Head of Engineering

The Minnesota Star Tribune is an innovative modern media organization building on an extraordinary 159-year legacy. With eight Pulitzer Prizes and numerous other accolades, we stand as a beacon of journalistic excellence in Minnesota. We are the heart and voice of the North.

Our mission is to build a better Minnesota by connecting us with the people, ideas, and stories that strengthen our communities. We’re seeking dynamic journalists who are passionate about journalism and democracy to help shape this future. If you are excited about reinventing one of our state’s most trusted institutions and leading us into a new era of growth and excellence, we want to hear from you.

The Head of Engineering at our headquarters in Minneapolis MN is a senior leadership role responsible for leading the Product Engineering organization to support the Star Tribune’s digital growth, subscription strategy, and modernization efforts. This role oversees ~20 engineers across multiple disciplines and partners closely with cross-functional leaders. Responsibilities

• Define engineering roadmap and drive shift to an AI-first development model (tools, workflows, team structure).
• Structure teams, manage budget/vendor strategy, and collaborate with Product, Editorial, Data, Marketing, and Revenue.
• Hire, develop, and coach engineering managers and senior engineers; maintain career frameworks and performance standards.
• Oversee end-to-end engineering execution, system performance, incident response, and quality standards.
• Establish architecture principles, drive platform evolution (web, data, ML), and make build vs. buy decisions with a focus on security and scalability.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or related field required; advanced degree welcome.
• Minimum of 12 years in engineering, including a minimum of 5 years leading managers and senior engineers.
• Proven ability to scale teams, manage performance, and lead through organizational change.
• Hands-on experience implementing AI-first development practices and tools.
• Strong background in modern web, backend, data, ML, and cloud platforms.
• Ability to align engineering with business goals, manage budgets/vendors, and communicate with executives.
• Experience in media, subscription, or consumer-facing digital businesses preferred
• Must be currently legally authorized to work in the U.S. without sponsorship for employment visa status (e.g., H1B status, O-1, TN, CPT, OPT, etc.). We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment visa at this time.

Compensation Range

The compensation range for this position is $137,000-$226,000.

Compensation for the position will depend on several factors, including a candidate’s qualifications, skills, competencies and experience and may fall outside of the range shown.

The Minnesota Star Tribune offers a competitive total rewards package, which includes a 401(K) match, healthcare coverage – medical, dental, and vision, life, disability, paid time off, and a broad range of other benefits. Learn more at benefits.startribunecompany.com .

More about The Minnesota Star Tribune

At The Minnesota Star Tribune, we recognize that our employees are our greatest asset, and we are committed to their happiness, growth, and well-being. Here’s a snapshot of the exceptional benefits we offer:

• Modern Downtown Office: Enjoy a state-of-the-art workspace with a free fitness center, collaborative center, golf simulator, and a rooftop patio.
• Comprehensive Benefits: Includes commuting subsidy, medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• Wellness & Work-Life Balance: Participate in our wellness program with financial incentives, generous paid time off, flexible holidays, one volunteer day, and two wellness days.
• Financial & Family Support: Benefit from a 401(k) with company match, paid parental and caregiving leave, hybrid work arrangements, and tuition reimbursement.
• Additional Perks: Access to an employee assistance program, pet insurance, flexible spending accounts, and health savings accounts.

2025 award winner of Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies in Media and News and proud recipient of Newsweek’s Greatest Midsize Workplaces 2025 recognition.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Even if you don't meet every single requirement for this role, we encourage you to apply. At The Minnesota Star Tribune, we are dedicated to building a diverse and inclusive workplace and welcome applicants from all backgrounds.