Software Development Manager Jobs in Cologne, MN

ITASCA is seeking a Lead UI/UX Product Architect & Development Manager to lead a major, multi-year initiative: designing and building a next-generation user interface for ITASCA's advanced geomechanical modeling software.

This role is suited for a software product leader who can combine UI/UX architecture, project management, technical leadership, and user-centered design. You will help bridge the gap between complex scientific computing and intuitive software workflows for engineers and scientists who build, run, and interpret numerical models.

You will lead a development team, collaborate with internal stakeholders, work closely with software engine developers, and engage with clients and users to translate complex engineering workflows into clear, effective software solutions.

ITASCA's software is used to solve complex geomechanical engineering problems. As modeling capabilities continue to advance, the user experience must also evolve so that engineers and scientists can work more intuitively, efficiently, and confidently.

In this role, you will help shape how users interact with ITASCA's next generation of modeling tools. Your work will influence how clients define problems, build models, visualize results, and interpret complex numerical simulations.

This is a high-impact leadership role at the intersection of software development, scientific computing, engineering workflows, and product strategy. Success will require technical judgment, strong communication, user empathy, and the ability to turn a complex long-term vision into practical development milestones.

• Develop and maintain a multi-year roadmap for a new UI platform, from scoping through deployment and iterative updates.
• Define milestones, manage sprints, allocate resources, and keep the project on schedule and within scope.
• Lead, mentor, and coordinate front-end and full-stack software developers.
• Define UI architecture, design patterns, technology choices, and frameworks to support scalability, performance, and long-term maintainability.
• Work closely with geomechanics engine developers to integrate numerical simulation back ends with user-facing front ends.
• Actively engage with clients and users to conduct research, gather feedback, and translate engineering workflows into product requirements.
• Collaborate with executive leadership, domain experts, and product managers to align UI strategy with broader business goals.

• Bachelor's degree in computer science, engineering, or a related field.
• 5+ years of experience managing software development projects, leading development teams, and managing complex timelines.
• Strong technical background in modern UI/UX design concepts, desktop or web-based interface frameworks, and graphics/visualization libraries.
• Demonstrated success in a client-facing or user-facing role, with the ability to navigate feedback from technical users and business stakeholders.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Authorization to work in the United States.

• Experience developing software for engineering, scientific computing, CAD, 3D GIS, FEM, numerical simulation, or related technical environments.
• Experience rendering or visualizing large datasets, 3D meshes, or complex spatial data.
• Backend development experience with Python, Node.js, C++, or similar technologies.
• Front-end development experience with React, JavaScript, or related frameworks.
• Experience working with product managers, domain experts, and technical customers to define software requirements.

For more than 45 years, ITASCA has helped clients solve complex geomechanics, hydrogeology, and engineering geology challenges through technical depth, practical judgment, advanced analysis, and innovation.

At ITASCA, software is not separate from engineering, it is central to how we help clients understand complex systems and make better decisions. This role offers the opportunity to shape the next generation of tools used by engineers and scientists around the world.

We are a collaborative, collegial, employee-owned company where technical excellence, curiosity, mentorship, mutual respect, and shared success matter. This is a role for someone who wants to lead meaningful product development in a highly technical environment.

This is a full-time position based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The role will require substantial on-site collaboration, with flexibility where appropriate.

The anticipated salary range is $120,000-$160,000 annually, depending on experience, qualifications, and skill set.

We value your contributions and offer a comprehensive benefits package, including:

• Competitive salary commensurate with experience
• Performance bonuses, including cash and company stock
• Health, dental, and vision benefits for you and your family
• Generous paid time off from day one
• Paid holidays
• 401(k) with company match
• Paid parental leave
• Company-paid short-term disability, long-term disability, and life insurance

ITASCA is an equal opportunity employer, a drug-free workplace, and complies with ADA regulations as applicable.