Software Development Manager

What You'll Do

• Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing Project Development team, building a culture of accountability, collaboration, and professional growth. 
• Design and implement a pod-lead structure to scale leadership capacity and ensure team members have clear growth paths. 
• Standardize development processes and enforce consistent delivery practices, ensuring predictability and scalability across projects. 
• Partner with Project Management and other functional and cross functional stakeholders to balance delivery speed, scope, and customer satisfaction while protecting developer bandwidth and morale. 
• Drive efficient utilization of developer resources to meet profitability and margin targets. 
• Build and maintain data-driven dashboards to track velocity, defects, utilization, and delivery performance. 
• Ensure compliance with government contract requirements, security standards, and auditability. 
• Foster a culture of continuous improvement, encouraging innovation in process efficiency and delivery quality. 
• Report regularly to senior leadership on delivery outcomes, risks, and opportunities for improvement. 

What You'll Bring

• Proven management experience leading development teams in fast-paced, high-growth, or transformational environments.
• Strong technical foundation in SQL, C#, JavaScript, and modern software development practices (Agile, Scrum). 
• Heightened focus on QA processes, validation, and testing prior to project delivery to customers.  First pass quality mindset.
• Demonstrated ability to manage large teams (15+ direct reports) and build scalable leadership structures. 
• Experience balancing speed, quality, and profitability in project-based delivery models. 
• Hands-on expertise with Azure DevOps(Repos, Pipelines, Test Plans, and related tools) to manage workflows, track progress, and enforce standards. 
• Exceptional problem-solving skills, with the ability to create structure in ambiguous environments. 
• Effective communication and cross-functional collaboration skills - able to influence stakeholders across Product, Project Management, BizOps, and Sales.

What Success Looks Like

• Projects consistently delivered on time, within scope, with first pass quality, and at defined margin targets. 
• Developer utilization and resource allocation align with company profitability goals. 
• Standardized delivery processes eliminate variability and reduce bottlenecks. 
• Customers report strong satisfaction with delivery quality and timeliness. 
• Team morale and retention remain high, with pod leads effectively managing day-to-day execution. 
• Clear career paths and development opportunities are in place for all team members. 

What Makes This Role Exciting

• Transformational Impact: You will play a central role in stabilizing and scaling a fast-growing company at a pivotal moment in its journey. 
• Build Leaders: With one of Agate’s largest teams under your leadership, you will shape the next generation of technical leaders through a pod-lead structure. 
• Direct Line to Strategy: Your work directly impactsprofitability, customer satisfaction, and delivery speed, making you a critical driver of company success. 
• Challenging & Dynamic Environment: If you thrive in chaos, ambiguity, and change, this is your chance to create order, discipline, and lasting impact. 
• Mission-Driven Work: Agate’s software powers critical programs in the public sector - you will lead a team whose work makes a tangible difference in communities across the country.