Job Description
WHO WE ARE:
Trellis Company is a nonprofit 501(c)3 corporation focused on helping people leverage the power of post-secondary education and learning to improve their quality of life and the communities where they live.
For more than 40 years Trellis has served as a student loan guarantor, helping to provide trusted guidance and services that help student borrowers successfully repay their federal loans. In addition to pioneering several technologies and services along the way, we have invested in improving student success programs through numerous grants to colleges, universities, and research groups.
Today we have expanded our services beyond higher education to include working with employers and community organizations who are focused on aligning the dreams, goals, and skills needs of employees and employers. Connecting these resources and learning pathways together with our expertise in improving student outcomes helps us all to create better and more predictable futures for those we serve.
Our stability and vision create a unique intersection: a startup environment at a company that also has a stable foundation, resulting in an opportunity for the right candidate to help shape our company's future. This is an exciting time to join the Trellis team!
As we move into the future, we're drawing on our history, branching into new sectors beyond student loans, and delivering the same level of exceptional care and service that our customers have come to depend on. We remain invested in the success of students and higher education institutions. This combination of stability and vision creates a unique intersection: a startup environment at a company that also has a stable foundation, resulting in an opportunity for the right candidate to help shape our company's future. This is an exciting time to join the Trellis team!
WHO YOU ARE:
You are a hands-on technology leader who thrives at the intersection of modern software engineering, people leadership, and business partnership. You bring a strong technical foundation and the ability to translate complex technology into solutions that improve operational efficiency and business outcomes.
You are energized by leading and developing high-performing teams and have experience guiding developers through application modernization, cloud-based solutions, and the integration of AI/ML technologies into real-world, production environments. You balance strategic thinking with practical execution and are comfortable making informed technical decisions in dynamic, enterprise-scale environments.
You excel at collaborating across business units, working closely with stakeholders, project managers, and IT partners to deliver solutions on time and within scope. You value standards, quality, security, and resilience, and you take ownership of ensuring applications are reliable, scalable, and well-governed.
As a leader, you are approachable, accountable, and clear in your communication. You coach and mentor others, set expectations, and create an environment where teams can grow, innovate, and deliver meaningful results. You are comfortable navigating both legacy systems and modern engineering practices, helping organizations evolve while maintaining continuity and stability.
LOCATION:
This is a hybrid position with two required in-office days per week. The role is based in our Round Rock, Texas office. Interviews for this position will be conducted onsite.
JOB SUMMARY
The Development Manager, Information Technology oversees the acquisition, implementation, and ongoing management of enterprise-wide technology solutions including cloud platforms, Artificial Intelligence / Machine Learning (AI/ML) integration, microservices, legacy systems, and mobile/web applications. This role enforces standards and drives technology innovation to improve operational efficiency and cost reduction. This role leads a team of developers and ensures effective collaboration with business units, project managers, and IT teams to deliver projects on time and within scope. The incumbent will rely on experience and judgment to plan, lead, and direct the work of others. This is a hands-on leadership role in making strategic decisions related to all aspects of Trellis' technology/applications, in conjunction with business and technology management.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
The position incumbent is expected to perform the following essential duties and responsibilities:
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES
Education
Required:
Required:
List possible positions the employee(s) could move into as a next step.
Salary: $123,027.00 - $189,288.00
Corporate Annual Incentive: This position is eligible for a corporate annual incentive, subject to the discretion and approval of the Board of Directors and not guaranteed.
Paid Holidays: 11 holidays + 1 floating holiday per year
Comprehensive benefits package including health, dental, vision, and retirement plans.
Trellis Company is a nonprofit 501(c)3 corporation focused on helping people leverage the power of post-secondary education and learning to improve their quality of life and the communities where they live.
For more than 40 years Trellis has served as a student loan guarantor, helping to provide trusted guidance and services that help student borrowers successfully repay their federal loans. In addition to pioneering several technologies and services along the way, we have invested in improving student success programs through numerous grants to colleges, universities, and research groups.
Today we have expanded our services beyond higher education to include working with employers and community organizations who are focused on aligning the dreams, goals, and skills needs of employees and employers. Connecting these resources and learning pathways together with our expertise in improving student outcomes helps us all to create better and more predictable futures for those we serve.
Our stability and vision create a unique intersection: a startup environment at a company that also has a stable foundation, resulting in an opportunity for the right candidate to help shape our company's future. This is an exciting time to join the Trellis team!
As we move into the future, we're drawing on our history, branching into new sectors beyond student loans, and delivering the same level of exceptional care and service that our customers have come to depend on. We remain invested in the success of students and higher education institutions. This combination of stability and vision creates a unique intersection: a startup environment at a company that also has a stable foundation, resulting in an opportunity for the right candidate to help shape our company's future. This is an exciting time to join the Trellis team!
WHO YOU ARE:
You are a hands-on technology leader who thrives at the intersection of modern software engineering, people leadership, and business partnership. You bring a strong technical foundation and the ability to translate complex technology into solutions that improve operational efficiency and business outcomes.
You are energized by leading and developing high-performing teams and have experience guiding developers through application modernization, cloud-based solutions, and the integration of AI/ML technologies into real-world, production environments. You balance strategic thinking with practical execution and are comfortable making informed technical decisions in dynamic, enterprise-scale environments.
You excel at collaborating across business units, working closely with stakeholders, project managers, and IT partners to deliver solutions on time and within scope. You value standards, quality, security, and resilience, and you take ownership of ensuring applications are reliable, scalable, and well-governed.
As a leader, you are approachable, accountable, and clear in your communication. You coach and mentor others, set expectations, and create an environment where teams can grow, innovate, and deliver meaningful results. You are comfortable navigating both legacy systems and modern engineering practices, helping organizations evolve while maintaining continuity and stability.
LOCATION:
This is a hybrid position with two required in-office days per week. The role is based in our Round Rock, Texas office. Interviews for this position will be conducted onsite.
JOB SUMMARY
The Development Manager, Information Technology oversees the acquisition, implementation, and ongoing management of enterprise-wide technology solutions including cloud platforms, Artificial Intelligence / Machine Learning (AI/ML) integration, microservices, legacy systems, and mobile/web applications. This role enforces standards and drives technology innovation to improve operational efficiency and cost reduction. This role leads a team of developers and ensures effective collaboration with business units, project managers, and IT teams to deliver projects on time and within scope. The incumbent will rely on experience and judgment to plan, lead, and direct the work of others. This is a hands-on leadership role in making strategic decisions related to all aspects of Trellis' technology/applications, in conjunction with business and technology management.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
The position incumbent is expected to perform the following essential duties and responsibilities:
- Drive strategic IT plans that enhance organizational effectiveness and efficiency.
- Recommend technology strategies, policies, and procedures by anticipating future needs.
- Direct technology research aligned with organizational goals and user priorities.
- Deliver projects by coordinating scope, resources, schedules, and stakeholders.
- Work across business units to develop solutions that improve operations and meet objectives.
- Establish and enforce technology standards; verify outcomes through audits and quality checks.
- Ensure resilience and security through disaster recovery, backups, and control structures.
- Lead modern engineering practices: integrate AI/ML into production, operationalize data pipelines, and manage CI/CD automation.
- Oversee containerization and orchestration (Docker/Kubernetes) to optimize reliability and cost.
- Maintains quality service by establishing and enforcing organization standards.
- Recommend information technology strategies, policies, and procedures by evaluating organization needs; identifying problems; evaluating trends; anticipating requirements.
- Maintain organization's effectiveness and efficiency by defining, delivering, and supporting strategic plans for implementing information technologies.
- Partner with all areas of the company to work to develop solutions to achieve company's objectives, leveraging technology to improve business operations and efficiency.
- Contribute to overall team effort by accomplishing expected results.
- Provide customer service focused, e.g., attentive to end-user needs, work with due urgency, and attention to detail.
- Lead and Comply with Cybersecurity & Data Privacy standards include FISMA/NIST frameworks and proactively manage risks.
- Participate in training and other learning opportunities to ensure compliance and expand knowledge of company, position, and processes.
- Manage and develop a high-performing team through coaching, performance management, and staffing.
- Communicate job expectations; plan, monitor, and appraise job results; coach, counsel, and discipline employees; initiate, coordinate, and enforce systems, policies, and procedures.
- Maintain staff levels by recruiting, selecting, orienting, and training employees; maintain a safe and secure work environment; develop staff growth opportunities.
- Work with dynamic, cross-functional teams in support of corporate goals and objectives, and in the enhancement of the corporation's technology products, services, and capabilities.
- Creatively apply technology solutions, principles, and procedures to enhance corporate systems and information assets.
- Establish and maintain effective working relationships with peers and team members.
- Independently research complex technical information.
- Support Information Technology's vision, strategic direction, development, and future growth.
- Interact with all levels of management, as necessary.
- Contributes to the development of the company's strategic initiatives.
- Must be available to work flexible hours.
- Assist with special projects as assigned.
- All other duties and responsibilities as assigned.
- Action Oriented
- Builds Effective Teams
- Business Insight
- Collaborates
- Communicates Effectively
- Compliance
- Customer Focus
- Decision Quality
- Demonstrates Self-Awareness
- Develops Talent
- Directs Work
- Diversity Focused
- Organizational Savvy
- Plans and Aligns
- Relationship Management
- Resourcefulness
- Self-Development
- Situational Adaptability
- Strategic Mindset
- Tech Savvy
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES
- Proficiency in software engineering/architecture, design, development and implementation of micro services, web, mobile and AI applications.
- Strong programming background in Java, Python, and/or similar languages
- Strong DevOps skills: CI/CD, automated testing, and release management.
- Containerization & orchestration: Docker, Kubernetes.
- Experience with AI (Artificial Intelligence), Machine Learning, and Data Analytics technologies
- Demonstrated ability to continuously improve and apply knowledge of emerging technologies and best practices.
- Strong organizational and planning skills with the ability to simultaneously handle multiple concurrent projects and activities.
- Ability to make appropriate, informed, sound, independent professional and technical decisions regarding priorities and timeliness.
- Ability to apply knowledge of business and management principles involved in planning, leadership technique, production methods and coordination of people and resources.
- Demonstrated In-depth understanding of information infrastructure technology concepts and trends.
- Strong oral, and non-verbal communication and listening skills and ability to communicate functional and technical topics across all organizational levels.
- Exceptional interpersonal relationship skills including, but not limited to, effective team collaboration, flexibility, dependability, and conflict resolution.
- Demonstrated strong Microsoft Office Suite skills.
- Ability to handle stressful situations and sensitive issues appropriately.
Education
Required:
- Bachelor's degree in computer science, Computer Engineering, Information Systems, or related field.
- Master's degree in computer science, Computer Engineering, Information Systems, or related field.
Required:
- Seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience in medium-to-large enterprises, including multiple aspects of team leadership, relevant technology systems, planning, designing, developing, and support within distributed and technically diverse environments.
- Seven (7) years of working experience in architecture, development, testing and debugging applications in Java and Python/OO programming languages, web and mobile technologies.
- Minimum five (5) years of experience with DevOps tools like Git, CI/CD, Docker, Kubernetes.
- Minimum two (2) years of experience in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning technologies and tools.
- Experience integrating AI/ML models into production systems and/or Machine Learning Operations (MLOps).
- Data Transformation experience using extract, transform and load (ETL) tools.
- Familiarity with legacy systems (COBOL on z/OS) and migration to modern technologies.
- Occasionally must move about inside the office.
- Must be able to provide presentations and services to various management and employees in a variety of business and work settings.
- Repetitive motion. Regularly operates a computer, phone, and general office equipment.
- Regularly uses hands/fingers to handle, feel, or grasp; reaches or extends arm(s) in any direction.
- Hearing and speaking. Regularly talks with other employees and on the phone, virtually, or in person with clients. Regularly uses hearing to listen and respond to internal and external contacts.
- Visual acuity. Regularly must have close visual acuity to view and enter information into computer and software systems, analyze data, develop presentations and reports, and other materials.
- Mental focus. Requires worker to maintain focus and exchange detailed and accurate information through oral and written communication.
- Work is in an office, with a surrounding small cubicle work environment.
- Work environment is climate controlled with no substantial exposure to adverse environmental conditions.
List possible positions the employee(s) could move into as a next step.
- Director, IT Application Management
Salary: $123,027.00 - $189,288.00
Corporate Annual Incentive: This position is eligible for a corporate annual incentive, subject to the discretion and approval of the Board of Directors and not guaranteed.
Paid Holidays: 11 holidays + 1 floating holiday per year
Comprehensive benefits package including health, dental, vision, and retirement plans.
About Trellis Company