Engineering Manager (Systems & Process Transformation)

C-4 Analytics; Wakefield (MA); Hybrid; USD 170,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

C-4 Analytics in Wakefield, MA is seeking an Engineering Manager (Systems & Process Transformation) to become the operational heartbeat of our engineering teams. You will partner with the Lead Software Engineer to balance aggressive roadmaps with technical rigor and scale a fragile codebase.

You will drive SDLC orchestration, foster self-organization, translate product needs into priorities, coordinate across distributed teams, and ground work in clear specifications.

Qualifications

• Experience leading engineering teams and transforming processes.
• Ability to define and improve SDLC processes.
• Experience aligning product needs with engineering priorities.

Responsibilities

• Define, implement, and safeguard a modern SDLC.
• Lead the team to self-organization and continuous improvement.
• Translate product and executive needs into actionable engineering priorities.
• Coordinate across distributed engineering teams to align standards.
• Ensure work is grounded in clear specifications.
• Leverage AI to improve sprint planning and reporting.

Skills

SDLC Orchestration

Self-organization leadership

Stakeholder management

Distributed teams coordination

Spec-driven development

AI integration

Job description

Engineering Manager (Systems & Process Transformation)

Focus: SDLC Excellence, Team Empowerment, and Operational Throughput

The Mission

We are seeking a high-caliber Engineering Manager to serve as the operational heartbeat of our engineering teams. This is a unique leadership challenge: you will work with an incumbent team to transition our culture toward in-house excellence, discipline, and high-velocity delivery.

You are not a "task master"; you are a process architect. Your goal is to build a self-organizing ecosystem where developers identify their own bottlenecks, experiment with solutions ("fail fast"), and take collective ownership of a high-quality product grounded in clear, well-defined specifications and shared understanding of requirements.

The Role

As the Engineering Manager, you will be the bridge between technical execution and business strategy. You will partner closely with our Lead Software Engineer to balance aggressive product roadmaps with the necessary technical rigor required to stabilize and scale a fragile codebase.

Key Responsibilities:

• SDLC Orchestration: Define, implement, and safeguard a modern Software Development Lifecycle. You ensure that the "how" of building software is efficient, repeatable, and transparent.
• Fostering Self-Organization: Lead the team to a state of maturity where they proactively identify areas for improvement and execute on action items to level up the collective.
• Strategic Liaison: Translate the needs of the Product team and executive leadership into actionable engineering priorities, negotiating with the Lead Engineer to ensure technical debt and feature work are balanced.
• Coordinate effectively across distributed and external engineering teams, ensuring alignment, accountability, and consistent execution standards.
• Spec-Driven: Ensure work is grounded in clear, well-defined specifications, reducing ambiguity and improving delivery consistency across teams.
• AI-Forward, People First Leadership: Leverage AI as a "first-class citizen" in your daily workflow—from predictive sprint planning and automated reporting to identifying team throughput bottlenecks.

Who You Are

• A Systems Thinker: You look at teams and processes as a system that can be optimized. You value throughput and efficiency but understand they are products of a healthy culture. You understand how engineering systems interact with underlying data platforms and dependencies
• An Agile Purist: You understand that Agile is about iterative value and failing fast to learn faster, not just standing in a circle once a day.
• A Master of Influence: You can lead a team you didn't "hire" (yet), earning the respect of veteran contractors through clear communication and a commitment to removing their blockers.
• Strategically Minded: You are comfortable managing "up" to leadership and "across" to product, ensuring engineering is seen as a value-driver, not a cost center.

Compensation

We offer a competitive compensation commensurate with experience and qualifications. The salary range for this position is $170,000 - $200,000. The final salary will be determined based on factors such as skills, knowledge, and demonstrated expertise.

Please note that the stated salary range is flexible and negotiable based on individual qualifications and fit for the role. We encourage candidates to discuss their salary expectations during the interview process.

Flexibility

The Engineering Manager may benefit from the flexibility to work in a way that suits them best. We offer the following working options:

• Office-Based: Our modern and well-equipped office space provides a collaborative environment where you can work closely with your team, engage in face-to-face interactions, and foster a sense of community.
• Hybrid: For those who prefer a balance between office and remote work, we offer a hybrid model. This allows you to divide your time between working in the office and remotely, providing the best of both worlds.