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Contract Software Engineering Manager Jobs in Michigan

Rocket

Software Engineering Manager

Detroit, MI · On-site

The Software Engineering Manager will lead and mentor an Agile team, ensuring high performance and the implementation of superior software while promoting the company's culture and mission.

Quicken Loans

Software Engineering Manager

Detroit, MI · On-site

The Software Engineering Manager will lead an Agile team, focusing on team performance, quality, and technological excellence, while also collaborating with leadership to align team goals with the ...

Jobtailor

Software Engineering Manager

Dearborn, MI · On-site

* Lead, manage, and mentor a team of 10+ developers and analysts * Set performance expectations, conduct regular 1:1s, and drive career growth * Build a team culture focused on ownership, quality, and ...

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Contract Software Engineering Manager information

What is a contract software engineering manager?

A Contract Software Engineering Manager is a professional who leads and oversees software development teams on a contractual basis, rather than as a permanent employee. They are responsible for managing engineering projects, guiding developers, and ensuring timely delivery of high-quality software solutions. Typically, they work for a specific duration or on particular projects, providing leadership, technical expertise, and process improvements. This role is ideal for organizations seeking temporary management support or specialized leadership for critical projects. Contract Software Engineering Managers often bring diverse experience from various industries and projects.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a contract software engineering manager?

To thrive as a Contract Software Engineering Manager, you need strong leadership abilities, deep software development knowledge, and experience managing engineering teams, typically supported by a degree in computer science or related field. Familiarity with project management tools (like Jira or Trello), cloud platforms (such as AWS or Azure), and relevant certifications (e.g., PMP, Scrum Master) is often required. Outstanding communication, adaptability, and conflict-resolution skills help build trust and drive team performance in diverse, dynamic environments. These competencies ensure timely project delivery, high code quality, and effective collaboration with stakeholders.

What are some unique challenges faced by contract software engineering managers compared to full-time managers?

Contract software engineering managers often face the challenge of quickly integrating into new teams and company cultures while rapidly understanding ongoing projects. They must establish trust and effective communication in a short period, all while delivering results within limited contract timelines. Additionally, contract managers may need to balance stakeholder expectations and project deliverables without the long-term context or authority that permanent managers might have. Adaptability, strong onboarding skills, and proactive relationship-building are key to thriving in this role.

What is the difference between Contract Software Engineering Manager vs Contract Software Developer?

AspectContract Software Engineering ManagerContract Software Developer
Required CredentialsBachelor's/Master's in CS or related field, management experienceBachelor's in CS or related field, coding skills
Work EnvironmentOversees teams, manages projects, collaborates with stakeholdersFocuses on coding, debugging, implementing features
Employer & Industry UsageTech companies, consulting firms, startupsSoftware firms, tech startups, enterprise IT
Common Search & ComparisonManagement responsibilities, leadership rolesTechnical skills, coding focus

The Contract Software Engineering Manager typically oversees development teams, manages projects, and ensures delivery, requiring management experience and leadership skills. In contrast, the Contract Software Developer primarily focuses on coding and implementing software features. Both roles are common in tech industries but differ significantly in responsibilities and required credentials.

What are popular job titles related to Contract Software Engineering Manager jobs in Michigan?

For Contract Software Engineering Manager jobs in Michigan, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Contract Software Engineering Manager jobs in Michigan look for?

The top searched job categories for Contract Software Engineering Manager jobs in Michigan are:

What cities in Michigan are hiring for Contract Software Engineering Manager jobs?

Cities in Michigan with the most Contract Software Engineering Manager job openings:

Contract Software Engineering Manager jobs near you
Infographic showing various Contract Software Engineering Manager job openings in Michigan as of September 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 74% In-person, 13% Hybrid, and 13% Remote job distribution.

Software Engineering Manager

Grand Rapids, MI

Kiongroup
See more jobs at Kiongroupexternal

Full-time

Posted 27 days ago

Job description

The Software Engineering Manager leads a team of software engineers responsible for the delivery of Warehouse Control System (WCS) solutions for customer projects. This position combines people leadership, engineering management, and project portfolio oversight to ensure successful project execution, employee development, and customer satisfaction.
This role serves as a key customer-facing leader, partnering with internal and external stakeholders to ensure successful project delivery, proactive issue resolution, and a positive customer experience throughout the project lifecycle.We offer:

People Leadership

  • Lead, coach, and develop a team of software engineers and technical leaders through performance management, career planning, mentorship, and succession planning activities.

  • Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement.

  • Conduct performance reviews, establish development goals, and provide ongoing coaching and feedback.

  • Partner with Talent Acquisition and engineering leadership to recruit, interview, and hire software engineering talent.

  • Develop future technical and leadership talent through mentoring and growth opportunities.

  • Support workforce planning and organizational development initiatives.

Engineering & Project Portfolio Management

  • Manage engineering staffing and resource allocation across a portfolio of concurrent customer projects.

  • Balance project priorities, engineering capacity, customer commitments, and organizational objectives.

  • Forecast engineering demand and provide recommendations for staffing and capacity planning.

  • Monitor project labor utilization, budget performance, and engineering execution metrics.

  • Partner with Project Managers, Account Management, Solution Development, and Engineering leadership to ensure successful project delivery.

  • Support project estimation efforts, scope reviews, technical risk assessments, and solution planning activities.

  • Ensure engineering resources are assigned effectively to meet project schedules and customer commitments.

  • Drive continuous improvements in project execution, resource planning, and engineering delivery processes.

Customer & Technical Leadership

  • Serve as a senior escalation point for customer concerns, project execution challenges, technical risks, and resource conflicts.

  • Provide guidance and support to project teams for complex warehouse software implementations.

  • Collaborate with customers and project stakeholders to resolve issues and maintain strong working relationships.

  • Assist engineering teams in solution architecture reviews, execution planning, troubleshooting, and risk mitigation.

  • Partner with solution development and sales teams to support customer opportunities through technical consultation and engineering estimates.

  • Promote adherence to engineering standards, best practices, and quality expectations across project teams.

  • Build and maintain strong customer relationships by providing leadership, responsiveness, and proactive communication throughout project execution.

Tasks and Qualifications:

What We Are Looking For

Required Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Engineering, or related technical discipline.

  • 8+ years of software engineering experience in industrial automation, warehouse execution/control systems, material handling, or related industries.

  • 3+ years of people management or technical leadership experience.

  • Experience leading technical teams responsible for software project delivery.

  • Experience managing multiple concurrent projects and balancing competing priorities.

  • Strong customer-facing communication and stakeholder management skills.

  • Demonstrated experience managing engineering resources, project staffing, and project forecasting through either formal people leadership or project lead responsibilities.

  • Strong analytical, problem-solving, organizational, and decision-making skills.

  • Demonstrated customer-facing leadership experience, including managing customer expectations, resolving escalations, and building collaborative relationships with project stakeholders.

Preferred Qualifications

  • Experience managing/leading teams responsible for WCS, WES, WMS, EMS, or industrial automation software solutions.

  • Experience supporting project estimation, solution development, and technical proposal activities.

  • Knowledge of software development lifecycle, Agile methodologies, and software delivery best practices.

  • Knowledge of material handling systems and warehouse automation technologies.

  • Experience leading customer escalations and resolving complex project delivery issues.

Job Specific Details

  • Lead a software engineering organization supporting the implementation and delivery of warehouse automation software solutions.

  • Manage a team of software engineers responsible for project design, development, testing, deployment, commissioning, and go-live support activities.

  • Oversee staffing and assignment of engineering resources across a portfolio of customer projects ranging from small enhancements to large-scale warehouse implementations.

  • Collaborate with project teams to assess project risks, staffing requirements, schedule impacts, and technical challenges.

  • Review project health and execution metrics to identify opportunities for improvement and proactively mitigate risks.

  • Support project teams with solution architecture reviews, execution strategy development, and issue resolution.

  • Facilitate cross-functional communication between engineering, project management, controls engineering, commissioning, account management, and customer stakeholders.

  • Manage engineering escalations and coordinate resolution of technical, resource, and project execution issues.

  • Provide input into project planning, engineering estimates, budget forecasts, and organizational capacity planning.

  • Drive standardization and process improvements that improve engineering effectiveness, delivery quality, and customer satisfaction.

  • Travel as required to support customer engagements, project reviews, engineering workshops, and critical project milestones (typically up to 15%).

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