Software Engineering Manager

Join a team recognized as one of Madison Magazine's Best Places to Work, where innovation thrives, collaboration drives success, and your work makes a real-world impact—because at Yahara, we don't just build software, we empower people and transform industries.

Summary

The Software Engineering Manager is a people-first leader with a strong technical foundation, responsible for the growth, development, and day-to-day management of a team of software engineers. Reporting to the Director of Engineering, this role bridges engineering excellence and team culture—ensuring engineers are supported, challenged, and set up to do their best work.

This isn't a purely administrative role. We're looking for someone who understands how software gets built, stays curious about where the industry is heading, and brings creative thinking to both technical process and people challenges. As AI tooling and emerging technologies continue to reshape how development teams work, this person will play a key role in helping Yahara's engineers thoughtfully adopt and adapt to these changes.

Important Notes about this Position:
* This position offers remote work flexibility but is only open to candidates who reside in or are willing to relocate to the greater Madison, WI area.
* We are unable to provide sponsorship at this time.

What You'll Do

**People Leadership & Development**

- Serve as the primary people manager for a team of software engineers, acting as a trusted point of contact for professional needs, concerns, and support.

- Conduct regularly scheduled 1:1s and administer performance reviews with a focus on meaningful feedback and growth.

- Provide coaching, mentorship, and clear guidance on career development paths and expectations.

- Address and resolve interpersonal conflicts promptly and professionally, fostering a positive and team culture.

- Partner with HR and the Director of Engineering to support talent acquisition, onboarding, and retention strategies.

**Technical Engagement & Process Evolution**

- Maintain a strong working knowledge of software engineering practices, standards, and emerging tools as they apply across the organization.

- Champion thoughtful adoption of AI tooling and automation—helping engineers evaluate, integrate, and get the most out of new technologies without losing sight of engineering fundamentals.

- Bring creative thinking to process challenges: question the status quo, propose experiments, and help the team continuously improve how they work.

- Collaborate with technical leads and project managers to assess resource needs, support project staffing, and identify growth opportunities for individual engineers.

**Cross-Functional Collaboration**

- Work closely with Technical Practice Leads and other Engineering Managers to align on coaching approaches and ensure consistency across the engineering organization.

- Facilitate clear communication between engineers and leadership, promoting transparency and alignment with organizational goals.

- Collaborate with the Director of Engineering on team structure, resource planning, and long-term capacity strategy.

- Assess team performance and skills alignment, and work collaboratively to identify training, coaching, or developmental action where needed.

What You'll Bring

**Experience & Education**

- 5+ years of software engineering experience, with at least 2 years in a team lead, staff engineer, or people management capacity.

- Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, a related discipline, or equivalent professional experience.

**Mindset & Approach**

- A genuine passion for developing people and building high-performing teams.

- Creative thinker who approaches process and people challenges with curiosity and a willingness to try new things.

- Comfortable navigating ambiguity and adapting quickly as tools, technologies, and team needs evolve.

- Strong communicator who can translate between technical and non-technical stakeholders with clarity and empathy.

- Enthusiastic about the potential of AI and emerging developer tooling—not just as a talking point, but as someone actively exploring and applying these tools.

**Technical Background**

- Hands-on software development experience sufficient to credibly coach engineers, participate in technical discussions, and evaluate engineering quality.

- Familiarity with modern software development practices: Agile methodologies, code review, CI/CD, and full-stack development concepts.

- Working knowledge of current AI-assisted development tools and an informed perspective on how they fit into a professional engineering workflow.

- Experience in one or more of Yahara's core technology areas (Python, JavaScript/TypeScript, .NET, cloud platforms, etc.) is a plus.

Company Benefits & Perks

- 20+ days of PTO accruable in the first year

- Comprehensive health insurance (Medical, Dental, Vision) with HMO and PPO options

- Health Savings Account (HSA) with annual employer contributions

- 401(k) with guaranteed company match (Traditional and Roth options)

- 100% company-paid short-term and long-term disability, life insurance, and identity theft protection

- Hybrid/remote schedule with home office stipend

- On-site gym with basketball court

- Fresh fruit, healthy snacks, and beverages provided daily

- Bonus certification program (Microsoft, AWS, PMP, IIBA, etc.)

- Employee Assistance Program (counseling, legal, financial services)

- Monthly and Quarterly Recognition Awards with spot bonuses

- Company-supported community outreach and volunteer opportunities

If you need an accommodation as part of the employment process, please contact Human Resources at [email protected]_

Yahara Software LLC is an Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. Candidates must be eligible to work in the U.S. on a permanent basis. This position offers remote work flexibility but is open only to candidates who reside in or are willing to relocate to the greater Madison, WI area. We are unable to provide sponsorship at this time.