Software Development Manager; Okemos, MI

Overview

At Agate Software, we are building a better world by revolutionizing how government agencies and nonprofits manage their grant processes. Our solutions empower our customers to maximize resources, drive compliance, and focus on their core missions of distributing millions of dollars in funding for critical social services. Our success is built on Innovation, Integrity, and Impact, and we have been at the forefront of transformative innovation in the grant management industry for over 20 years.

We are seeking the brightest minds to join us in a mission-driven environment. If you are ready to apply your expertise in a dynamic, growth-oriented setting, read on to see how this position aligns with your skills and interests.

We are seeking a dynamic Software Development Manager to lead Agate’s Project Development team through a critical stage of growth and transformation. This role is about more than managing code delivery — it’s about building a scalable, disciplined development organization that can balance speed, quality, and profitability.

• Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing Project Development team, building a culture of accountability, collaboration, and professional growth.
• Collaborate on implementing a Scrum-lead structure to scale delivery capacity.
• Standardize development processes and enforce consistent delivery practices, ensuring predictability and scalability across projects.
• Partner with Product Management, Quality Assurance, Project Management, Business Operations, and Sales to ensure projects are delivered on time, within scope, at strong margins, and with high customer satisfaction.
• Drive efficient utilization of developer resources to meet profitability and margin targets.
• Build and maintain data-driven dashboards to track velocity, defects, utilization, and delivery performance.
• Ensure compliance with government contract requirements, security standards, and auditability.
• Foster a culture of continuous improvement, encouraging innovation in process efficiency and delivery quality.
• Report regularly to senior leadership on delivery outcomes, risks, and opportunities for improvement.

• Proven management experience leading development teams in fast-paced, high-growth, or transformational environments.
• Strong technical foundation in SQL, .NET (C# or VB), JavaScript, and modern software development practices (Agile, Scrum, SAFe).
• Focus on QA processes, validation, and testing prior to project delivery to customers;
  First-pass quality mindset.
• Experience managing large teams (15+ direct reports) and building scalable leadership structures.
• Ability to balance speed, quality, and profitability in project-based delivery models.
• Hands-on expertise with Azure Dev Ops (Repos, Pipelines, Test Plans, and related tools) to manage workflows, track progress, and enforce standards.
• Strong problem-solving skills with the ability to create structure in ambiguous environments.
• Effective communication and cross-functional collaboration skills to influence stakeholders across Product Management, Project Management, Business Operations, and Sales.

• Projects consistently delivered on time, within scope, with first-pass quality, and at defined margin targets.
• Developer utilization and resource allocation align with company profitability goals.
• Standardized delivery processes eliminate variability and reduce bottlenecks.
• Customers report strong satisfaction with delivery quality and timeliness.
• Team morale and retention remain high, with a strong sense of collaboration and engagement.
• Clear career paths and development opportunities are in place for all team members.

• Transformational Impact
  :
  You will play a central role in stabilizing and scaling a fast-growing company at a pivotal moment in its journey.
• Build Leaders
  :
  With one of Agate’s largest teams under your leadership, you will shape the next generation of technical leaders through a pod-lead structure.
• Direct Line to Strategy
  :
  Your work directly impacts profitability, customer satisfaction, and delivery speed, making you a critical driver of company…