Director, Engineering

**When you join Sallie Mae, you become a champion for all students.** We're on a mission to power confidence as students begin their unique journey. To help them plan their higher education, successfully finish, and prepare for life after school. To help them Start smart. Learn big. Students need guidance navigating this important time in their life. They need someone who acknowledges that their education path is unique. They need a partner willing to evolve and not only meet but surpass their expectations. We're changing. Because students need a better way. We're looking for people who are excited to drive this transformation. To break barriers and think of new ways to adapt, help, and create better experiences for students-and for each other. This is where diverse backgrounds, beliefs, and perspectives matter. It's where you're empowered to bring your authentic self to work. Feeling your best allows you to do your best. Our benefits take care of the whole you-from physical and mental to financial and professional. You'll get opportunities to further your education and career, support for you and your family (including your pets!), paid time off to volunteer for the things that matter to you, and more. We're obsessed with impact and making a real difference. For us, that means putting relationships first, asking "why not?" when tackling challenges, and continuously learning new skills. Come do more than join something, change something. For students, for future generations, for the future of education. **What You'll Contribute** As **Director of Authentication (Customer and Workforce)** , you will lead the delivery, modernization, and operational excellence of authentication services supporting both customer and employee identities. Reporting to **Senior Director, Engineering** , you'll manage a team of talented engineers to deliver secure, scalable authentication platforms that enable seamless, frictionless digital experiences at scale. You'll drive technical execution on key strategic initiatives, ensure robust daily operations, and partner with stakeholders to provide resilient, compliant authentication solutions aligned with organizational goals. Your expertise across hybrid and cloud identity environments will be critical as the organization advances its cloud-first identity strategy. **What You'll Do** + Lead and mentor a team of senior authentication engineers, fostering technical excellence and accountability in delivery. + Oversee day-to-day operations, automation, monitoring, and support for authentication services across both on-premises and cloud-based environments, ensuring high reliability and performance. + Execute modernization initiatives that transition authentication services from legacy platforms to modern, cloud-centric solutions, utilizing both Active Directory and Microsoft Entra ID as the environment evolves. + Integrate PingOne CIAM for customer authentication and leverage Microsoft identity platforms for workforce authentication, driving operational excellence and seamless user experiences. + Ensure authentication solutions comply with regulatory frameworks (e.g., CJIS, PCI, HIPAA) and reflect security best practices, including Zero Trust principles. + Collaborate closely with infrastructure, application development, security, and business stakeholders to align on requirements, design, and delivery. + Contribute technical expertise in architectural reviews, technical working groups, and compliance activities. + Identify opportunities for process automation and continuous improvement, sharing recommendations with leadership. + Represent the Authentication Engineering function in audits, technical briefings, and project reviews. _The above information is intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by employees assigned to this job; it is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities and qualifications required of employees in this role._ **What You Have** Minimum education, skills and experience required. + Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related field. + 5+ years of experience in authentication or identity services, with at least 3 years in a technical leadership role. + Proven expertise managing hybrid identity environments utilizing both Active Directory and Microsoft Entra ID in large enterprise settings. + Demonstrated success with modernization initiatives, platform migrations, or domain consolidations involving Microsoft identity solutions. + Experience deploying or integrating PingOne CIAM for customer authentication. + Knowledge of compliance and audit requirements for authentication services. + Proficiency in scripting and automation (e.g., PowerShell, Microsoft Graph API). + Strong communication and stakeholder management skills. + Strong knowledge of cloud platforms (e.g., AWS, Azure, or GCP) and experience with cloud services. Preferred education, skills and experience required. + Master's degree in a relevant discipline (e.g., Information Technology, Engineering Management). + Relevant certifications (e.g., Microsoft SC-300). + Experience integrating and supporting PingOne CIAM, Microsoft Entra ID, and Active Directory platforms. + Familiarity with access control models (RBAC, PBAC, ABAC) and AI/ML in IT operations. + Background in regulated industries or public sector environments. **The Americans with Disabilities Act** _The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) prohibits discrimination by employers, in compensation and employment opportunities, against qualified individuals with disabilities who, with or without reasonable accommodation, can perform the "essential functions" of a job. A function may be essential for any of several reasons, including: the job exists to perform that function, the employee holding the job was hired for his/her expertise in performing the function, or only a limited number of employees are available to perform that function._ **Feeling your best helps you do your best:** **Our benefits take care of the whole you-so you can build your work around your life (not the other way around!).** + Competitive base salaries + Bonus incentives + Generous PTO, Floating Holidays and 12 Federal Holidays observed + Support for financial-well-being and retirement 401k with employer match + Comprehensive medical, dental, vision, hospital indemnity, critical illness, pet insurance and more + Employer paid short-term/long-term disability and basic life insurance + Flexible hybrid working arrangements. + Paid parental leave and adoption reimbursement programs + Free access to on-site staffed fitness centers (in Delaware) and gym subsidy (for locations outside Delaware) + Confidential counseling support (EAP), Health Advocacy services and Wellness program with financial incentives + Tuition Reimbursement and Family Scholarship Programs + Career development and training opportunities Not the right fit? Let us know you're interested in a future opportunity by clicking _Introduce Yourself_ in the top-right corner of the page or create an account to set up email alerts as new job postings become available that meet your interest! **Sallie Mae is proud to be an equal opportunity (EEO) employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, genetic information, gender identity, disability, Veteran status or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. Click here ( **to view the U.S. Pay Transparency Policy,** **here ( **for federal job applicant notices, and** **here ( **to view the California Employee Privacy Notice.** **Reasonable accommodations are available for applicants with disabilities in all phases of the application and employment process. To request an accommodation please call (855) 756-2007 and choose option 9. All information you provide will be kept confidential and will be used only to the extent required to provide needed reasonable accommodations.** Sallie Mae is proud to be an equal opportunity (EEO) employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, genetic information, gender identity, disability, Veteran status or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. If you'd like more information about your EEO rights as an applicant, please click Click to view the U.S. Pay Transparency Policy.