Tech Lead, Product & Inforce App Development

Product Domain Technical Lead

Please note that we do not offer visa sponsorship for this position.

Role Summary

The Product Domain Technical Lead plays a pivotal role within the Product & Inforce organization, driving major Product Launch initiatives and shaping technical solutions across the product ecosystem. This is a hands-on technical leadership role that requires deep expertise in life and annuity products, application architecture, and integration frameworks.

As a key member of cross-functional SCRUM teams, you will collaborate with Product Managers, Scrum Masters, Developers, and Quality Engineers across global locations. You will ensure the delivery of end-to-end technical solutions for complex business needs within a dynamic environment. This position provides an opportunity to contribute directly to product modernization and innovation initiatives.

Key Responsibilities

Technical Leadership & Delivery

• Provide hands-on technical leadership for Product Domain initiatives, including design, development, integration, and implementation.
• Translate business and product requirements into detailed technical designs and specifications aligned with enterprise architecture standards.
• Evaluate technology options and trade-offs to ensure feasibility, scalability, and performance of solutions.
• Drive the adoption of AI-assisted coding, refactoring, and documentation practices to enhance productivity and reduce legacy maintenance overhead.
• Drive end-to-end solution delivery, from architecture through deployment and support.

Collaboration & Stakeholder Management

• Partner with Product Owners and Business Stakeholders to align technology strategy with product vision and business goals.
• Build strong trust-based relationships across departments to drive alignment and innovation.
• Work closely with Architects and IT teams to define, implement, and maintain standards, processes, and roadmaps for the Product domain.
• Coordinate with cross-functional teams to ensure efficient resource utilization and timely delivery of initiatives.

Process Improvement & Innovation

• Identify opportunities for application modernization, rationalization, and transformation toward a simplified, modern system platform.
• Lead process re-engineering and technology implementation initiatives to optimize operational efficiency.
• Identify opportunities to apply Generative AI for knowledge extraction, documentation creation, and code migration from legacy systems.
• Support strategic financial developments for new product launches, ensuring technology enablement aligns with financial and regulatory objectives.

Governance & Quality

• Ensure that technical solutions meet business requirements and comply with architecture, security, and quality standards.
• Manage estimation, cost, and scheduling for all domain-related solutions and projects.
• Oversee the release management and testing processes to ensure high-quality delivery.
• Establish best practices for AI governance, model validation, and responsible AI usage within Mainframe Product development.
• Communicate effectively across organizational levels, providing clear updates and guidance on project progress and risks.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field (or equivalent experience).
• 15+ years of experience in Full System Development Life Cycle (SDLC).
• Expertise in IBM Mainframe technologies: COBOL, JCL, SQL, CICS, DB2, VSAM, ISPF/PDF, FILE-AID, MVS, Endevor.
• Proven experience in Life and Annuity Product systems, particularly on Vantage Policy Administration Platform:
• 15+ years of Product domain experience preferred.
• 7+ years leading teams on Vantage systems preferred.
• Strong conceptual and analytical skills with the ability to design and build complex algorithms.
• Demonstrated success leading in matrixed, outsourced environments, leveraging influence and collaboration.
• Experience in managing third-party IT suppliers cost-effectively.
• Familiarity with Agile methodologies and iterative delivery processes highly desired.
• Strong organizational, leadership, and communication skills with a proactive, adaptive mindset.

Key Competencies

• Strategic Thinking and Technical Vision
• Leadership in Cross-Functional Teams
• Architecture and Integration Design
• Agile and DevOps Practices
• Change and Risk Management
• Continuous Improvement and Innovation

Career Path

This role offers a clear progression toward an Applications Domain Head position within the Product & Inforce organization, providing opportunities for strategic leadership and enterprise impact.

The base compensation range represents the low and high end of the range for this position. Actual compensation will vary and may be above or below the range based on various factors including but not limited to qualifications, skills, competencies, location, and experience. The range listed is just one component of our total compensation package for employees.

Other rewards may include an annual bonus, quarterly bonuses, commissions, and other long-term incentive compensation, depending on the position. National Life offers a competitive total rewards package which includes: a 401(k) retirement plan match; medical, dental, and vision insurance; a company funded wellness account for director and below employees; 10 paid holidays; a generous paid time off plan (22 days of combined time-off for non-exempt employees and exempt employees have discretion in managing their time, including scheduling time off in the normal course of business, but in no event will exempt employees receive less sick time than required by state or local law); 6 weeks of paid parental leave; and 6 weeks of paid family leave after a year of full-time employment.

National Life is accepting applications for this role on an ongoing basis and the role remains open until filled.

National Life Group® is a trade name of National Life Insurance Company, Montpelier, VT – founded in 1848, Life Insurance Company of the Southwest, Addison, TX – chartered in 1955, and their affiliates. Each company of National Life Group is solely responsible for its own financial condition and contractual obligations. Life Insurance Company of the Southwest is not an authorized insurer in New York and does not conduct insurance business in New York. Equity Services, Inc., Member FINRA/SIPC, is a Broker/Dealer and Registered Investment Adviser affiliate of National Life Insurance Company. All other entities are independent of the companies of National Life Group.

National Life Group

1 National Life Dr

Montpelier, VT 05604

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