Senior Software Engineer, CRM, Product & Engineering

ABOUT THE JOB

The ACLU seeks applicants for the full-time position of Senior Software Engineer in the Technology of the ACLU’s National office in the Product and Engineering division, at the ACLU’s National office in New York, NY. This is a hybrid role that has in-office requirements of two (2) days per week or eight (8) days per month. 

The ACLU Technology Department is a broad umbrella covering both the ACLU’s Analytics and its Product & Engineering teams, two robust and innovative divisions that power the work of the ACLU. The department provides trusted, dependable, and impactful analytics, engineering, as well as product management and product design expertise for the ACLU. In partnership with experts across the ACLU, the technology team delivers best-in-class solutions, services, and innovation that advance the ACLU mission and organizational priorities. The tech team strives to ensure the ACLU leads by example in the ethical use of technology by ensuring privacy and security standards are maintained, directional insights are used to inform programming and business strategy, best-in-class products are designed to get the ACLU message out into the world and grow the ACLU supporter base, as well as to help steward high standards for algorithmic fairness, accountability, and transparency. The ideal candidate has significant hands-on experience in enterprise CRM software development, cloud environments, and automation, and is eager to deepen their skills in engagement system customizations and contribute to the success of our mission-driven organization. 

This position is part of a collective bargaining unit. It is represented by ACLU Staff United (ASU).

WHAT YOU'LL DO 

Reporting to the Director of Engineering, Digital Engagement the Senior Software Engineer (CRM)  will be responsible for supporting ACLU’s implementation and customization of Blackbaud CRM, collaborating with other engineers, designers, product roles and end users to support the development, deployment, and maintenance of our cloud-based application. This role will translate stakeholder needs into technical solutions, ensuring the platform not only functions reliably but also empowers staff to raise funds, engage supporters, and deliver impact. This role will play a key role in shaping how CRM capabilities evolve, building integrations, customizations, and features that make the system scalable, secure, and responsive to organizational priorities.

YOUR DAY TO DAY

• The Senior Engineer owns CRM system-wide concerns, setting technical direction, and making high-level decisions for how the team extends and integrates the primary fundraising CRM (Blackbaud CRM).
• Translate fundraising and organizational needs into technical solutions, working with crossfunctional teams to refine complex requirements and propose scalable, long-term solutions
• Lead the design and development of solutions within Blackbaud CRM (integrations, customizations, automations, dashboards) and adjacent to the platform (services and products that interact with constituent data) throughout the lifecycle from concept through implementation, deployment, and iteration
• Set technical direction and oversee implementation across the CRM ecosystem, ensuring that solutions advance staff effectiveness, supporter engagement, and long-term scalability
• Mentor other tech team members and provide technical guidance; establish best practices and policies and common design patterns relating to software development code reviews.
• Own the implementation of off-platform CRM related functions and products that impact constituent data within and across CRM ecosystem
• Ensure compliance with privacy and security regulations and ACLU board policies that protect consumer data through processes and tooling
• Ensure documentation, functional and technical specifications are accurate, clear, and consistently updated, with attention to tailoring communication so that both technical and non-technical stakeholders can easily understand and apply the information
• Engage in special projects and other duties as assigned

FUTURE ACLU'ERS WILL 

• Be committed to advancing the mission of the ACLU
• Center and embed the principles of equity, inclusion and belonging in their work by demonstrating commitment to diversity with an approach that respects and values multiple perspectives
• Be committed to work collaboratively and respectfully toward resolving obstacles and conflicts

WHAT YOU'LL BRING

• Extensive professional experience developing software for full-stack enterprise systems in a production environment, with demonstrated ownership of system design and technical direction
• Experience customizing and extending large-scale fundraising CRMs or other enterprise-level constituent data systems
• Experience deploying and managing applications and services in a cloud environment (e.g. Amazon Web Services, Azure)
• Proficiency with .Net web app stack (Framework 4.x), C#, JavaScript frameworks, CSS, and MS SQL Server (writing performant queries, functions, stored procedures)
• Knowledge of Blackbaud’s Software Development Kit (SDK) or prior experience developing with Blackbaud products is preferred 
• CI/CD experience
• Strong system design skills and extensive knowledge of software engineering best practices
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with a track record of partnering with cross-functional teams to translate organizational needs into technical solutions
• Experience in one or more of the following areas preferred: Nonprofit or campaign advocacy, fundraising, volunteer management

COMPENSATION

WHY THE ACLU

For over 100 years, the ACLU has worked to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed by the Constitution and laws of the United States. Whether it’s ending mass incarceration, achieving full equality for the LGBTQ+ community, establishing new privacy protections for our digital age, or preserving the right to vote or the right to have an abortion, the ACLU takes up the toughest civil liberties cases and issues to defend all people.

We know that great people make a great organization. We value our people and know that what we offer is essential not just their work, but to their overall well-being. 

At the ACLU, we offer a broad range of benefits, which include:

• Time away to focus on the things that matter with a generous paid time-off policy
• Focus on your well-being with comprehensive healthcare benefits (including medical, dental and vision coverage, parental leave, gender affirming care & fertility treatment)
• Plan for your retirement with 401k plan and employer match
• We support employee growth and development through annual professional development funds, internal professional development programs and workshops

OUR COMMITMENT TO ACCESSIBILITY, EQUITY, DIVERSITY & INCLUSION

Accessibility, equity, diversity and inclusion are core values of the ACLU and central to our work to advance liberty, equality, and justice for all. For us diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion are not just check-the-box activities, but a chance for us to make long-term meaningful change.  We are a community committed to learning and growth, humility and grace, transparency and accountability. We believe in a collective responsibility to create a culture of belonging for all people within our organization – one that respects and embraces difference; treats everyone equitably; and empowers our colleagues to do the best work possible. We are as committed to anti-oppression, anti-ableism, and anti-racism internally as we are externally. Because whether we’re in the courts or in the office, we believe ‘We the People’ means all of us.

With this commitment in mind, we strongly encourage applications from all qualified individuals without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, marital status, citizenship, disability, veteran status and record of arrest or conviction, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.    

The ACLU is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. If you are a qualified individual with a disability and need assistance applying online, please email [email protected]. If you are selected for an interview, you will receive additional information regarding how to request an accommodation for the interview process.

The Department of Education has determined that employment in this position at the ACLU does not qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.