Senior Manager - Application Development

MainframeMaster; Chicago, Northern (IL, KY); Hybrid; USD 141,000 - 183,000; Full time

Job summary

United Airlines seeks a Senior Manager of IT Applications Development to lead an agile, onshore/offshore team focused on modernizing travel systems and HR partner applications. You will drive architecture, strategy, and execution for migrating from legacy mainframe to cloud-native solutions, while ensuring governance, security, and stakeholder alignment.

The role requires 7+ years in IT, strong SaaS and AWS experience, and excellent leadership capabilities to manage multi-disciplinary teams and

Qualifications

• 7+ years of relevant experience in IT applications development or related field.
• Experience leading IT teams both onshore and offshore with strong leadership and mentorship.
• Experience implementing SaaS solutions and cloud-based architectures.

Responsibilities

• Build and lead a high-performing agile IT Applications Development team.
• Oversee product goals, roadmaps, and day-to-day operations.
• Migrate legacy mainframe systems to cloud-based applications (AWS).
• Manage budgets, resources, and stakeholder communications.
• Ensure adherence to architectural standards and security practices.

Skills

Leadership

Agile

Team Management

Stakeholder Management

Cloud (AWS)

SaaS

Software Architecture

Offshore Collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

AWS Cloud

Job description

# Senior Manager - Application DevelopmentUnited AirlinesFull-timeChicago, Illinois, United StatesUSD 140,600 - 183,1080 viewsPosted September 17, 2026## Job DescriptionAchieving our goals starts with supporting yours. Grow your career, access top-tier health and wellness benefits, build lasting connections with your team and our customers, and travel the world using our extensive route network.Come join us to create what’s next. Let’s define tomorrow, together.DescriptionJob overview and responsibilitiesThe Senior Manager of IT Applications Development will be pivotal in building a team dedicated to developing innovative solutions for our Travel Systems supporting our Human Resources Business Partners. This position will drive technological advancements and shape our company's future amid ongoing transformations related to Employee Travel Modernization and innovative Learning development tools. As a leader, you will have exceptional leadership and communication skills and a deep understanding of driving organizational change, **Agile** development, and solutions architecture.- Leadership and Team Management- Build and lead a high-performing **agile** team, fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability, and continuous learning with both on and offshore resources- Provide strategic direction and oversight to ensure the successful execution of product goals, resource management, and day-to-day operations- Establish goals for the team and individuals, including performance reviews and career and performance plans- Enable the DT transformation of building **agile** based pods aligned to our common metrics and measure- Communication and Stakeholder Management- Collaborate with United's business and IT leadership teams and product subject matter experts to establish the product's long-term vision, goals, and strategy- Develop multi-year product road map beginning with migrating the legacy system off the **mainframe** to cloud based application- Share knowledge and work together to generate innovative solutions to problems- Align with business partners on delivery success criteria and ensure technology solutions follow architectural standards- Budgeting and Resource Management- Provide delivery estimates and business case updates to support overall DT performance metrics and product status reporting- Develop and manage the program budget, ensuring efficient resource allocation to support strategic initiatives and operational need- Track and report on key performance metrics, making data-driving decisions to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the team- Strategic IT Planning and Execution- Evaluate, implement, and manage **SaaS**-based solutions and develop in-house cloud-based solutions- Develop plans for migration from legacy systems to modern technologies- Identify technical obstacles early and collaborate closely with the team to find innovative solutions- Responsible for escalating, assisting, and following up on resolving issues related to the delivery of technology solutions- Ensure that **Agile** methodologies are implemented following best practices and that continuous improvements are made as needed- Ensure compliance with code scanning and other security protocols during development and release## Requirements & SkillsQualificationsWhat’s needed to succeed (Minimum Qualifications):- Bachelor's degree- Information Systems, Computer Science, Engineering, Business Administration, or related field preferred- 7+ years of relevant experience- Proven experience leading and developing IT teams both on and offshore, with a strong focus on leadership, mentorship, and team development- Experience implementing **SaaS** solutions- Successful track record of building applications using **AWS** cloud- Leadership experience managing multiple cross-functional teams or projects and influencing senior-level management and key stakeholders- Outstanding communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to effectively engage and influence stakeholders at all levels of the organization- A mindset for continuous learning and staying updated on industry trends, emerging technologies, and best practices (eg, AI and Agentic design)- Advanced technical and business knowledge in software development life cycle, quality assurance, project management, and other related disciplines/processes- Well-versed in **Agile** development and product management/pod support- Must be legally authorized to work in the United States for any employer without sponsorship- Successful completion of interview required to meet job qualification- Reliable, punctual attendance is an essential function of the positionWhat will help you propel from the pack (Preferred Qualifications):- Master's degree- Understanding of system architecture principles, including the ability to design scalable and reliable solutions- 3+ years of Application development (.Net, Java, or other modern language)- Experience with modernizing **mainframe** systems to **AWS** Cloud- Experience with **SAAS** Learning tools including VR & AI technology- Experience with utilizing AI solutions for developing code and increasing efficiency## How to ApplyApply directly through the application link above