Software Engineering ManagerJob Description
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Job Description Sample
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Job Title: Software Engineering Manager
Location: Remote/Hybrid/On-site
Type: Full-time
About the Role:
We are seeking an experienced Software Engineering Manager to lead and inspire high-performing development teams while driving technical excellence and innovation. This role combines strategic leadership with hands-on technical guidance to deliver impactful software solutions. The ideal candidate will have a proven track record of building and scaling engineering teams, implementing best practices, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement.
Key Responsibilities:
- Lead and mentor a team of software engineers, providing technical guidance and career development support
- Drive the planning and execution of complex software projects from conception to delivery
- Collaborate with product managers and stakeholders to define technical strategy and roadmap
- Establish engineering best practices, coding standards, and quality metrics
- Manage resource allocation, capacity planning, and team performance
- Foster an inclusive and collaborative engineering culture focused on innovation
- Conduct regular 1:1s and performance reviews with team members
- Participate in technical design reviews and architectural decisions
- Drive continuous improvement initiatives across engineering processes
- Partner with recruitment to build and scale engineering teams
Perks:
- Competitive salary and equity compensation
- Comprehensive health, dental, and vision benefits
- Flexible PTO and remote work options
- Professional development budget
- 401(k) matching
Software Engineering Manager Responsibilities
Hiring a software engineering manager? Here's what you can expect them to handle:
- Develop and execute technical strategy aligned with business objectives
- Build and maintain high-performing engineering teams through hiring and mentorship
- Establish engineering processes, best practices, and quality standards
- Drive architectural decisions and technical design reviews
- Manage project timelines, resources, and deliverables
- Foster collaboration between engineering and cross-functional teams
- Lead agile ceremonies and sprint planning sessions
- Monitor and improve team productivity and code quality metrics
Qualifications to Be a Software Engineering Manager
Here's what a solid candidate typically brings to the table:
Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or related field5+ years of software development experience3+ years of engineering management experienceStrong understanding of software development lifecycleExperience with agile methodologies and project managementSoftware Engineering Manager Prerequisites
Before you even think of hiring, make sure your candidates have:
Proven track record of delivering complex software projectsExperience with modern software architectures and design patternsStrong communication and leadership skillsAbility to balance technical decisions with business needsExperience with performance management and team developmentSoftware Engineering Manager Hard Skills
The “must-haves” on every recruiter's checklist:
Programming Languages: Java, Python, JavaScriptSystem Design: Microservices, Distributed SystemsCloud Platforms: AWS, Azure, GCPDatabase Technologies: SQL, NoSQLDevOps Practices: CI/CD, Infrastructure as CodeArchitecture Patterns: REST APIs, Event-DrivenTesting Frameworks: JUnit, TestNG, SeleniumPerformance Optimization: Profiling, MonitoringSoftware Engineering Manager Soft Skills
Tech skills get them in the door—soft skills help them stick around.
Strategic Leadership and VisionTeam Building and MentorshipConflict ResolutionStakeholder ManagementDecision Making and Problem SolvingCommunication and PresentationTime Management and PrioritizationChange ManagementSoftware Engineering Manager Salary by Experience Level
Entry Level (0-2 Years)
$123k – $151k
Common Titles
Junior Software Engineering Manager, Associate Software Engineering Manager
Mid Level (2-5 Years)
$212k – $290k
Common Titles
Software Engineering Manager, Software Engineering Manager II
Senior Level (5+ Years)
$332k – $546k
Common Titles
Senior Software Engineering Manager, Lead Software Engineering Manager
Frequently Asked QuestionsAbout Software Engineering Manager Hiring
A Software Engineering Manager focuses on people management, team development, and broader strategic initiatives, while a Technical Lead is more hands-on with code and technical decisions. Engineering Managers typically handle performance reviews, career development, and cross-functional coordination.
Use scenario-based interviews focusing on team conflicts, resource allocation, and strategic decision-making. Request specific examples of how they've grown teams, handled difficult situations, and implemented technical strategies.
While both are important, prioritize management experience and leadership skills. The candidate should have enough technical knowledge to make informed decisions, but their primary value comes from their ability to lead teams and drive results.
Watch for candidates who focus solely on technical aspects while ignoring people management, those who can't provide specific examples of team development, or those who show resistance to collaborating with non-technical stakeholders.
For optimal team effectiveness, a Software Engineering Manager should typically manage 5-8 direct reports. This allows enough bandwidth for meaningful mentorship while maintaining strategic oversight of technical projects.
Tools and Programs Software Engineering Manager Use
Here's what their digital toolbox might look like:
Project Management
Jira•Asana
Version Control
Git•GitHub
CI/CD
Jenkins•CircleCI
Monitoring
Datadog•New Relic
Documentation
Confluence•Notion
Communication
Slack•Microsoft Teams
Code Review
GitHub•GitLab
Agile Tools
Azure DevOps•Trello
Job Description Examples
Backend EngineerDevOps EngineerDevOps Engineer InternDevOps ManagerDirector of Software EngineeringFull Stack EngineerJunior DevOps EngineerJunior QA EngineerJunior Software EngineerLead DevOps EngineerLead Software EngineerQA EngineerQA InternSenior DevOps EngineerSenior Frontend EngineerSenior Full Stack EngineerSenior QA EngineerSenior Software EngineerSoftware Engineering InternSoftware Engineering Manager
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