IT Manager, Software Engineering

Reporting to the Chief Information Officer, the IT Manager, Software Engineering is responsible for leading the firm’s software development function and modernizing delivery practices through the effective, secure, and governed use of technology. This role oversees the design, development, implementation, maintenance, and continuous improvement of custom and integrated software solutions, ensuring technology investments align with business priorities, regulatory expectations, security requirements, and long-term organizational strategy.

1. Lead the full software development lifecycle for custom applications, integrations, automation, and data-enabled solutions that support organizational goals and user needs.

1. Establish and manage modern AI-augmented development practices, including the responsible use of agentic AI tools for requirements analysis, prototyping, coding, testing, documentation, and delivery acceleration.

1. Ensure all AI-assisted development activities operate within approved governance, security, privacy, compliance, architecture, and human-review standards.

1. Plan and manage software project schedules, release plans, and enhancement backlogs.

1. Manage, mentor, and develop a team of software developers, fostering strong engineering discipline, collaboration, continuous learning, and accountable delivery.

1. Collaborate with business units, vendors, security, infrastructure, data, and leadership stakeholders to define requirements, prioritize work, evaluate solutions, and deliver measurable business value.

1. Develop and execute strategies for application lifecycle management, including budgeting, resource planning, quality management, risk mitigation, platform modernization, and technology upgrades.

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   Assign, prioritize, and track software development work across team members, vendors, and AI-assisted workflows to meet business commitments and support needs.

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   Translate business needs into clear requirements, user stories, technical specifications, acceptance criteria, and delivery plans that can be effectively executed by developers and AI-enabled development tools.

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   Oversee development standards for architecture, coding, source control, peer review, automated testing, release management, documentation, and production support.

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   Evaluate, adopt, and govern agentic AI software development tools that can assist with code generation, refactoring, test creation, documentation, troubleshooting, and workflow automation.

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   Maintain human-in-the-loop review processes to validate AI-generated outputs, prevent unmanaged technical debt, protect sensitive data, and ensure quality, security, and business alignment before release.

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   Develop, execute, and manage robust testing practices, including unit testing, integration testing, regression testing, user acceptance testing, and AI-assisted test automation.

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   Respond to and resolve application issues reported by users, monitoring tools, or production support teams, coordinating remediation and root-cause analysis as appropriate.

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   Lead workstream planning, release readiness reviews, and recurring team meetings to discuss progress, risks, priorities, and delivery challenges.

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   Partner with cybersecurity, compliance, and data governance stakeholders to ensure software solutions meet security, privacy, regulatory, and internal policy requirements.

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   Oversee software updates, patches, dependency management, platform upgrades, and modernization efforts to improve functionality, maintainability, reliability, and security.

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   Manage vendor relationships related to software development platforms, development tools, application vendors, implementation partners, licensing, support agreements, and contracted delivery resources.

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   Track project, product, licensing, vendor, and operational budgets to ensure cost-effective use of resources for software development and application management.

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   Research and assess emerging technologies, development platforms, AI engineering practices, automation opportunities, and software architecture patterns that may improve delivery speed, quality, or business capability.

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   Maintain current documentation for software architecture, integrations, development standards, deployment processes, support procedures, AI tool usage, and operational runbooks.

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   Organize training, coaching, and knowledge-sharing sessions to improve team skills in modern software engineering, secure coding, AI-assisted development, and business application support.

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   Review software delivery metrics, system performance, production reliability, support trends, code quality indicators, and AI-development effectiveness to identify improvement opportunities.

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   Prepare and present reports on software delivery status, product roadmaps, application health, AI adoption, risk items, and IT initiatives to senior management.

This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of essential functions or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Essential functions and responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

• Bachelor’s degree in business, computer science, information systems, software engineering

• 7+ years of progressive experience in software development, application delivery, systems integration, or related IT roles

• 2+ years of experience leading or managing software developers, technical analysts, vendors, or cross-functional delivery teams

• 2+ years planning and managing software development projects, product enhancements, technical roadmaps, or application modernization initiatives

• Strong understanding of software development lifecycle practices, including requirements analysis, design, coding, testing, deployment, documentation, and support

• Experience with modern development tools and practices such as source control, code review, automated testing, DevOps or CI/CD processes, APIs, integrations, and cloud-based platforms

• Working knowledge of AI-assisted or agentic AI development tools and the ability to apply them responsibly to improve software delivery, testing, documentation, and productivity

• Hands-on experience designing, developing, and supporting full-stack applications using React/Angular, and Azure SQL Database within enterprise environments

• Strong experience supporting, enhancing, or integrating business applications and enterprise platforms

• Self-motivated problem solver with a passion for learning, evaluating, and adopting new technologies while balancing speed, risk, and business value

• Strong ability to interpret technical documentation, troubleshoot complex issues, and guide others through structured problem solving

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to explain technical concepts, practices, risks, and recommendations to non-technical stakeholders

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with a proactive approach to identifying delivery risks, technical debt, security concerns, and process improvement opportunities

• Proven ability to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment while managing multiple priorities, stakeholders, and delivery commitments

• Experience in financial services, professional services, or a regulated environment

• Experience developing, integrating, or supporting finance, accounting, tax, wealth advisory, client portal, workflow, document management, CRM, or data analytics applications

• Experience leading product development, product management, Agile delivery, platform modernization, or custom software development teams

• Experience establishing AI governance practices, secure development standards, prompt or context-management practices, and review controls for AI-assisted software delivery

• Experience with low-code/no-code platforms, automation tools, Microsoft Power Platform, Azure, Microsoft 365, APIs, data integration, or enterprise application architecture

• Experience envisioning, establishing, and supporting citizen development programs with appropriate governance, training, and oversight

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Cain Watters & Associates is committed to upholding the principles of the Equal Pay and Opportunity Act (EPOA). If you have any concerns regarding compliance with this policy, we encourage you to report them immediately by contacting HR at hr@cainwatters.com. Your concerns will be handled with the utmost confidentiality and care.