Manufacturing Applications Manager

Sterling St James Inc.; Spring Grove (IL); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Sterling St James Inc. in Illinois seeks an experienced Software & Applications Manager to lead the development, integration, and ongoing support of enterprise business applications in a manufacturing environment.

You will manage a team of software developers, business systems analysts, product owners, and technical resources, partner with IT, OT, and data science teams, and drive continuous improvement to align technology with operations.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in IT, CS, or related field or equivalent experience.
• 7–15 years of software development or enterprise applications experience.
• Minimum 3 years IT or software development management experience.
• Experience with JD Edwards ERP and .NET/JavaScript.
• Strong leadership and stakeholder communication skills.
• Experience with Agile methodologies (Scrum/Kanban).
• Security-focused software delivery experience and compliance awareness.

Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor software developers, business systems analysts, product owners, and architects.
• Oversee development, integration, and support of enterprise applications including JD Edwards.
• Develop roadmaps and prioritize enhancements by business value.
• Guide architecture, modernization, and system integration decisions.
• Drive DevOps, CI/CD, automated testing, and quality assurance.
• Coordinate cross-functional stakeholders and manage budgets/resources.
• Establish KPIs and dashboards to monitor performance.

Skills

Leadership & people management

Stakeholder communication

Agile methodologies

Software development leadership

Enterprise applications

DevOps & CI/CD

Data analytics collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in IT/CS or related field

Tools

JD Edwards

.NET

JavaScript

CI/CD tooling (Jenkins)

Job description

Position Overview

We are seeking an experienced Software & Applications Manager to lead the development, integration, optimization, and ongoing support of enterprise business applications within a manufacturing environment. This position will manage a team of software developers, business systems analysts, product owners, and technical resources responsible for delivering technology solutions that improve operational efficiency, business performance, and the user experience.

The successful candidate will bring a combination of software development expertise, ERP application management, technical leadership, and business acumen. This individual will work closely with IT, Operational Technology (OT), business stakeholders, and data science teams to align application capabilities with organizational priorities and continuous improvement initiatives.

Key Responsibilities

Software Development & Team Leadership

• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of software developers, business systems analysts, product owners, and technical architects.

• Oversee the development, enhancement, integration, and support of custom software, .NET applications, ERP systems, and other enterprise business applications.

• Establish team objectives, performance expectations, professional development plans, and succession strategies.

• Manage departmental budgets, external development resources, and technology investments.

• Promote a collaborative, customer-focused culture emphasizing accountability, innovation, and continuous improvement.

Enterprise Applications & Solution Design

• Oversee JD Edwards ERP applications, custom software solutions, system integrations, and related business applications.

• Partner with manufacturing and business leaders to understand operational processes, identify improvement opportunities, and translate business requirements into effective technology solutions.

• Develop application roadmaps and prioritize enhancements based on business value, operational needs, and strategic objectives.

• Guide software architecture, application modernization, system integration, and technology selection.

• Collaborate with data science teams on data accessibility, analytics, machine learning, and operational automation initiatives.

Project & Delivery Management

• Direct software development and implementation activities using Agile methodologies, including Scrum and Kanban.

• Manage project schedules, resources, budgets, risks, and deliverables to ensure successful execution.

• Provide technical direction to development teams on complex programming, integration, and application challenges.

• Oversee software development lifecycle practices, including design, development, testing, implementation, documentation, and change management.

• Advance automated testing, DevOps practices, and continuous integration/continuous delivery (CI/CD) capabilities.

• Coordinate external vendors and development partners to ensure quality, cost, and schedule expectations are achieved.

Business Partnership & Performance Improvement

• Collaborate with business and technology leadership to align software capabilities with manufacturing and enterprise objectives.

• Establish and monitor KPIs, OKRs, and software development performance metrics to evaluate team effectiveness and business value.

• Develop dashboards and reporting tools that provide visibility into application performance, project progress, and support activities.

• Communicate project priorities, risks, timelines, and investment recommendations to leadership and key stakeholders.

• Identify opportunities to streamline workflows, improve system reliability, and increase operational efficiency through technology.

Application Support, Security & Compliance

• Oversee ongoing application maintenance, troubleshooting, enhancements, and user support.

• Establish reliable support processes for business-critical applications, including after-hours support coverage as needed.

• Ensure secure software development practices, including code reviews, application testing, and compliance with established security requirements.

• Partner with IT Security and infrastructure teams to maintain reliable, secure, and integrated business systems.

• Improve system reliability through automation, proactive monitoring, and structured problem resolution.

• Support user training and technology adoption to maximize application capabilities and business benefits.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology, Software Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field, or equivalent experience.

• 7–15 years of experience in software development, enterprise applications, or application management.

• Minimum 3 years of IT or software development management experience leading teams of five or more.

• Software development experience with .NET, JavaScript, or comparable programming languages.

• Experience managing ERP applications, preferably JD Edwards.

• Experience leading software development using Agile methodologies such as Scrum or Kanban.

• Experience implementing and maintaining secure software development practices.

• Experience collaborating with data science teams on analytics, data engineering, automation, and related initiatives.

• Strong project management, analytical, problem-solving, and stakeholder communication skills.

• Demonstrated ability to lead technical teams, establish priorities, and deliver solutions that support business objectives.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting software applications within a manufacturing environment.

• Experience with JD Edwards ERP development, integrations, enhancements, and modernization.

• Knowledge of DevOps, CI/CD pipelines, Jenkins, and automated software testing.

• Experience with enterprise architecture, application portfolio assessments, and technology roadmaps.

• Familiarity with code review tools, static code analysis, and software quality assurance practices.

• Exposure to AI-assisted development tools and their appropriate use in enterprise software environments.

• Experience applying continuous improvement principles and performance metrics to technology operations.

Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate is a hands-on, collaborative technology leader who combines strong software development knowledge with the ability to manage people, projects, and enterprise applications. This individual understands how technology supports manufacturing operations, demonstrates a servant leadership approach, and can translate complex business requirements into practical, scalable software solutions.

Success in this role requires strong technical judgment, an understanding of business processes, effective communication across departments, and a commitment to delivering measurable improvements in operational performance.