IT Director of Applications

IT Director of Applications – AI, Azure/AKS, Application Modernization LOCATION: Lincolnshire, IL or Chicago, IL – Hybrid, on-site at least 3 days per week PAY: Target salary for this role is between $180k and $250,000 annually + bonus but may vary based on experience. ENGAGEMENT TYPE: Direct Hire What You’ll Be Doing This is an experienced, hands-on IT Director of Applications role leading application development and modernization for an established organization undergoing significant technology transformation. You’ll provide both technical and organizational leadership across a diverse portfolio of business-critical applications. This is not a people-management-only position. You’ll be expected to engage in architecture and technical discussions, guide development teams, work closely with senior business leaders, and ensure major initiatives get across the finish line. A major focus is modernizing and re-platforming legacy applications while building new applications internally with extensive use of AI-assisted development. The environment uses AI agents, coding assistants, and agentic development tools alongside a modern application stack that includes Azure, AKS, Redis, Node.js, and PostgreSQL. You’ll Be Responsible For Developing and executing application strategy aligned with business goals and digital transformation initiatives Leading modernization and re-platforming of legacy applications while maintaining systems that cannot yet be retired Driving greenfield application development with significant use of AI-assisted development Providing hands-on technical leadership across application architecture, development, integration, deployment, and maintenance Evaluating and integrating AI platforms and development tools into application architectures and engineering workflows Guiding teams on AI-assisted development, testing, code review, prompt design, and model selection Establishing appropriate AI guardrails related to data privacy, security, intellectual property, regulatory compliance, and human review Leading application projects from planning through successful delivery Partnering closely with business product owners, developers, and DevOps/cloud resources Building trusted relationships with multiple levels of business leadership Leading, mentoring, and developing internal IT team members Managing technical debt and helping teams successfully transition from legacy systems to new platforms This is a high-impact opportunity for an established technology leader who enjoys an intense, fast-moving environment and wants to combine strategic leadership with meaningful hands-on technical involvement. Who We’re Looking For 15+ years of experience in IT leadership roles Established Director-level or comparable technology leadership experience Proven hands-on technical leadership experience, with the ability to engage in application architecture and development discussions Strong experience across the application development, deployment, integration, and maintenance lifecycle In-depth knowledge of cloud platforms and modern application architectures, including microservices and APIs Experience with Agile and DevOps methodologies Deep applied AI fluency, including hands-on familiarity with large language models, AI coding assistants, and agentic development tools Demonstrated ability to lead complex initiatives through completion and deliver results Strong executive communication and relationship-building skills, including the ability to work effectively with strong personalities Excellent leadership, communication, interpersonal, and problem-solving skills Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related field Ability to work on-site at least three days per week in Lincolnshire or Chicago Ability to travel up to 25% A master’s degree, relevant insurance, membership, loyalty, or automotive industry experience, and certifications such as CISSP, ITIL, SAFe Agile, or PMP are preferred but not required. Prior experience leading an AI-first engineering team or implementing AI development tools is also highly valued. About Our Client Our client is an established organization undergoing significant application modernization and digital transformation. The technology organization is rebuilding portions of its application stack, expanding internal development capabilities, and making extensive use of AI-assisted development to accelerate delivery. WHY ProFocus Candidates come first. ProFocus is a five-time award winner for Best in Staffing for Talent Satisfaction due to our World-Class service to our amazing candidates. Quality process. We invest the time to learn about your skills, experience, and career goals in detail so we can find you a position that is a great fit. Access to hiring managers. We have close relationships with some of the most respected companies, from small businesses to Fortune 500 companies. Due to those relationships, we can provide direct access to managers and positions that may not be available anywhere else. Excellent benefits. We offer medical, dental, vision, 401k, education reimbursement, sick leave, and employer-paid short-term disability and life insurance. Review our detailed benefits here. Want to learn more? Contact one of our recruiters or email info@ProFocusTechnology.com. Please email us your resume to apply: Resume@ProFocusTechnology.com Visit our Job Seekers page to learn more and review other opportunities. ProFocus is an equal opportunity employer. We value diversity in our workplace and encourage all qualified applicants regardless of race, color, age, sex, religion, national origin, physical or mental disability, pregnancy, marital status, veteran or military status, genetic information, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.