Senior Software Development Manager

Smart Synergies; Bethesda (MD); On-site; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Smart Synergies in Bethesda, MD seeks a Senior Software Development Manager to lead a dynamic team of engineers responsible for developing and maintaining high-impact software applications.

You will partner with product managers and executives to translate business requirements into technical plans, drive strategic vision, governance, and ensure on-time delivery across large-scale projects while promoting agile practices, mentorship, and technical excellence.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, or related field required.
• 15 years in software development with deep expertise in modern practices.
• 8 years in software team leadership or management with enterprise-scale delivery experience.
• Strong experience managing the full SDLC for complex projects.
• Proficiency in JavaScript, TypeScript, and Java; knowledge of scalable, secure architectures.
• Excellent leadership, decision-making, and stakeholder management skills.
• Proven ability to manage multiple projects, budgets, and resources.
• Strong experience with agile methodologies at scale.
• Excellent team-building, coaching, and mentoring abilities.

Responsibilities

• Translate business requirements into actionable technical plans and strategies.
• Communicate project status, risks, and dependencies to stakeholders at all levels.
• Provide technical guidance and mentorship to ensure best practices and code quality.
• Oversee the full software development lifecycle of enterprise projects and ensure on-time delivery.
• Promote a culture of innovation, continuous learning, and process improvements.
• Remain hands-on with coding and architecture reviews as needed.
• Lead agile practices to drive iterative delivery and team improvements.

Skills

15 years software development

8 years software leadership

Full SDLC management

JavaScript

TypeScript

Java

Stakeholder communication

Agile at scale

Team building

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, or related field

Tools

AWS

Azure

Job description

Overview :

Our client is seeking an accomplished Senior Software Development Manager to lead a dynamic team of engineers responsible for developing and maintaining high-impact software applications. The ideal candidate will combine a strong technical foundation with proven leadership skills, strategic vision, and the ability to deliver complex projects in a fast-paced environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic Vision & Execution:
• Partner with product managers, business analysts, and executive stakeholders to translate business requirements into actionable technical plans that support organizational goals.
• Stakeholder Leadership:
• Communicate project status, risks, and dependencies to stakeholders at all levels; build and maintain relationships, manage expectations, and drive consensus on technical solutions.
• Technical Direction:
• Contribute to strategic planning, technology evaluation, and process improvement initiatives; provide technical guidance and mentorship to ensure best practices, code quality, and technical excellence.
• Project & Team Management:
• Oversee the full software development lifecycle of complex, enterprise-level projects; actively manage scope, timelines, and budgets to ensure high-quality, on-time deliveries.
• Innovation & Continuous Improvement:
• Promote a culture of innovation, continuous learning, and experimentation; drive process and technology enhancements and encourage the adoption of new approaches and tools.
• Hands-On Technical Engagement:
• Remain engaged with coding and architecture reviews; serve as a technical escalation point and troubleshoot complex challenges as needed.
• Agile Leadership:
• Utilize agile methodologies (e.g., Scrum, Kanban) to drive iterative delivery and foster ongoing improvements in team operations and outcomes.

Required Qualifications

• Education:
• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, or related field.
• Experience:
• 15 years in software development, with deep expertise in modern development practices and principles.
• 8 years in software team leadership or management, with a proven track record of delivering enterprise-scale projects.
• Strong experience managing the full SDLC for complex projects.
• Technical Skills:
• Proficiency in JavaScript, TypeScript, and Java; solid understanding of scalable, maintainable, and secure architecture principles.
• Leadership & Communication:
• Outstanding leadership, decision-making, and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to inspire teams, cultivate relationships with senior executives, and communicate effectively with both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Project Management:
• Demonstrated success managing multiple concurrent projects, risk mitigation, budgeting, and resource allocation in a dynamic environment.
• Agile Expertise:
• Strong practical experience with agile methodologies at scale.
• Team Building:
• Excellent team-building, coaching, and mentoring abilities, particularly with senior engineering talent.

Preferred Qualifications

• Outstanding written and verbal communication skills.
• Expertise in cloud technologies (e.g., AWS, Azure).
• Experience with DevOps tools and best practices.
• Strong troubleshooting and conflict-resolution capabilities.
• Experience building consensus, managing expectations, and navigating organizational change.