Contract Remote Software Engineering Manager Jobs in Texas

Description

About Salient

Salient manufactures and markets video surveillance and video management systems. As an innovative and entrepreneurial company, Salient experienced significant growth in the 2010s, driven by the transition from analog to IP cameras. Salient offers multiple versions of its systems, including a classic on-premise solution, a hybrid cloud option, and a camera-to-cloud solution, allowing end users to select the version that best fits their needs. Our products are built with an open architecture, encouraging seamless integration with leading software providers worldwide.

Role Overview

As an Engineering Manager at Salient, you will lead two engineering teams that together span the full deployment surface of our products: a DevOps team responsible for AWS cloud infrastructure powering our cloud portal and remote gateway, on-premise installers, and release support; and a Recording Server team that owns a core C++ component of our CompleteView VMS. A key focus for the Recording Server team will be modernizing the codebase to set it up for the next generation of capabilities, with future opportunities to expand into integration work with third-party SDKs across access control, analytics, and other adjacent technologies. Across both teams, you will be expected to bring practical experience with AI-assisted development and drive its adoption to improve velocity, quality, and customer satisfaction.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and develop two engineering teams: a 2-person DevOps team and a 5-person Recording Server team, fostering accountability, collaboration, and growth.
• Oversee AWS cloud infrastructure and deployment for our cloud portal and remote gateway, including infrastructure-as-code, CI/CD pipelines, and operational reliability.
• Own the release support function and on-premise installer pipeline for our CompleteView product line.
• Lead modernization efforts on the Recording Server codebase to position it for future growth, with longer-term opportunities to extend into third-party SDK integrations (access control, analytics, and other ecosystem partners).
• Drive practical adoption of AI-assisted development tools and workflows within both teams to improve velocity, code quality, and customer outcomes.
• Partner with Product Management, QA, Support, and other engineering leaders to align team execution with business priorities.
• Define and continuously improve development, deployment, and integration processes to support scalability and maintainability.
• Communicate progress, risks, and technical trade-offs clearly to engineering leadership and cross-functional stakeholders.

Success in This Role Relies On:

• People & Process Leadership Across Two Teams: Effectively managing two teams with distinct missions - operational and infrastructure work on the DevOps side and codebase modernization on the Recording Server side - while building a cohesive culture across both.
• Pragmatic AI Adoption: Identifying real opportunities to apply AI-assisted development tools to improve team velocity, code quality, and customer satisfaction, and translating that interest into measurable team outcomes.
• Operational Excellence with a Builder's Mindset: Keeping cloud infrastructure, releases, and installer pipelines reliable while actively shaping how the Recording Server team evolves into an integrations function.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partnering with Product Management, QA, Support, and other engineering leaders to align engineering efforts with business objectives and ensure timely, high-quality delivery.

Requirements

Must haves:

• 5+ years of software engineering experience, with at least 2 years in an engineering management role.
• Hands-on experience leading DevOps or cloud infrastructure work in AWS (Azure or GCP background acceptable for the right candidate, with willingness to ramp on AWS).
• Working knowledge of infrastructure-as-code (Terraform) and CI/CD pipelines (GitHub Actions or equivalent).
• Practical experience applying AI-assisted development tools to real engineering work, with a clear point of view on where they help and where they don't.
• Experience leading software engineering teams in an Agile development environment.
• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to make sound technical and people decisions.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills for collaborating across teams and engaging with stakeholders at all levels.

Great to haves:

• Experience working in a hybrid cloud / on-prem product architecture.
• Knowledge of video management systems, security software, or related technologies.
• C++ background or experience leading C++ teams.
• Experience with third-party SDK integrations (access control, video analytics, IoT, or similar).
• Familiarity with installer tooling such as AdvancedInstaller, WiX, or InstallShield.
• Exposure to hardware-adjacent software development.

Compensation

Salary is commensurate with experience. Salient Systems provides an excellent benefits package including; partial employer paid health insurance, employer sponsored life, short-term, and long-term disability insurance, voluntary dental and vision insurance, 401(k), and unlimited PTO. Our values are commitment, collaboration, customer focus, determination, and innovation! A fun, entrepreneurial spirit and initiative are key elements of the Salient environment. We foster a culture of collaboration through supporting team building events and continuing career growth and development. 

Equal Employment Opportunity

 Salient Systems is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other protected characteristic as outlined by federal, state, or local laws. This policy applies to all employment practices within our organization, including hiring, recruiting, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, leave of absence, compensation, benefits, training, and transfer. Salient Systems makes hiring decisions based solely on qualifications, merit, and business needs at the time.