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Software Engineering Manager Jobs in South Dakota

... engineering, product management, project management, and testing teams. Success in this role ... maintainable software. • Analyze, design, develop, test, debug, and document software ...

$40/hr

The Software Engineer Intern implements developer tools or product features on a rapid-release ... Exceptional organizational skills with the ability to multi-task and manage multiple processes ...

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Software Engineering Manager information

See South Dakota salary details

$99.5K

$169.4K

$200.5K

How much do software engineering manager jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 6, 2026, the average yearly pay for software engineering manager in South Dakota is $169,381.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $173,000.00 and $173,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a software engineering manager do?

A software engineering manager oversees a team of people who are working on the development of new computer software or the enhancement of existing computer programs. Because this is a management job, your duties may include coordinating and planning with other departments within the company and with company executives. In addition to management skills, you need a firm understanding of the technical aspects of software engineering. Another aspect of this career involves understanding the market and competitor’s products so that your software can compete and meet market demands.

What does a software engineering manager do?

A Software Engineering Manager oversees a team of software engineers, guiding the development of software projects from planning to implementation. They are responsible for managing the team's workflow, ensuring high-quality code, and meeting project deadlines. In addition to technical leadership, they also handle hiring, mentoring, and performance reviews. Their role bridges the gap between technical execution and business objectives, ensuring that software solutions align with strategic goals.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a software engineering manager, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Software Engineering Manager, you need a solid background in software development, team leadership, and project management, often backed by a degree in computer science or a related field. Familiarity with development tools, agile methodologies, version control systems, and, in some cases, certifications like PMP or Scrum Master are valuable. Exceptional communication, problem-solving, and mentoring skills distinguish top performers in this role. These competencies are crucial for successfully guiding technical teams, delivering projects efficiently, and fostering a collaborative and innovative engineering culture.

What are some common challenges faced by software engineering managers when leading diverse development teams?

Software Engineering Managers often encounter challenges such as balancing technical leadership with people management, aligning team members with different backgrounds and skill sets, and ensuring effective communication across remote or cross-functional teams. Navigating these challenges involves fostering an inclusive environment, setting clear expectations, and adapting management styles to individual team members’ needs. Successful managers also prioritize regular check-ins and feedback to keep projects on track and support professional growth within the team.

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

AspectSoftware Engineering ManagerSoftware Developer
CredentialsBachelor's or Master's in CS or related field, often with leadership experienceBachelor's or higher in CS or related field
Work EnvironmentLeads teams, manages projects, collaborates with stakeholdersFocuses on coding, debugging, and implementing features
Employer & Industry UsageUsed across tech companies, startups, and large enterprisesCommon in all software development settings
Search & Comparison IntentUnderstanding managerial roles, leadership responsibilitiesFocus on technical skills, coding tasks

The main difference between a Software Engineering Manager and a Software Developer lies in their roles and responsibilities. Managers oversee teams, coordinate projects, and handle strategic planning, while developers focus on coding and technical implementation. Both roles are essential in the software development lifecycle, but they serve different functions within an organization.

What are the most commonly searched types of Software Engineering jobs in South Dakota?

The most popular types of Software Engineering jobs in South Dakota are:

What are popular job titles related to Software Engineering Manager jobs in South Dakota?

For Software Engineering Manager jobs in South Dakota, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Software Engineering Manager jobs in South Dakota look for?

The top searched job categories for Software Engineering Manager jobs in South Dakota are:

What cities in South Dakota are hiring for Software Engineering Manager jobs?

Cities in South Dakota with the most Software Engineering Manager job openings:

Infographic showing various Software Engineering Manager job openings in South Dakota as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 86% In-person, and 14% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $169,381 per year, or $81.4 per hour.

Software Engineering Manager

BlackFern Recruitment

Sioux Falls, SD • On-site

Other

Posted 7 days ago


Job description

Security clearance: Ability to obtain and maintain a government clearance required

Job Description

We are seeking a Software Engineering Manager to lead a highly technical software organization developing complex, mission-critical systems. This role combines technical leadership, people management, and engineering strategy, with a strong emphasis on building high-performing teams and delivering reliable software.

The ideal candidate is an experienced software engineer who has transitioned into leadership but remains technically engaged. You ll work closely with software leads and engineers to understand architectures, identify technical risks, challenge assumptions, and help teams make sound engineering decisions without taking ownership away from the experts closest to the work.

This is an opportunity to shape people, technology, and engineering culture while working across a multidisciplinary organization.

What You ll Do

Lead & Develop Teams

  • Lead, mentor, and develop software engineers and technical leads.
  • Drive hiring, career development, performance management, and team growth.
  • Build a culture of technical excellence, accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
  • Allocate engineering resources and develop staffing and capacity plans.
  • Remove obstacles and give teams the resources and autonomy needed to succeed.

Provide Technical Leadership

  • Develop a strong understanding of the organization s software architecture, systems, and technical challenges.
  • Engage directly in architecture and design discussions and constructively challenge technical decisions.
  • Identify technical debt, architectural weaknesses, and risks affecting reliability, performance, and maintainability.
  • Promote modern engineering practices, automation, testing, CI/CD, tooling, and software reuse.
  • Help teams make effective tradeoffs between schedule, cost, performance, risk, and long-term maintainability.
  • Lead a software engineering community of practice to share knowledge and establish consistent engineering standards.

Drive Execution

  • Ensure teams have clear plans, realistic estimates, appropriate resources, and measurable objectives.
  • Maintain visibility into technical health, development progress, risks, and dependencies.
  • Support project planning, resource management, proposals, estimates, and corrective actions.

Collaborate Across Engineering

  • Partner with Chief Engineers, Product Management, Product Assurance, and other engineering leaders.
  • Coordinate software development with systems, electrical, mechanical, aerospace, test, manufacturing, and operations teams.
  • Represent software engineering in organizational planning and technical leadership activities.

What We re Looking For

  • Bachelor s degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related technical field.
  • 8+ years of professional software engineering experience developing complex systems.
  • 2+ years leading software engineers or technical teams.
  • Strong foundation in software architecture, system design, development, integration, debugging, and testing.
  • Ability to understand complex systems at both the architectural and implementation levels.
  • Experience with modern development practices, configuration management, automated testing, CI/CD, and software lifecycle management.
  • Strong planning, estimation, resource management, prioritization, and communication skills.
  • A leadership style built on technical credibility, curiosity, humility, and accountability.
  • Ability to challenge ideas constructively, listen to opposing viewpoints, and change direction when the facts warrant it.

Preferred Experience

  • Software engineering management experience.
  • Embedded, distributed, networked, or mission-critical software.
  • Linux, C/C++, Python, web applications, containers, or related technologies.
  • Multidisciplinary products involving software, electronics, communications, sensors, or physical systems.