20th November, 2025
Our client in Houston, TX, is seeking a Software Engineering Manager to join their growing team!
This is a hybrid/full-time/direct-hire position.
Salary range based on experience: $150k Base
Position Overview
The Software Engineering Manager will lead and grow a multidisciplinary team building the software backbone of our client's drone operations ecosystem. This role is both deeply technical and organizationally strategic. You'll oversee execution across the entire software stack and drive a culture of accountability, innovation, and continuous improvement.
You will manage engineering domains, including full-stack applications, cloud services, real-time systems, developer tooling, data systems, and mobile apps. This role works closely with product, QA, hardware, and flight operations to ensure seamless integration across all mission-critical systems.
Key Responsibilities
Team Leadership & Management
- Build, mentor, and lead a high-performing engineering team across full-stack, data, DevOps, cloud, and mobile domains.
- Establish a culture of responsibility, innovation, and continuous improvement (Kaizen).
- Conduct regular 1:1s, performance reviews, and drive career development.
- Recruit, hire, and onboard engineers as the team scales.
Technical Strategy & Architecture
- Own software architecture across backend, frontend, mobile, data, and cloud services.
- Guide long-term technical direction and anticipate future platform needs.
- Ensure system scalability, reliability, observability, and security across all software components.
- Champion modern engineering practices, including testing, code quality, CI/CD, and documentation.
Execution & Delivery Excellence
- Drive a disciplined engineering culture focused on predictable delivery, high quality, and rapid iteration.
- Manage sprint planning, resource allocation, and cross-team prioritization.
- Ensure engineering velocity without compromising safety, reliability, or operational stability.
- Lead incident response, root cause analysis, and preventive engineering initiatives.
Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Partner closely with Product, QA, Robotics, Hardware, and Flight Operations teams to deliver integrated solutions.
- Communicate timelines, risks, and technical decisions clearly to stakeholders.
- Support deployments, customer escalations, and mission-critical operational events.
- Ensure alignment between software systems and real-world emergency response needs.
QualificationsRequired - Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or equivalent experience.
- 5+ years of software engineering experience, including 2+ years leading teams or acting as a technical lead.
- Strong hands-on background in modern development, specifically:
- TypeScript (Node.js, React, or similar)
- Python (API development, data pipelines, automation, or scripting)
- Demonstrated experience building and operating systems on AWS, GCP, and Firebase.
- Experience with modern cloud architectures, distributed systems, and developer tooling.
- Proven track record delivering complex engineering projects from concept through deployment.
- Strong communication skills and the ability to work across hardware, product, and field operations.
Preferred - Experience with Kotlin (Android).
- Familiarity with mobile development (iOS/Android) or cross-platform frameworks.
- Background in IoT, real-time systems, video streaming, or GIS/mapping platforms.
- Knowledge of DevOps tooling, cloud infrastructure, and distributed systems.
- Experience in a startup or high-growth environment.
Applicants must be authorized to work in the U.S.
We are an equal-opportunity employer. We do not discriminate in hiring or employment against any individual based on race, color, gender, national origin, ancestry, religion, physical or mental disability, age, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, pregnancy, citizenship, or any other factor protected by anti-discrimination laws.
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