UI Director, Development

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: UI Director, Development

Company: Finastra

Location: Pune, India

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Software Engineering Management / UI Development Leadership

Date Posted: 2026-06-22

Experience Level: 10+ Years

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• This role is a senior leadership position within the UI Development function, responsible for the technical delivery and product development of UI data solutions.

• The position involves leading and scaling a distributed UI engineering organization, encompassing managers and senior individual contributors across multiple time zones.

• A key focus will be on driving the modernization vision and roadmap for UI platforms, migrating from legacy systems to modern web stacks with minimal disruption.

• The Director will own the end-to-end front-end architecture, including framework strategy, design-system governance, and ensuring adherence to security, performance, and accessibility standards.

📝 Enhancement Note: The job title "UI Director, Development" combined with the responsibilities of managing managers and senior individual contributors, owning front-end architecture, and driving modernization efforts, clearly indicates a senior leadership role in UI engineering. The mention of "data solutions" and "product development" suggests a strategic focus beyond just coding, implying involvement in the product lifecycle and its technical foundation. The emphasis on Agile methodology and managing offshore resources points to a global delivery leadership role.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Lead and scale the UI engineering organization, including managers and senior individual contributors, across various time zones, focusing on hiring, organizational structure, career path development, coaching, and performance management.

• Drive the modernization of UI platforms by defining and executing a roadmap aligned with product and platform objectives, facilitating incremental migration from legacy UIs to modern web stacks.

• Own and define the end-to-end front-end architecture, encompassing framework strategy, design-system governance, monorepo/tooling strategy, performance budgets, accessibility standards (WCAG), and observability for UI applications.

• Partner closely with Product, UX, and Customer Experience teams to ensure user-centric design, usability, and accessibility are integral to all technical decisions and product development.

• Establish and champion UI engineering best practices across critical areas such as security, performance, testing, internationalization, and maintainability, ensuring consistent and high-quality delivery.

• Drive UI consistency and reusability across diverse product lines by implementing shared components and standards, thereby reducing fragmentation and accelerating delivery timelines.

• Communicate the architectural vision, associated trade-offs, risks, and progress effectively to executive leadership and cross-functional stakeholders.

• Define, refine, and implement processes, methodologies, and operational procedures to accelerate delivery and integrate testability early in the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC).

• Manage resources effectively using Agile methodologies, including recruitment, budgeting, and performance management for the UI development teams.

• Ensure technical design, systems analysis, coding, automated unit testing, and integration are executed to high standards for UI product development.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities listed go beyond typical development tasks, focusing heavily on leadership, strategy, architecture, process improvement, and team scaling. The explicit mention of managing managers, setting hiring bars, career paths, and performance management, along with budgeting, confirms this is a senior directorial role with significant people and operational oversight. The emphasis on modernization, architecture ownership, and cross-functional collaboration with Product and UX highlights a strategic GTM and product development leadership component.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or equivalent industry experience. Experience:

• Minimum of 10 to 15 years of comprehensive software development experience in senior technical roles.

• At least 10 years of direct management experience within a technology company, with a significant portion including the management of offshore resources.

• Demonstrated track record of leading and developing high-performing UI/front-end engineering teams, including second-line management and distributed/offshore teams.

• Proven success in modernizing large-scale enterprise UIs, from initial vision and business case development through roadmap execution, delivery, and eventual deprecation. Required Skills:

• Strong technical vision and acumen, with the ability to guide architectural decisions and mentor technical leaders.

• Expertise in Agile methodologies, including planning, execution, and resource management within a dynamic development environment.

• Deep understanding of API design principles and integration patterns (REST, GraphQL, API versioning, security, performance) to guide teams in building scalable front-end-to-backend interfaces.

• Demonstrated ownership of front-end architecture at scale, including experience with design systems, performance optimization, observability, and accessibility standards (WCAG).

• Proven experience in leading complex projects from conception to delivery, ensuring on-time, on-budget, and high-quality software releases.

• Experience managing the development of SaaS and cloud-based applications.

• Excellent communication, collaboration, and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to work effectively with cross-functional teams.

• Ability to prioritize and manage work effectively in a fast-paced environment, leveraging and building offshore resources across multiple time zones. Preferred Skills:

• Hands-on depth sufficient to make architecture decisions and mentor leaders across modern web technologies and tooling.

• Experience defining and enforcing UI engineering standards across multiple teams or product lines.

• Experience with modernizing legacy stacks (e.g., JSP) to modern frameworks, consolidation onto a design system, and achieving measurable UX/performance gains.

• Familiarity with monorepo strategies and tooling.

• Experience in internationalization (i18n) and localization (l10n) best practices.

• Proficiency in defining and implementing processes, methodologies, and operational procedures to drive accelerated delivery and infuse testability early in the SDLC.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirements clearly delineate between foundational software development experience and specific leadership/management experience. The emphasis on "second-line management" and managing distributed teams, along with a minimum of 10 years of direct management, highlights the senior leadership aspect. The detailed technical architecture requirements (API design, front-end architecture, design systems, modernization) indicate a need for hands-on technical depth, even at a directorial level, to effectively guide the teams.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase of successful UI modernization initiatives, detailing the challenges, strategic approach, implemented technologies, and measurable improvements in performance, user experience, or development velocity.

• Examples of front-end architecture designs, including considerations for scalability, maintainability, security, and integration with backend systems.

• Demonstrations of how design systems were implemented, governed, and leveraged across multiple product lines to ensure consistency and reusability.

• Case studies illustrating the management of complex software development projects, highlighting methodologies used (e.g., Agile), resource allocation, risk management, and successful delivery outcomes. Process Documentation:

• Evidence of defining and refining development processes, methodologies, and operational procedures to accelerate delivery and embed testability early in the SDLC.

• Examples of implementing and managing Agile frameworks for UI development teams, including sprint planning, backlog management, and continuous integration/continuous deployment (CI/CD) practices.

• Documentation of how performance budgets, accessibility standards (WCAG), and internationalization were integrated into the development workflow and managed throughout the product lifecycle.

• Strategies for managing and developing offshore development and testing teams, including communication protocols, quality assurance measures, and performance tracking.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Director-level role focused on development and architecture, a portfolio should not just show individual contributions but evidence of team leadership, strategic planning, and process implementation. The emphasis here is on demonstrating the ability to manage entire development lifecycles, architectural strategies, and team operations, particularly in a global, distributed context.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• Based on Finastra's global presence, Pune, India's competitive tech market, and the seniority of a Director-level role with extensive management experience (10-15 years total, 10+ years management), a competitive annual salary is expected.

• For a UI Director, Development in Pune, India, with these qualifications, the estimated salary range would typically fall between ₹35,00,000 to ₹60,00,000 per annum. This range accounts for base salary, potential bonuses, and stock options, subject to negotiation and individual experience. Benefits:

• Flexibility:

  • Unlimited vacation, subject to local regulations and business priorities.
  • Hybrid working arrangements.
  • Paid time off for voting, bereavement, and sick leave.

• Well-being:

  • Confidential one-to-one support through the Employee Assistance Program.
  • Access to Wellbeing Champions and Gather Groups.
  • Monthly events and initiatives focused on employee thriving.

• Health & Financial Security:

  • Medical insurance.
  • Life insurance.
  • Disability insurance.
  • Retirement plans.
  • Lifestyle benefits.

• Sustainability:

  • Paid time off for volunteering.
  • Donation-matching opportunities.

• Inclusion:

  • Involvement in inclusion communities (Count Me In, Culture@Finastra, Proud@Finastra, Disabilities@Finastra, Women@Finastra).

• Career Development:

  • Access to online learning and accredited courses via the Skills & Career Navigator tool.

• Recognition:

  • Participation in the global recognition program, Finastra Celebrates.

  • Opportunity to provide feedback through employee surveys. Working Hours:

• Standard full-time hours, likely around 40 hours per week, with flexibility for hybrid work arrangements. The role requires adaptability to manage teams across different time zones, which may necessitate occasional work outside standard hours for critical meetings or project deadlines.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary estimation is based on research for senior software engineering leadership roles in Pune, India, considering the stated experience level (10+ years total, 10+ years management) and the industry (financial technology). The benefits are directly extracted from the provided text, highlighting Finastra's commitment to employee well-being, development, and flexibility.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Financial Services Software. Finastra is a global leader providing mission-critical solutions across Lending, Payments, and Universal Banking, serving a significant portion of the world's top banks. This context signifies a demanding yet stable industry focused on innovation, security, and reliability.

Company Size: Large Enterprise (Finastra has over 7,000 customers and operates in over 110 countries, implying a significant global workforce). This size suggests well-established processes, potential for large-scale impact, and opportunities for specialized career paths, but also potential for bureaucracy.

Founded: (Information not provided, but Finastra is a well-established entity in the financial technology sector). The company's long-standing presence in the industry implies a mature operational framework and a deep understanding of financial services technology needs.

Team Structure:

• The UI engineering team will likely be structured with managers reporting to this Director, leading teams of senior individual contributors (ICs) and potentially offshore development and testing teams.

• This role requires close collaboration with Product Owners, Architects, Program Managers, and other software engineers/developers.

• A hybrid work model suggests a blend of in-office collaboration and remote work, necessitating strong communication and coordination strategies. Methodology:

• The team operates using Agile Methodologies, emphasizing iterative development, flexibility, and rapid response to changing requirements.

• A strong focus on technical design, systems analysis, coding, automated unit testing, and integration is expected.

• The role involves liaising with Product Owners and Architects, indicating a structured approach to product development and technical strategy.

• Emphasis on modernization, moving from legacy systems to modern web stacks, suggests a proactive approach to technology adoption and continuous improvement.

Company Website: https://www.finastra.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: The industry context (Financial Services Software) implies a need for high standards in security, compliance, and reliability. The company's scale suggests ample resources and potential for complex, impactful projects, but also the need for clear processes to navigate a large organization. The explicit mention of Agile and collaboration with various stakeholders points to a dynamic, team-oriented development environment.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role represents a senior leadership position within the UI Development domain, equivalent to a Director or Head of UI Engineering. It involves strategic decision-making, organizational leadership, and significant technical oversight. The scope extends beyond individual projects to encompass the entire UI engineering function and its contribution to the company's product strategy.

Reporting Structure: The UI Director, Development will report to a higher-level executive, likely a VP or SVP of Engineering or Technology, and will directly manage other managers and senior individual contributors. They will also have significant cross-functional interactions with Product, UX, Architecture, and Program Management teams.

Operations Impact: This role has a direct and substantial impact on the company's revenue and business decisions by:

• Ensuring the delivery of high-quality, user-centric UI products that drive customer acquisition and retention.

• Leading the modernization of UI platforms, which can improve operational efficiency, reduce technical debt, and enable faster feature delivery, directly impacting time-to-market and competitive advantage.

• Managing significant budgets and resources for the UI development organization, optimizing spend for maximum ROI.

• Shaping the technical direction and architecture of core product offerings, influencing future product development and market positioning. Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership Advancement: Potential to move into VP-level roles, overseeing broader engineering functions or specific product portfolios.

• Strategic Impact: Opportunity to influence the overall technology strategy and product roadmap of Finastra.

• Technical Specialization/Broader Scope: While leading UI, there's potential to gain exposure to other areas of the technology stack or expand responsibilities to include other development domains.

• Mentorship and Team Development: Significant opportunity to shape and develop engineering talent, build high-performing teams, and establish best practices that can be replicated across the organization.

• Industry Influence: As a leader in a major financial services software company, there's potential to contribute to industry standards and best practices in UI development and financial technology.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Director" title and responsibilities clearly place this role at a senior management level. The impact on revenue and business decisions is derived from the critical nature of UI in customer experience and product adoption, as well as the strategic implications of modernizing technology stacks. Growth opportunities are framed within the context of senior technical leadership progression and strategic influence within a large enterprise.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid work environment, indicating a blend of on-site and remote work. This usually means a modern office setup designed for collaboration, meetings, and focused work, alongside the flexibility of remote work.

Office Location(s): Pune, India. This location is a major technology hub in India, suggesting access to a strong talent pool and a well-developed professional infrastructure.

Workspace Context:

• The workspace will likely support a collaborative culture, with meeting rooms equipped for hybrid interactions and spaces designed for team sync-ups.

• Access to robust IT infrastructure, development tools, and potentially company-provided hardware essential for modern software development will be available.

• Opportunities for direct interaction with local team members, as well as virtual collaboration tools to connect with global teams, will be prevalent. Work Schedule:

• The standard working hours are likely 40 hours per week, typical for a full-time role.

• However, the hybrid nature and the requirement to manage distributed teams across time zones will necessitate flexibility. This may involve occasional early morning or late evening calls to align with global counterparts, a common aspect of international leadership roles.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid model is a key aspect of the work environment. For a leadership role managing global teams, flexibility beyond standard hours is often implied, especially for critical coordination and collaboration activities. The Pune location provides context for the specific office environment and talent pool.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A recruiter or HR representative will conduct an initial screening to assess basic qualifications, experience, and cultural fit.

• Hiring Manager Interview: An interview with Gregory Guy (or another senior leader) to discuss strategic vision, leadership philosophy, experience in managing large teams, and specific challenges related to UI modernization and architecture.

• Technical Deep Dive: Interviews with senior engineers, architects, and potentially peers from Product or UX to assess technical depth, architectural understanding, and problem-solving skills. This may involve case studies or scenario-based questions.

• Cross-functional Interviews: Discussions with stakeholders from Product Management, UX Design, and potentially Operations to evaluate collaboration skills, understanding of user needs, and ability to drive consensus.

• Executive Interview: A final interview with a senior executive (e.g., VP of Engineering) to ensure alignment with company strategy, leadership expectations, and cultural fit at the highest level.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Focus on Leadership & Strategy: Your portfolio should highlight your ability to lead teams, define technical strategy, and drive significant organizational change (e.g., UI modernization).

• Quantify Impact: For each project or initiative, clearly articulate the problem, your role, the solution, and the measurable outcomes (e.g., % improvement in performance, reduction in bugs, increase in developer velocity, customer satisfaction scores).

• Showcase Architecture & Process: Include examples of architectural diagrams, design system components, process flowcharts, and documentation that demonstrate your understanding of scalable, maintainable, and efficient development practices.

• Highlight Team Management: Provide examples of how you've hired, developed, and managed high-performing teams, including strategies for managing distributed and offshore resources.

• Tailor to Finastra: Research Finastra's product offerings and market position. Frame your portfolio examples to show how your experience aligns with their strategic goals, particularly in financial services software and UI innovation.

Challenge Preparation:

• Be prepared for scenario-based questions related to managing technical debt, migrating legacy systems, balancing innovation with stability, and leading distributed teams.

• Practice articulating complex technical concepts and architectural decisions clearly and concisely.

• Develop a strong understanding of Agile principles and how to apply them effectively in a large, global organization.

• Prepare to discuss your leadership style, how you foster talent, and how you handle performance issues within your team.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process for a Director-level role is typically multi-stage and rigorous, involving various stakeholders to ensure comprehensive evaluation. The portfolio review is critical for demonstrating tangible leadership and strategic impact, not just technical skills.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Modern Web Frameworks: Expertise in at least one major front-end framework (e.g., React, Angular, Vue.js) is essential, given the role's focus on modern web stacks.

• JavaScript/TypeScript: Proficient understanding and application of modern JavaScript and TypeScript.

• HTML5/CSS3: Strong foundation in semantic HTML and advanced CSS for building responsive and accessible UIs.

• Build Tools & Bundlers: Familiarity with tools like Webpack, Vite, or Parcel for efficient front-end development workflows.

• Version Control: Mastery of Git and associated workflows (e.g., Gitflow) for collaborative development.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Web Analytics Platforms: Experience with tools like Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics, or similar for tracking user behavior and application performance.

• Performance Monitoring Tools: Familiarity with tools for application performance monitoring (APM) and front-end performance analysis (e.g., Lighthouse, WebPageTest, New Relic, Dynatrace).

• Dashboarding Tools: Ability to interpret and guide the creation of dashboards (e.g., using tools like Tableau, Power BI, or internal solutions) to visualize UI performance and usage metrics.

CRM & Automation:

• Project Management & Collaboration Tools: Proficiency with tools like Jira, Confluence, Asana, or similar for managing Agile workflows, documentation, and team collaboration.

• CI/CD Tools: Experience with setting up and managing continuous integration and continuous deployment pipelines (e.g., Jenkins, GitLab CI, GitHub Actions) for front-end applications.

• API Gateway/Management Tools: Understanding of tools used for managing API integrations, security, and performance.

📝 Enhancement Note: While specific tools are not listed, the description implies a need for expertise in modern front-end development technologies, architecture, and associated tooling for building scalable, performant, and maintainable web applications. The emphasis on modernization and best practices suggests familiarity with current industry-standard tools and methodologies.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Excellence & Quality: A commitment to delivering high-quality, robust, and performant UI solutions that meet stringent industry standards.

• Innovation & Modernization: A forward-thinking approach to technology, embracing modern stacks and methodologies to drive continuous improvement and stay ahead of industry trends.

• Collaboration & Transparency: A culture that encourages open communication, knowledge sharing, and strong partnerships across teams (Product, UX, Architecture, Offshore).

• Customer-Centricity: A deep focus on understanding user needs and delivering intuitive, accessible, and valuable user experiences that drive business success.

• Efficiency & Agility: A dedication to optimizing development processes, leveraging automation, and adapting quickly to changing requirements and market dynamics.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Proactive engagement with Product Management, UX/CX, and Architecture teams to align on strategy, requirements, and technical direction.

• Data-Driven Decision Making: Utilizing metrics and performance data to inform architectural choices, process improvements, and strategic planning.

• Empowerment & Accountability: Fostering a team environment where individuals and teams are empowered to make decisions and are held accountable for delivering results.

• Global Team Synergy: Developing effective strategies for seamless collaboration and communication between onshore and offshore teams, ensuring shared understanding and unified execution.

📝 Enhancement Note: The values and collaboration style are inferred from the role's responsibilities, the company's industry, and typical practices in modern software development leadership. The emphasis on modernization, global teams, and cross-functional partnerships is key.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Modernization at Scale: Migrating large, complex enterprise UIs from legacy systems to modern stacks while ensuring business continuity and minimizing risk is a significant undertaking.

• Managing Distributed Teams: Effectively leading and aligning managers and engineers across multiple time zones, cultures, and potentially varying levels of infrastructure and support.

• Balancing Innovation and Stability: Implementing new technologies and modernizing architecture while maintaining the stability and security required for financial services software.

• Talent Acquisition and Retention: Attracting and retaining top UI engineering talent in a competitive market, especially for senior and leadership roles.

• Cross-functional Alignment: Ensuring consistent understanding and buy-in from Product, UX, and other stakeholders on technical strategy and execution.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Leadership Training: Opportunities to develop advanced skills in managing large engineering organizations, strategic planning, and executive communication.

• Emerging Technology Adoption: Staying at the forefront of UI development trends, exploring new frameworks, tools, and architectural patterns.

• Industry Best Practices: Deepening expertise in areas like scalable front-end architecture, design systems, accessibility, and performance optimization within the financial services domain.

• Mentorship Programs: Potential to mentor junior leaders and engineers, and to be mentored by senior executives within Finastra.

• Strategic Project Ownership: Leading high-impact, transformative projects that offer significant visibility and career advancement opportunities.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are directly derived from the responsibilities outlined, particularly the modernization mandate and the global team management. Growth opportunities are framed within senior leadership progression and the continuous learning required in the tech industry.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe your vision for modernizing a large-scale enterprise UI. What are the key phases, potential roadblocks, and how would you measure success?" (Focus on phased approach, risk mitigation, KPIs like performance, developer velocity, user satisfaction).

• "How would you structure and scale a UI engineering team across multiple time zones, including managing offshore resources? What are your key principles for effective global team leadership?" (Discuss org design, communication protocols, performance management, cultural sensitivity).

• "Walk me through a time you had to make a significant architectural decision for a front-end application. What were the trade-offs, and how did you ensure alignment with stakeholders?" (Highlight decision-making process, technical rationale, risk assessment, stakeholder buy-in).

• "How do you balance the need for rapid feature delivery with maintaining code quality, performance, and security in a regulated industry like financial services?" (Discuss Agile practices, CI/CD, testing strategies, security protocols, technical debt management). Company & Culture Questions:

• "What excites you about Finastra and this specific role? How does your leadership philosophy align with our values?" (Research Finastra's mission, products, and stated values. Connect your leadership style to their culture).

• "How do you foster a culture of innovation and continuous improvement within your engineering teams?" (Provide examples of encouraging experimentation, learning from failures, and adopting new technologies).

• "Describe a situation where you had to collaborate closely with Product and UX teams. What was the outcome, and how did you ensure a user-centric approach?" (Showcase collaboration skills and understanding of the product development lifecycle). Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Start with Impact: Begin your portfolio presentation with the most significant achievements, clearly stating the business problem and the quantifiable results.

• Structure Your Case Studies: For each key project, follow a clear narrative: Problem -> Your Role/Strategy -> Solution/Implementation -> Results/Impact.

• Show, Don't Just Tell: Use diagrams, screenshots, and brief code snippets (if appropriate and relevant) to illustrate your points. Focus on architectural diagrams, design system examples, and process flows.

• Emphasize Leadership & Process: For this role, highlight how you led teams, managed resources, defined processes, and drove architectural decisions, not just individual technical contributions.

• Be Prepared for Deep Dives: Anticipate technical questions on architecture, performance, and tooling. Be ready to discuss the "why" behind your decisions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The strategy questions are designed to probe leadership capabilities, strategic thinking, and problem-solving skills relevant to the role's core responsibilities of modernization, team management, and architectural ownership. Portfolio presentation advice focuses on demonstrating tangible impact and leadership.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations position:

• Submit your application through the provided Workday link: https://finastra.wd3.myworkdayjobs.com/FINC/job/Pune/UI-Director--Development_REQ0126_0035921

• Customize Your Resume: Tailor your resume to highlight your extensive experience in UI engineering leadership, team management (especially with offshore resources), front-end architecture, and successful UI modernization initiatives. Use keywords from the job description such as "UI Engineering," "Front-end Architecture," "Agile Methodology," "SaaS," "Cloud-based Applications," and "People Management."

• Prepare Your Portfolio: Curate a selection of your strongest work that demonstrates leadership in UI development, architectural vision, process improvement, and team scaling. Focus on case studies with quantifiable results and clear explanations of your strategic approach.

• Research Finastra: Understand Finastra's products, market position in financial services software, and company culture. Prepare to discuss how your leadership style and technical vision align with their goals.

• Practice Interview Responses: Rehearse answers to common leadership and technical questions, focusing on providing specific examples and demonstrating strategic thinking, problem-solving abilities, and a strong understanding of modern UI development practices.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.