Software Engineering Manager

Software Engineering Manager Location: Rochester, New York Reports to: Director of Engineering, QED Technologies Rochester Travel: Less than 10%, including domestic and international travel as business needs require Work arrangement: On-site, with limited remote work permitted for certain tasks at the discretion of the manager Compensation: The target hiring range is generally $124,221–$173,022, depending on relevant experience, demonstrated technical capability, skills, education, internal equity, and business needs. This role is eligible for QED's annual performance-based incentive program with a target opportunity of 15% of base salary, as well as a comprehensive benefits package and 401(k) program.

About QED Technologies At QED Technologies, we are building what's next. For 30 years, QED has helped customers solve complex challenges in precision optics through advanced fabrication and metrology technologies serving aerospace and defense, semiconductor manufacturing, space and astronomy, research, fusion, and other advanced industries. Our work depends on talented people who bring curiosity, precision, collaboration, and ownership to difficult problems. We are building a high-performing culture where people are trusted to make an impact and continuous improvement is part of how we operate. The opportunity The Software Engineering Manager leads the team responsible for developing, sustaining, and supporting software used in QED Technologies Rochester products. The manager provides people leadership and delivery accountability, turning product and project priorities into executable plans while balancing quality, schedule, customer needs, and team capacity. This role works closely with engineering, applications, manufacturing, quality, customer service, and other stakeholders throughout the software lifecycle, from requirements and planning through release and field support. In addition to leading the team, the manager remains an active software contributor and dedicates a portion of their time to designing, writing, testing, and reviewing code. What you will do Team leadership

• Lead, develop, and guide the Software Engineering team to achieve departmental and company goals.
• Establish clear expectations, provide coaching and feedback, and support employee growth.
• Manage hiring, onboarding, training, performance, recognition, corrective action, and employee concerns in accordance with QED policies and applicable law.
• Build a culture of accountability, collaboration, technical rigor, and continuous improvement.
• Develop long-range objectives and strategies for the department.

Software delivery and product support

• Oversee and set direction for the design, development, testing, documentation, release, and sustainment of software for QED Technologies Rochester products.
• Contribute directly to software development by designing, implementing, testing, reviewing, and debugging code.
• Manage software projects by translating priorities into staffing plans, schedules, milestones, and deliverables; estimating effort; tracking progress; and communicating risks and tradeoffs.
• Coordinate with project managers and cross-functional engineering teams to align software with system requirements, scope, schedule, cost, and quality. Attend regular project review meetings.
• Balance new development, sustaining work, defect correction, field support, and technical-debt reduction.
• Participate in product roadmap planning and work with cross-functional stakeholders to evaluate the feasibility, cost, and customer demand for new products and software releases.
• Prioritize software defects and coordinate patches and releases based on business and customer needs.
• Advise management of developments that may affect profitability, schedules, costs, customer relationships, or cross-functional commitments.
• Lead investigation and resolution of software-related field issues and coordinate technical support for Customer Service and field personnel.
• Work with Operations to fulfill customer software-license orders and provide direction for customer PC builds when needed.
• Improve planning, development, testing, documentation, release, and support practices to increase team efficiency and software quality.
• Evaluate and implement tools that improve team effectiveness and keep development practices current.
• Maintain working knowledge of relevant technologies and recommend improvements to QED’s software products. Address software-related regulatory, obsolescence, and product-quality issues.

What success looks like

• The team has clear priorities, realistic plans, appropriate staffing, and accountability for commitments.
• Software is delivered with strong quality, maintainability, testing, and documentation.
• Resource constraints, dependencies, and risks are identified early and communicated clearly.
• Defects, field issues, patches, and releases are handled in a disciplined, customer-focused manner.
• Employees receive useful direction, feedback, and development opportunities.
• The manager balances team leadership and delivery responsibilities with meaningful hands-on contributions to software development.

What you bring

• Bachelor’s degree in Software Engineering, Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related technical field; equivalent education and relevant experience may be considered.
• Minimum of 10 years of software engineering or related experience in a high-tech industrial setting.
• Experience leading software engineers and managing technical work, schedules, priorities, and resources.
• Current hands-on software development experience, including designing, writing, testing, reviewing, and troubleshooting production code.
• Demonstrated ability to guide the development of modular, reusable, and maintainable software architectures.
• Strong knowledge of the software development lifecycle, object-oriented design, testing, release management, and technical documentation.
• Proven ability to estimate software effort and resource needs, manage competing priorities, identify delivery risks, and support project schedules.
• Experience working across hardware, systems, manufacturing, quality, service, product, and customer-facing teams.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills and sound judgment.
• Ability to travel domestically and internationally as business needs require.

Preferred qualifications

• Master’s degree in Engineering, Computer Science, Engineering Management, Business Administration, or a related field.
• Experience with software for CNC systems, precision equipment, machine controls, robotics, automation, or complex electromechanical products.
• Experience with C#, .NET, Microsoft Windows, Visual Studio, Git, Agile practices, and software project-management tools.
• Experience supporting installed products and customer-facing software issue resolution.

Physical requirements This role primarily involves sedentary work in an office and technical environment. The employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to handle, feel, or operate equipment; reach with hands and arms; and communicate effectively. The employee may occasionally be required to stand, walk, and lift or move items weighing up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities include close vision and the ability to adjust focus. QED Technologies provides reasonable accommodations to qualified applicants and employees with disabilities and for sincerely held religious beliefs, in accordance with applicable law. Equal Opportunity and Accommodations QED Technologies is an equal opportunity employer. We value a diverse and inclusive workplace and consider qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, or any other status protected by applicable law. At this time, QED Technologies is not able to hire individuals who are not authorized to work in the United States or who will require visa sponsorship now or in the future. If you require an accommodation to complete the application process, please contact Human Resources. Background Check Employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a background check, consistent with applicable law. Export-Control Notice Certain positions at QED Technologies may involve access to information, technology, software, or products controlled under U.S. export-control laws and regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations and Export Administration Regulations. Where applicable, QED may need to determine whether an export license or other authorization is required for a candidate to access controlled information.