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Contract Software Engineering Manager Jobs in Appleton, WI

Plexus Corp

Manufacturing Engineering Manager

Appleton, WI · On-site

$112K - $169K/yr

Manage the Manufacturing Engineering function in line with functional specific strategies, process ... This document does not represent a contract of employment and is not intended to capture every ...

Plexus Corp.

Manufacturing Engineering Manager

Appleton, WI · On-site

$112K - $169K/yr

Manage the Manufacturing Engineering function in line with functional specific strategies, process ... This document does not represent a contract of employment and is not intended to capture every ...

ITW Miller

Software Engineer

Appleton, WI

ITW Welding continues to build its capabilities in software development as a core competency in ... with engineering teams, marketing, and product management to develop innovative and reliable ...

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All JobsContract Software Engineering Manager JobsContract Software Engineering Manager Jobs in Appleton, WI

Contract Software Engineering Manager information

See Appleton, WI salary details

$97.1K

$165.3K

$195.6K

How much do contract software engineering manager jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 19, 2026, the average yearly pay for contract software engineering manager in Appleton, WI is $165,270.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $168,800.00 and $168,800.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

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 engineer makes $500,000 a year?

A senior or principal software engineering manager with extensive experience, leadership responsibilities, and expertise in high-demand areas can earn $500,000 or more annually. Such roles often require advanced technical skills, strategic oversight, and may include bonuses, stock options, or profit sharing in large tech companies or successful startups.

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.

How much do contract software engineers make?

Contract software engineers typically earn between $50 and $150 per hour, depending on experience, location, and project complexity. Senior engineers with specialized skills or certifications can command higher rates, especially for short-term or high-demand projects.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Contract Software Engineering Manager, and why are they important?

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 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.

How much money does a software engineer manager make?

A Contract Software Engineering Manager typically earns between $120,000 and $180,000 annually, depending on experience, location, and company size. They often oversee teams, manage project timelines, and require strong leadership and technical skills.

What engineers make $300,000 a year?

Senior software engineering managers, principal engineers, and staff engineers in large tech companies often earn $300,000 or more annually, especially with extensive experience, advanced skills in areas like cloud computing or AI, and stock options or bonuses included. These roles typically require strong leadership, technical expertise, and often a master's degree or higher in computer science or related fields.
What are popular job titles related to Contract Software Engineering Manager jobs in Appleton, WI? For Contract Software Engineering Manager jobs in Appleton, WI, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Contract Software Engineering Manager jobs in Appleton, WI look for? The top searched job categories for Contract Software Engineering Manager jobs in Appleton, WI are:
What cities near Appleton, WI are hiring for Contract Software Engineering Manager jobs? Cities near Appleton, WI 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 Appleton, WI as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 84% In-person, and 16% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $165,270 per year, or $79.5 per hour.
Engineering Manager (Breakthrough)

Engineering Manager (Breakthrough)

U.S. Venture, Inc.

Green Bay, WI • On-site

Full-time

Posted 13 days ago

U.S. Venture rating

7.3

Company rating: 7.3 out of 10

Based on 16 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

170th of 341 rated retail wholesalers

Job description

POSITION SUMMARY
As an Engineering Manager at Breakthrough, you will lead a team of engineers building the technology and data platforms that help the world's leading shippers reduce transportation costs, build more efficient networks, and decarbonize their supply chains. This is a hands-on technical leadership role: you'll stay close to the work - reviewing code and designs, coaching engineers, and helping shape technical direction - while owning the delivery, reliability, and security of everything your team builds and runs. You'll also partner with stakeholders throughout the organization to help drive the priorities and direction of our products and solutions, ensuring engineering effort is focused on the highest-impact outcomes.
The ideal location for this role is on-site in Green Bay, WI, however, based on relevancy of experience, we are open to considering candidates within a drivable distance from Green Bay; some travel to Green Bay would be required.
JOB RESPONSIBILITIES
Team Leadership
  • Lead and inspire a team of engineers, fostering a positive and collaborative work environment.
  • Mentor and develop team members, encouraging continuous learning and professional growth.
  • Cultivate a culture of accountability, innovation, and excellence within the engineering team that embodies Breakthrough's values.
  • Provide ongoing support and feedback utilizing in-the-moment coaching in addition to annual evaluations, goal setting, and professional development plans.

Talent & Hiring
  • Own hiring and team composition - recruit, interview, and build a high-performing engineering team.
  • Assess the capabilities of engineers on the team and create the conditions for them to grow and do their best work.

Execution Leadership
  • Collaborate with cross-functional teams to define product scope, objectives, and requirements.
  • Ensure timely and cost-effective product development.
  • Maintain a clear understanding and management of timelines, scope, and budget.
  • Ensure your team delivers extraordinary output, and continuously seeks ways to make an impact.
  • Contribute to the development of a comprehensive engineering roadmap, outlining key milestones and initiatives.

Technical Excellence
  • Contribute to the technical vision and strategy of Breakthrough.
  • Maintain hands-on technical involvement by participating in code and design reviews, providing direct technical guidance, and staying close enough to the work to assess quality and gauge the capabilities of the engineers on the team.
  • Guide architecture and technical design decisions, set and uphold engineering standards, and ensure the team builds scalable, maintainable, secure software.
  • Champion improvements to DevOps practices, CI/CD pipelines, and engineering tooling to increase delivery speed, reliability, and quality.
  • Stay current with industry trends, emerging technologies, and best practices.
  • Define and track key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure the success and efficiency of engineering projects.

System Ownership
  • Hold responsibility for the systems owned by the engineering team.
  • Uphold the stability, scalability, and security of the systems under your purview.
  • Assist the team in monitoring and supporting all areas of the system to ensure reliability meets business and technical service agreements.
  • Ensure appropriate on-call and incident-response coverage, and drive post-incident learning and continuous improvement.

Communication and Collaboration
  • Foster effective communication within the engineering team and across other departments.
  • Regularly update Breakthrough's leadership on product and system status, risks, and opportunities.

Additional Job Responsibilities
  • Cultivate Breakthrough's values while inspiring, empowering, recognizing, and guiding team members.
  • Live our values of High Performance, Caring Relationships, Strategic Foresight, and Entrepreneurial Spirit.
  • Find A Better Way by championing continuous improvement and quality control efforts to identify opportunities to innovate and improve efficiency, accuracy, and standardization.
  • Continuously learn and develop self professionally.
  • Support corporate efforts for safety, government compliance, and all other company policies & procedures.
  • Perform other related duties as required and assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS
Required:
  • Bachelor's degree in computer science or other highly technical scientific discipline, or equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.
  • 7+ years of software engineering experience.
  • 2+ years leading or managing engineers, or equivalent tech-lead experience.
  • Strong, hands-on technical background with the ability to read and review code, participate in pull requests, evaluate technical designs, and understand what the team is building well enough to coach engineers and assess their abilities.
  • Hands-on experience across a modern technology stack such as Python, SQL, and JavaScript/TypeScript (Node.js, React).
  • Working knowledge of application architectures, security best practices, and data integration concepts.
  • Familiarity with AI-assisted development tools and a thoughtful view on integrating them into engineering workflows.
  • Strong problem-solving and troubleshooting skills, with a proactive approach to identifying issues, performance bottlenecks, and opportunities for improvement.
  • Excellent communication skills, with a track record of partnering across product, business, and other engineering teams to align on priorities.
  • Ability to work both at the strategic level and at the tactical level, holding others accountable while building team rapport and engagement.
  • Experience with software development methodologies including Agile, Kanban, and Scrum.
  • Ability to mentor and guide team members to maximize their impact.

Preferred:
  • Experience improving DevOps processes, CI/CD pipelines, and engineering tooling.
  • Strong grasp of distributed systems concepts, including scalability, fault tolerance, and performance trade-offs.
  • Experience building and leading large-scale or high-performance systems and teams.
  • Prior experience in a product-focused technology team.
  • Passion for mentoring engineers and helping others achieve their career goals.
  • Experience with remote and distributed teams.

DIVISION:
Breakthrough
U.S. Venture will not offer sponsorship for employment status (including, but not limited to, H-1B, TN, E-3, F1, CPT, OPT, STEM OPT, visa status and other employment-based nonimmigrant visas) for this position. Accordingly, all applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis and must not require U.S. Venture's sponsorship to continue to work legally in the United States. In general, U.S. Venture does not sponsor candidates for nonimmigrant visas or permanent residency except when there is a specific business need.
U.S. Venture will not accept unsolicited resumes from recruiters or employment agencies. In the absence of an executed recruitment Master Service Agreement, there will be no obligation to any referral compensation or recruiter fee. In the event a recruiter or agency submits a resume or candidate without an agreement, U.S. Venture shall reserve the right to pursue and hire those candidate(s) without any financial obligation to the recruiter or agency. Any unsolicited resumes, including those submitted to hiring managers, shall be deemed the property of U.S. Venture.
U.S. Venture, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to inclusion and diversity. We ensure equal opportunity for all applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, marital status, age, national origin, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or other protected characteristic. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, you may call Human Resources at (920) 739-6101.
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