Senior Development Manager, Software Engineering

Senior Manager, Software Engineering

Remote - United States

About the Role

This role focuses on Blackboard, our LMS product, where we pride ourselves on creating well-designed web and mobile solutions to support learners, instructors, and administrators. Blackboard allows learners and instructors to access online educational experiences wherever and whenever they want through web and mobile devices.  Our technology helps instructors breathe life into educational content, brings efficiency to day-to-day tasks, and empowers instructors with tools to engage and assess every learner. We help motivate learners by promoting collaboration, communication, and connections with their peers and instructors.    

Responsibilities

Lead & Grow High-Performing Teams

• Manage, mentor, and develop a team of software engineers and QA professionals, including developing other leads and senior engineers
• Foster a culture of quality, collaboration, and continuous improvement
• Support career growth through coaching, feedback, and development planning
• Define hiring strategy and build out team capacity to meet long-term organizational goals

Drive Delivery & Technical Excellence

• Own delivery of high-quality, scalable, and reliable software features and enhancements across multiple teams or workstreams
• Contribute as a hands-on technical leader, providing deep guidance on design, code, and architecture when needed
• Ensure strong engineering fundamentals across design, development, and operations
• Champion Agile and test-driven development practices
• Establish and enforce engineering standards, best practices, and technical quality bars across the team
• Explore and advocate for the adoption of modern development tools, including AI-assisted technologies, to improve team productivity and software quality

Partner Across the Organization

• Collaborate with Product Management, Design, and Operations to define and deliver roadmap priorities
• Identify risks, propose trade-offs, and help balance speed, scope, and quality
• Maintain transparent, proactive communication on progress, challenges, and outcomes
• Influence technical and product direction with senior stakeholders and leadership

Shape the Future of Our Platform

• Drive architectural decisions and long-term technical strategy
• Advocate for modern engineering practices and tools
• Help evolve our platform to deliver a seamless, next-generation learning experience
• Lead technical evaluations and make build-vs-buy and major technology adoption decisions

Required Skills and Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science (or equivalent experience)
• 5+ years of software development experience
• 4+ years in a technical leadership or engineering management role, including managing senior engineers
• Deep hands-on expertise with multiple modern programming languages and frameworks (e.g., Java, JavaScript/React, Python)
• Demonstrated experience designing and delivering large-scale, distributed, or high-availability systems
• Strong working knowledge of system architecture, scalability, and performance optimization
• Hands-on experience with cloud platforms (e.g., AWS, Azure, or GCP) and modern CI/CD pipelines
• Proven experience leading Agile teams delivering complex software systems
• Track record of setting technical direction and driving engineering standards across teams
• Ability to guide teams through ambiguity in fast-paced, evolving environments
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to translate complex technical concepts clearly
• Thorough understanding of software development life cycles
• Ability to manage conflicts and assist with finding resolutions
• Strong decision-making/problem-solving skills
• Strong organizational skills
• Strong team player with excellent interpersonal skills
• Fluency in written and spoken English

Preferred Skills and Experience

• Master's degree in Computer Science or a related field
• Experience managing managers or leading multiple teams
• Track record of delivering high-quality software on time at scale
• Experience influencing cross-functional teams (product, design, operations)
• Experience owning technical roadmaps and long-term architectural strategy
• Passion for building both functional and exceptional user experiences
• Experience with cloud-native architectures and modern web/mobile platforms
• Interest in EdTech or mission-driven products
• Experience with or a demonstrated curiosity for applying AI and machine learning–driven tools (e.g., coding assistants, intelligent testing, or workflow automation) to improve developer productivity and product quality

Why Join Us?

• Purpose-driven work: Make a real impact on global education
• Leadership opportunity: Shape teams, technology, and product direction
• Innovative environment: Work on a modern, evolving platform
• Inclusive culture: Be part of a team that values diversity and belonging
• Growth-focused: Invest in your development as a leader and technologist

About Blackboard

Blackboard advances teaching excellence and unlocks the full potential of technology to deliver meaningful outcomes. We empower institutions to deepen connections between educators and learners, inspire engagement, and drive long-term academic success across the full learner journey.  For more information, please visit www.blackboard.com. 

The expected salary range for this position is $140,000 - $173,800. The range reflects base salary only and does not include additional compensation such as company bonus or benefits. Placement within the pay range will depend on a variety of factors, such as experience, skills, internal parity, and location.

Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the country where the role is based at the time of hire and must maintain that authorization for the duration of employment. The company does not provide visa sponsorship or immigration support for this position.

This job description is not designed to contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required. Nothing in this job description restricts management's right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities at any time.    

Blackboard is an equal employment opportunity/affirmative action employer and considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, gender, age, color, religion, national origin, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, protected military/veteran status, or any other legally protected factor.

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