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Software Engineering Manager Jobs in Tucson, AZ (NOW HIRING)

Rocket Lab Corporation

Electrical Engineering Manager

Tucson, AZ · On-site

$115K - $148K/yr

... software, star trackers, optical systems, separation systems, radios, and more. Our Space Systems ... ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING MANAGER Rocket Lab's Optical Systems division solves mission-critical space ...

Cross Resource Group

Software Engineer IV

Tucson, AZ · On-site

... manage multiple software engineering tasks at the same time • Contribute independently and as part of a team to complete engineering lifecycle work • Lead and mentor junior software engineers ...

AVTC Group

Software Engineer C#

Tucson, AZ · On-site

Troubleshoot software and test equipment instrumentation Work in a multidiscipline engineering team ... Management principles using Microsoft Azure DevOps Server or GitHub #CJ

Rincon Research Corporation

Sr. Software Engineer

Tucson, AZ · On-site

$113K - $150K/yr

Required : • Highly proficient in modern software engineering practices for testability and readability • Highly proficient in C++ and Python for engineering and scientific applications in LINUX ...

NOAO

Principal Software Architect

Tucson, AZ · On-site

Strong background in multiple programming languages and modern software development methodologies. * Experience building and managing platforms that process and store petabyte-scale data.

AURA

Principal Software Architect

Tucson, AZ · On-site

$155K - $189K/yr

Strong background in multiple programming languages and modern software development methodologies. * Experience building and managing platforms that process and store petabyte-scale data.

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All JobsSoftware Engineering JobsSoftware Engineering Manager JobsSoftware Engineering Manager Jobs in Tucson, AZ

Software Engineering Manager information

See Tucson, AZ salary details

$85.5K

$145.6K

$172.4K

How much do software engineering manager jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 30, 2026, the average yearly pay for software engineering manager in Tucson, AZ is $145,616.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $148,700.00 and $148,700.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

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 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 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 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 does a software engineer manager do?

A software engineering manager oversees software development teams, coordinates project planning, sets technical goals, and ensures timely delivery of software products. They also handle team management, performance evaluations, and collaborate with stakeholders to align technical efforts with business objectives.

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.

How much do software engineer managers get paid?

Software engineering managers typically earn a median annual salary ranging from $120,000 to $180,000, depending on experience, location, and company size. They often receive additional benefits such as bonuses, stock options, and health insurance, and may lead teams using project management tools and Agile methodologies.

Can I make 200k a year as a software engineer?

Software engineering managers and senior software engineers in high-cost-of-living areas or with extensive experience and specialized skills can earn $200,000 or more annually. Compensation depends on factors such as location, company size, industry, and individual expertise, with roles involving leadership, complex projects, or advanced technical skills often commanding higher salaries.

What engineer makes $500,000 a year?

Senior software engineering managers and highly experienced software engineers at large tech companies can earn $500,000 or more annually, often including bonuses, stock options, and other incentives. These roles typically require extensive experience, leadership skills, and expertise in areas like cloud computing, system architecture, or specialized domains.
More about Software Engineering Manager jobs
What are the most commonly searched types of Software Engineering jobs in Tucson, AZ? The most popular types of Software Engineering jobs in Tucson, AZ are:
What are popular job titles related to Software Engineering Manager jobs in Tucson, AZ? For Software Engineering Manager jobs in Tucson, AZ, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Software Engineering Manager jobs in Tucson, AZ look for? The top searched job categories for Software Engineering Manager jobs in Tucson, AZ are:
What cities near Tucson, AZ are hiring for Software Engineering Manager jobs? Cities near Tucson, AZ with the most Software Engineering Manager job openings:
Software Engineering Manager jobs near you
Infographic showing various Software Engineering Manager job openings in Tucson, AZ as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 89% Full Time, 7% Part Time, and 4% Contract. Highlights an 89% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 8% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $145,616 per year, or $70 per hour.

Manager, Software Engineering (Semiconductor - Metrology)

Onto

Tucson, AZ • On-site

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 11 days ago

Job description

Onto Innovation is a leader in process control, combining global scale with an expanded portfolio of leading-edge technologies that include: 3D metrology spanning the chip from nanometer-scale transistors to micron-level die-interconnects; macro defect inspection of wafers and packages; metal interconnect composition; factory analytics; and lithography for advanced semiconductor packaging. Our breadth of offerings across the entire semiconductor value chain helps our customers solve their most difficult yield, device performance, quality, and reliability issues. Onto Innovation strives to optimize customers' critical path of progress by making them smarter, faster and more efficient.
Job Summary & Responsibilities
Position Summary
The Software Engineering Manager leads software development at Onto Tucson, owning the team and the codebase for 4D branded products. 4D's product portfolio is primarily optical metrology - specifically laser interferometry - and industrial metrology - primarily fringe projection - along with the software tools used in production of these devices.
This is a player-coach role: the Software Engineering Manager runs the team, sets technical direction, and stays close enough to the code to make architecture and code-review calls - while owning hiring, performance management, and cross-functional partnerships with Engineering, Product Management, Manufacturing, Service, and Quality.
Key Responsibilities
Team Leadership
  • Lead, hire, and develop a team of software engineers and QA engineers across desktop application development, firmware / embedded engineering, and internal tooling, partnering closely with the Software Architect on technical direction.
  • Conduct performance reviews, succession planning, hiring, and career development; build progression paths from junior to mid / senior level.
  • Establish team rituals: standups, code-review cadence, sprint planning, retrospectives.
  • Restore disciplined Scrum practice across the team: sprint planning, daily standups, sprint review, retrospectives, and a well-groomed product backlog.
  • Build a culture of technical excellence, ownership, and continuous improvement.

Technical Leadership
  • Set technical direction for the software portfolio: customer-facing analysis tools, instrument firmware, and internal manufacturing / test software.
  • Own software development practices: code review, testing standards, branching and release strategy, CI / CD, version-control discipline.
  • Make and document architecture decisions; participate hands-on in design reviews and complex code reviews.
  • Maintain a roadmap for technical debt, platform health, and security / compliance updates.

Customer-Facing Software (Analysis & Visualization)
  • Drive development of customer-facing software.
  • Partner with Product Management on roadmap, feature prioritization, and customer release commitments.
  • Coordinate with the Senior Service Manager on field issues that originate in software, including hot-fix release planning.

Cross-Functional Collaboration
  • Partner with Engineering on product development, New Product Introduction (NPI), and Engineering Changes (ECs / ECOs) that have software impact.
  • Partner with the Senior Service Manager on field-software issues, FSE diagnostic tools, and customer escalations with a software root cause.
  • Partner with Quality on QMS-related software documentation, validation, software-related CAPAs, and audit support.

Software Quality & Release Management
  • Own the software quality program: defect tracking, regression testing, release validation, and customer-facing release notes.
  • Plan, track, and deliver software releases on commitment using Jira; track program status against committed milestones.
  • Track and report software KPIs to senior leadership; provide weekly program status.
  • Ensure software development practices align with applicable QMS requirements

AI Adoption & Engineering Productivity
  • Drive adoption of AI-assisted development tools - GitHub Copilot, Claude Opus, and other LLM-based pair-programming and code-review tools - as a primary lever for engineering productivity and code quality.
  • Establish prompt-engineering and AI pair-programming best practices; build internal playbooks for when and how AI tools are most effective on 4D's codebase.
  • Integrate AI-assisted code review into the development workflow alongside human-judgment review; balance speed with engineering rigor.
  • Measure and report on AI-tool adoption metrics: usage rate across the team, impact on cycle time, defect rate, and developer satisfaction.

Continuous Improvement
  • Drive engineering productivity improvements: developer tooling, test automation, deployment automation.
  • Build engineering capability through training, mentorship, conference participation, and technical learning.

Key Performance Indicators
  • Sprint commitment vs. actual delivery (sprint predictability).
  • Team velocity stability across rolling sprints.
  • Sprint goal achievement rate.
  • Cycle time per user story (queue to done).
  • Defect escape rate from sprint to production.
  • Pull-request review turnaround time.
  • On-time release of customer-facing software.
  • AI-tool adoption metrics: usage rate, cycle-time impact, defect-rate impact.
  • Team retention, engagement, and progression rate.

Qualifications
Education
  • Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Physics, or related technical field, OR equivalent technical experience and demonstrated track record of software engineering leadership.

Experience
  • 8-12 years of software engineering experience with 3+ years managing engineers.
  • Demonstrated experience leading multi-domain software teams (desktop applications, embedded / firmware, internal tooling) - or at least one of these domains plus willingness to grow into the others.
  • Experience in scientific instrumentation, optical metrology, semiconductor capital equipment, medical devices, or comparable precision-instrument software.
  • Hands-on experience with the software development lifecycle in a regulated or QMS environment.

Skills & Competencies
  • Strong technical depth in one or more of: C# / .NET (Windows desktop), C / C++ (firmware / embedded), Python (analysis and internal tooling).
  • Strong understanding of software architecture, performance optimization, and cross-platform development.
  • Familiarity with soft real-time systems, instrument control, and hardware-software integration.
  • Working knowledge of source control (git), CI / CD, and modern development workflows.
  • Strong Scrum practitioner; experience running sprint cadences, backlog grooming, and retrospectives in Jira and GitHub workflows.
  • Strong communication skills - able to explain software trade-offs to non-technical stakeholders (Manufacturing, Service, Sales, customers).
  • Coaching and team-building; experience growing engineers from junior to mid / senior level.
  • Comfort operating in an ISO 9001 or comparable QMS environment with software validation requirements.
  • Adherence to company ethics, customer-confidentiality, and gifts / conflict-of-interest policies in all customer and supplier interactions.

Preferred Qualifications
  • Direct experience with optical metrology, interferometry, or scientific imaging applications.
  • Experience with FPGA development or hardware-software co-design.
  • Experience with GPU acceleration (CUDA, OpenCL, or compute shaders) for performance-critical metrology computation.
  • Experience with robotic automation integration in industrial product lines (relevant to 4D's Inspec product line).
  • Demonstrated track record of driving adoption of AI-assisted development tools (GitHub Copilot, Claude or other LLM-based development workflows) in a software engineering team.

Working Conditions
  • Tucson, AZ-based, on-site at the facility for daily presence with Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, and Service. This is an on-site role; occasional work-from-home flexibility is supported, but the role is not hybrid.
  • Travel up to 10% for customer engagements, supplier visits, and trips to the corporate office in Milpitas.
  • Standard business hours with flexibility for release windows, customer escalations, and cross-time-zone collaboration as needed.
  • Physical demands include occasional time on the manufacturing floor for tool integration and validation testing.

Why Join Onto Innovation?
At Onto Innovation, we believe your work should matter-and so should your well-being. That's why we offer competitive salaries and a comprehensive benefits package designed to support you and your family. From health, dental, and vision coverage to life and disability insurance, PTO, and a 401(k) with employer match, we've got you covered. You'll also enjoy access to our Employee Stock Purchase Program (ESPP), wellness initiatives, and cutting-edge tools-all within a collaborative, inclusive culture where your contributions are valued and recognized.
Compensation & Growth
• Base Salary Range:
$115,200.00 - $172,800.00, offered in good faith and based on experience, location, and qualifications.
  • Additional Rewards: Annual bonus opportunities and potential long-term incentives tied to both company and individual success.

Empowering Every Voice to Shape the Future:
Onto Innovation is committed to creating a workplace where every qualified candidate has an equal opportunity to succeed. We evaluate applicants based on skills, experience, and potential - without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. We believe diversity of thought and background drives innovation and strengthens our team.
Important Note on Export Compliance
For certain positions requiring access to technical data, U.S. export licensing review may be necessary for applicants who are not U.S. Citizens, Permanent Residents, or other protected persons under 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3).
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About ONTO

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Industry

Specialized design services

Company size

1 - 10 Employees

Headquarters location

New York, NY, US

Year founded

2021

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