Director, Software Engineering

About Ascent

Ascent Global Logistics, headquartered in Belleville, Michigan, is a leading global provider of expedited, time-critical logistics solutions and other direct transportation services. The company connects customers to its extensive carrier network, internal ground fleet and airline via its proprietary, digital PEAK freight marketplace, which provides robust carrier capacity and transparent pricing, backed by 24/7/365 logistics experts. Ascent’s offerings include air charter and ground expedited solutions as well as truckload, less-than-truckload, global forwarding, brokerage, and managed transportation services. The experienced Ascent team solves customers’ most challenging logistics needs by providing industry-leading service and top-tier satisfaction.

Our Guiding Principles

At the core of Ascent's culture is a strong commitment to excellence, driven by the passion and dedication of every team member. We're equally dedicated to going above and beyond for our customers, ensuring this commitment extends beyond our team and brings exceptional value to those we serve. We aim for perfect execution in everything we do and ‘play hard’ by creating an environment where tasks are performed with a can-do attitude from start to finish. We ‘play smart’ by delivering on our commitments in an honest, fair and ethical manner. We treat every person with whom we interface with the utmost dignity and respect. We understand that our teammates are our most valuable assets, so we ‘play together’ by making every effort to provide a professional and enjoyable experience, enabling careers to flourish and personal growth to be achieved.

What You’ll Do

The Director of Software Engineer is an experienced, visionary who will lead our software development teams in building and maintaining custom Transportation Management Systems (TMS) and Supply Chain Management Systems (SCMS). This leader will oversee teams developing applications using Angular and Node.js while also managing, supporting and developing Ascent’s existing ColdFusion-based TMS, APT. The role is responsible for the entire software engineering lifecycle, including quality assurance (QA), testing, and automation to enhance development efficiency and reliability.

Key Responsibilities:

• Strategic Leadership & Execution:
  • Define and drive the software engineering strategy, ensuring alignment with business objectives.
  • Oversee the development and maintenance of custom TMS and SCMS software.
  • Provide technical guidance and mentorship to engineering teams.
• Software Development & Architecture:
  • Lead the design, development, and deployment of scalable software solutions using Angular, Node.js, and ColdFusion.
  • Ensure modern development best practices, including CI/CD pipelines, code reviews, and automation.
  • Optimize and modernize legacy ColdFusion-based applications to improve performance and maintainability.
• Team Management & Collaboration:
  • Recruit, manage, and develop high-performing engineering teams.
  • Foster a culture of innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
  • Work cross-functionally with Sales, Operations, and IT teams to ensure seamless integration and performance of systems.
• Quality Assurance & Automation:
  • Implement and enforce robust QA and testing strategies, including automated testing frameworks.
  • Ensure that all software meets high standards of security, performance, and reliability.
  • Drive the adoption of DevOps methodologies and tools to streamline deployments and reduce downtime.
• Budgeting & Vendor Management:
  • Manage the software development budget, optimizing resource allocation.
  • Evaluate and negotiate with third-party vendors and technology partners to support development initiatives.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related field.
• 10+ years of experience in software development, with at least 5 years in a leadership role.
• Proven experience managing teams developing applications with Angular, Node.js, and ColdFusion.
• Strong understanding of microservices architecture, API development, and cloud computing.
• Expertise in CI/CD, DevOps, QA automation, and Agile methodologies.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and strategic decision-making skills.
• Experience in transportation, logistics, or supply chain industries is a plus.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with Transportation Management Systems (TMS) or logistics software.
• Expertise in relational and NoSQL databases (e.g., PostgreSQL, MySQL, MongoDB).
• Familiarity with event-driven architectures and messaging queues (Kafka, RabbitMQ).
• Hands-on experience with front-end frameworks (Cold Fusion, React, Angular, or Vue.js) is a plus.
• Prior leadership experience managing or coaching engineering teams.

Ascent’s Competitive Benefits

• 401(k) and employer matching

• Life Insurance

• Health, Dental, Vision Insurance

• Short- & Long-Term Disability

• Paid Time Off (PTO)

• Employee Assistance Program

• Paid Parental Leave

• Employee Wellness Program

• Paid Holidays

• Employee Recognition Programs

• Flexible Spending Account (FSA)

• Tuition Reimbursement

• Health Savings Account (HSA)

• Overtime, Differential & Bonus Pay

Salary Range: $191,000 - $224,000