[Hiring] Engineering Manager, Software Engineering @Ad Hoc

Role Description

As an Engineering Manager, you will combine hands-on technical leadership with people management to support the modernization of enterprise applications and services. You will guide a team of engineers developing scalable backend solutions using Java, Spring Boot, and REST APIs while remaining actively involved in engineering delivery, architecture, and technical problem-solving.

This role is ideal for an experienced software engineer who has transitioned into engineering leadership but still enjoys being close to the code. You will balance technical contributions with mentoring, coaching, and supporting engineers, helping the team deliver high-quality solutions while fostering a collaborative and accountable engineering culture.

• Lead and support a team of software engineers responsible for developing and maintaining Java-based backend applications and services.
• Remain technically engaged through architecture, code reviews, troubleshooting, technical design, and hands-on development as needed.
• Guide the design and delivery of backend applications using Java 17+, Spring, Spring Boot, REST APIs, and microservices.
• Provide people management responsibilities, including regular 1:1s, coaching, performance feedback, professional development, and career growth.
• Collaborate with engineers, architects, product managers, and program leadership to establish technical priorities and deliver solutions aligned with program objectives.
• Help engineers independently own complex technical challenges involving API architecture, service integration, data access, and enterprise modernization.
• Establish and reinforce engineering best practices, including automated testing, maintainable code, code reviews, and continuous improvement.
• Support Agile delivery processes, sprint planning, technical estimation, and the identification and resolution of engineering blockers.
• Identify technical risks, dependencies, and opportunities for improvement while communicating effectively with technical and nontechnical stakeholders.
• Partner with customer technical teams and architects to ensure solutions align with program requirements and engineering standards.
• Support hiring, technical interviews, onboarding, and team development as needed.
• Foster a collaborative engineering environment that encourages accountability, knowledge sharing, and continuous learning.
• Balance technical delivery responsibilities with the development, engagement, and performance of the engineering team.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and 9+ years of relevant software engineering experience; relevant professional experience may be substituted for education.
• 8+ years of professional software development experience, including significant hands-on Java backend development.
• 5+ years of experience with Spring and Spring Boot developing production backend applications.
• 5+ years of experience designing, developing, or integrating RESTful APIs and microservices.
• Experience leading software engineers through technical delivery, mentorship, coaching, or formal people management.
• Experience providing performance feedback, supporting professional development, and managing engineering team priorities.
• Strong technical foundation in Java, Spring Boot, backend architecture, object-oriented programming, and API design.
• Recent hands-on software engineering experience with the ability to review code, contribute to technical designs, and troubleshoot complex backend systems.
• Experience with relational databases such as Oracle, PostgreSQL, or comparable technologies, including SQL and ORM frameworks such as Hibernate/JPA.
• Experience supporting software development across the full lifecycle, including design, development, testing, deployment, and production support.
• Experience working in Agile development environments and collaborating across engineering, product, and program teams.
• Demonstrated ability to balance technical leadership, engineering delivery, and team development responsibilities.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, including experience working with technical and nontechnical stakeholders.
• Must be legally authorized to work in the United States without sponsorship, now or in the future.
• Must be able to successfully obtain and maintain a Public Trust security clearance.

Preferred Qualifications

• Active, VA-adjudicated Public Trust.
• Previous experience as an Engineering Manager, Technical Lead, Engineering Lead, or Staff Software Engineer with team leadership responsibilities.
• Experience directly managing engineers, including performance reviews, coaching, and career development.
• Experience modernizing legacy enterprise applications or transitioning monolithic systems into microservices.
• Experience with Java 17+ and modern Spring Boot frameworks.
• Experience with event-driven architecture, Kafka, Redis, or distributed systems.
• Experience with reactive programming and Spring WebFlux.
• Experience with Docker, Kubernetes, CI/CD pipelines, and modern DevOps practices.
• Experience supporting federal government programs, particularly the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
• Experience balancing hands-on technical contributions with formal engineering management responsibilities.
• Experience leading distributed or fully remote engineering teams.

Benefits

• Company-subsidized health, dental, and vision insurance
• Flexible PTO
• 401K with employer match
• Paid parental leave after one year of service
• Employee Assistance Program