Director, Innovation & R&D

Job Summary:

ABOUT THE COMPANY
For over 40 years, Red River Software has been a nationally recognized provider of back-office accounting software and point-of-sale solutions for convenience stores, co-ops, fuel dealers, and petroleum marketers. From the pump to the back office, Red River provides tools necessary to improve accuracy and efficiency for businesses across the country.

ABOUT THE ROLE

Red River Software is looking for a forward-thinking technology leader who is passionate about innovation and excited to help shape the future of our products through Artificial Intelligence.

The Director, Research & Development (AI & Innovation) will lead our software engineering and R&D efforts while championing the adoption of AI across the business. This is an opportunity to help define how a successful, established software company embraces AI—from improving internal development processes to introducing intelligent capabilities within our products.

This is a hands-on leadership role within a small, collaborative software organization, ideal for someone who enjoys wearing multiple hats, working closely with engineering teams, and turning emerging technologies into practical business solutions.

The Director will partner closely with Product, Customer Experience, and Leadership to identify opportunities where AI can improve customer outcomes, accelerate development, and create competitive differentiation.

Job Description:

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Research & Development Leadership - 35%

· Lead the software engineering and R&D function for Red River Software.

· Drive product modernization and continuous improvement across our software portfolio.

· Foster a culture of innovation, experimentation, and technical excellence.

· Mentor and develop engineering team members while establishing engineering best practices.

· Evaluate emerging technologies and determine where they can create business value.

AI Strategy & Innovation - 30%

· Lead Red River's AI strategy and champion AI adoption across the organization.

· Identify opportunities to integrate AI into products, internal processes, customer support, and engineering workflows.

· Prototype, evaluate, and implement practical AI solutions that improve customer experience and business efficiency.

· Stay current on AI trends and translate new technologies into actionable initiatives for the business.

· Promote responsible AI practices and help build organizational understanding and adoption.

Engineering & Technical Leadership - 20%

· Provide technical leadership and architectural guidance for new product development and existing applications.

· Support application modernization, cloud initiatives, and software quality improvements.

· Collaborate with developers on technical direction, code quality, scalability, and maintainability.

· Help prioritize technical debt alongside new feature development.

Cross-Functional Leadership - 15%

· Partner with Product Management to shape the technology roadmap.

· Collaborate with Customer Experience and Professional Services to understand customer needs and identify innovation opportunities.

· Work with Leadership to align technology investments with business priorities.

· Serve as a technology advisor across the organization and help cultivate an innovation-first mindset.

EXPERIENCE & QUALIFICATIONS

· 8+ years of software engineering experience with at least 3-5 years leading engineering or R&D teams.

· Experience leading software product development in a SaaS or enterprise software environment.

· Demonstrated interest in Artificial Intelligence and experience implementing or evaluating AI technologies.

· Strong understanding of modern software architecture, cloud platforms, APIs, and software development best practices.

· Experience leading cross-functional initiatives from concept through delivery.

· Comfortable working in a smaller organization where leaders are expected to be both strategic and hands-on.

WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR

We're looking for someone who is excited about the possibilities AI presents for software companies and wants to lead that journey for Red River Software. The ideal candidate is curious, collaborative, and pragmatic—someone who enjoys experimenting with new technologies while keeping customer value and business outcomes at the center of every decision.

Rather than overseeing a large infrastructure organization, this leader will help define how AI becomes part of Red River's culture, products, and future growth, serving as the organization's technology champion for innovation and continuous improvement.

Worker Type:

Regular

Number of Openings Available:    

1