The Opportunity
StaffRight Associates is recruiting for a Software Engineering Manager to guide a deeply technical software group within an aerospace and defense organization that builds complex, mission-critical systems. This full-time, direct-hire position is on-site in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, with no remote option, and relocation is paid.
The Software Engineering Manager blends hands-on technical leadership with people management and engineering strategy, with a focus on assembling high-performing teams and shipping dependable software. The client wants a seasoned engineer who has stepped into leadership yet stays close to the technology. This person partners with software leads and engineers to grasp system architectures, surface technical risk, question assumptions, and steer teams toward sound decisions, while leaving ownership with the specialists nearest the work.
The role carries real influence over people, technology, and engineering culture across a multidisciplinary environment. The client values a leader with enough technical depth to win the team’s respect, the humility to listen, and the decisiveness to keep the organization moving forward, tackling hard problems without needless bureaucracy.
What You’ll Do
< dir="ltr" aria-level="6">Lead & Develop Teams
- Mentor software engineers and technical leads, nurturing their skills and professional growth.
- Spearhead recruiting, career progression, performance management, and overall team expansion.
- Cultivate an environment grounded in accountability, collaboration, technical excellence, and ongoing improvement.
- Forecast staffing and capacity needs, then deploy engineering resources where they deliver the most value.
- Clear roadblocks, equipping teams with the tools and autonomy they need to thrive.
< dir="ltr" aria-level="6">Provide Technical Leadership
- Master the organization’s software architecture, systems landscape, and core technical challenges.
- Engage hands-on in architecture and design reviews, offering constructive pushback on technical choices.
- Pinpoint technical debt, architectural weak spots, and risks that threaten reliability, performance, or maintainability.
- Champion modern engineering practices such as test automation, CI/CD pipelines, shared tooling, and code reuse.
- Guide teams in weighing schedule and budget against risk, performance, and how maintainable the software will be over time.
- Steward a cross-team community of practice for software engineers, spreading knowledge and setting shared engineering standards.
< dir="ltr" aria-level="6">Drive Execution
- Establish clear plans, credible estimates, proper resourcing, and measurable goals for every team.
- Monitor technical health, progress, risks, and dependencies to maintain full visibility.
- Shape proposals, cost and schedule estimates, project and resource planning, and corrective action plans.
< dir="ltr" aria-level="6">Collaborate Across Engineering
- Align with Product Management, Product Assurance, Chief Engineers, and peer engineering leaders.
- Synchronize software efforts with operations, manufacturing, test, aerospace, mechanical, electrical, and systems teams.
- Advocate for the software engineering perspective in organization-wide planning and technical leadership forums.
What You Bring
< dir="ltr" aria-level="6">Required
- Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
- 10–20 years of overall professional experience, including 8+ years of hands-on software engineering on complex systems.
- At least 2 years of Team Leadership experience managing software engineers or technical teams.
- Deep grounding in Software Architecture, System Design, Software Development, Integration, Debugging, and Testing.
- Capacity to reason about complex systems from high-level architecture down to implementation detail.
- Practical experience with modern development practices, including Software Lifecycle Management, CI/CD, Automated Testing, and Configuration Management.
- Proven strength in Prioritization, Resource Management, Planning, Estimation, and Communication.
- A leadership approach grounded in humility, curiosity, accountability, and genuine technical credibility.
- Willingness to challenge ideas respectfully, weigh opposing views, and pivot when the evidence supports it.
- Authorization to work in the US without sponsorship; the client will not sponsor visas.
< dir="ltr" aria-level="6">Preferred
- Prior experience managing software engineering teams.
- Background in Mission-Critical Software, Embedded Systems, Networked Systems, or Distributed Systems.
- Familiarity with Python, C/C++, Linux, Containers, Web Applications, or comparable technologies.
- Exposure to multidisciplinary products that integrate software with sensors, communications, electronics, or other physical hardware.
Compensation & Total Rewards
- Salary: $160,000–$190,000 annually (USD)
- Engagement: Full-time, direct hire; on-site in Sioux Falls, South Dakota (no remote option)
- Benefits: Top benefits package; relocation paid
Joining StaffRight Associates
When you partner with StaffRight Associates in your search for your next role, you’re doing more than pursuing a job, you’re aligning yourself with a team of experts committed to placing top-tier talent in truly impactful positions. We take pride in fostering professional growth and connecting forward-thinking individuals with organizations that value innovation and excellence. We look forward to showcasing your expertise in a way that resonates with our clients and opens the door to meaningful opportunities.
