
• Collaborator Partnership and Communication: Align engineering roadmaps with business priorities; communicate progress and risks clearly; remove obstacles to delivery.
• Risk, Security and Compliance: Uphold security-by-design, identity and access guidelines, and supervised ways of working appropriate to R&D contexts.

## Essential Skills/Experience:

• 10+ years of IT experience
• Experience in crafting and implementing Cloud Native applications
• 5+ years working with administrating cloud infrastructure, e.g., Azure, AWS, Kubernetes, Docker, Terraform, 5+ years within Linux and Network administration
• Experience in Identification/Access Management such as SAML and OAuth
• Experience working with Database administration, i.e. MongoDB
• Software development skills in Python, SQL,
• Regulatory knowledge, i.e GxP is a merit
• Should have worked in distributed agile model and continuous integration
• Analytical skills with attention to detail in quality
• Experiences in CI/CD pipeline implementation
• Demonstrate ability to apply technical knowledge to multiple systems and support multiple business groups and applications
• Superb communication and facilitation skills, with the ability to work with global teams to achieve objectives, phenomenal teammate
• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Information Science, or equivalent degree is helpful.

## Desirable Skills/Experience:

• Proven leadership of full-stack product teams delivering enterprise systems at scale
• Experience in life sciences domain or R&D workflows
• Expertise with microservices, event-driven architectures, and API design
• Strong observability practice (logging, metrics, tracing) with tools such as Prometheus, Grafana, ELK, or OpenTelemetry
• SRE and operational perfection experience, including reliability patterns and on-call leadership
• Cost optimization and managing prioritisation in public cloud environments
• Experience with modern frontend frameworks (React, Angular) and Python frameworks (FastAPI, Django)
• Familiarity with data privacy, security by build, and regulated environments (GxP)

When we put unexpected teams in the same room, we unleash ambitious thinking with the power to inspire life-changing medicines. In-person working gives us the platform we need to connect, work at pace and challenge perceptions. That's why we work, on average, a minimum of three days per week from the office. But that doesn't mean we're not flexible. We balance the expectation of being in the office while respecting individual flexibility. Join us in our unique and ambitious world.

## Why AstraZeneca:

Here, engineering directly accelerates science to patients. You will work alongside diverse experts who unite sophisticated data, machine learning and modern software to translate complex information into practical decisions that move medicines safely and quickly. We bring surprising combinations of talent together to solve hard problems, value courtesy alongside ambition, and give you the scope to learn fast, raise your profile and see your ideas move from prototype to production at scale.

Lead the team that turns ambitious ideas into reliable products that reach patients faster—take the next step and tell us you’re ready to make this impact today!

**Date Posted**

11-Nov-2026

**Closing Date**

03-Dec-2026

AstraZeneca embraces diversity and equality of opportunity. We are committed to building an inclusive and diverse team representing all backgrounds, with as wide a range of perspectives as possible, and harnessing industry-leading skills. We believe that the more inclusive we are, the better our work will be. We welcome and consider applications to join our team from all qualified candidates, regardless of their characteristics. We comply with all applicable laws and regulations on non-discrimination in employment (and recruitment), as well as work authorization and employment eligibility verification requirements.

AstraZeneca is a global, science-led, patient-focused biopharmaceutical company. We

focus on discovering, developing and commercialising prescription medicines for some

of the world’s most serious diseases. But we are more than one of the world’s leading

pharmaceutical companies.

At AstraZeneca, we’re dedicated to being a Great Place to Work. Where you are empowered

to push the boundaries of science, challenge convention and unleash your entrepreneurial

spirit. To embrace differences and take bold actions to drive the change needed to meet

global healthcare and sustainability challenges.

There is no better place to make a difference in medicine, patients, and society. An inclusive

culture where you will connect different thinking to generate new and valuable opportunities.

Where you will find a commitment to lifelong learning, growth and development for all.

Our Inclusion & Diversity (I&D) mission is to create an inclusive and equitable environment where people belong, using the power of our diversity to push the boundaries of science to deliver life-changing medicines to patients.

Inclusion and diversity are fundamental to the success of our company, because innovation requires breakthrough ideas that only come from a diverse workforce empowered to challenge conventional thinking.

We’re curious about science and the advancement of knowledge. We find creative ways to approach new challenges. We’re driven to make the right choices and be accountable for our actions.

As an organisation centred around what makes us human, we put a big focus on people. Across our business, we want colleagues to wake up excited about their day at the office, in the field, or in the lab. Along with our purpose to bring life-changing medicines to people across the globe, we have a promise to you: to help you realise the full breadth of your potential.

Here, you’ll do work that has the potential to change your life and improve countless others. And, together with your team, you’ll shape a culture that unites and inspires us every day. This is your life at AstraZeneca.