Software Development Manager; Okemos, MI

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 their 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 three pillars:
Innovation, Integrity, and Impact. For over 20 years, Agate Software has been at the forefront of transformative innovation in the grant management industry. Our journey is marked by groundbreaking achievements and a commitment to pushing boundaries. By simplifying complex workflows, enhancing transparency, and turbo‑charging efficiency, we enable our customers to maximize the impact of their funding.

Always challenging the status quo, we strive to set new industry standards and we are seeking the brightest minds to join us in this mission. If you're ready to apply your expertise in a dynamic, growth‑oriented, mission‑driven environment, 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.

You will oversee a large, diverse team of project developers (10‑15 direct reports) and establish a Scrum‑lead structure to strengthen leadership capacity. You will partner closely 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.

The ideal candidate is a hands‑on leader who thrives in transforming chaotic, ambiguous environments into structured, predictable, and scalable operations. You bring a record of accomplishment building high‑performing teams, driving process standardization, and delivering measurable results in environments where transformation is the norm.

• 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 and other functional and cross‑functional stakeholders to balance delivery speed, scope, and customer satisfaction while protecting developer bandwidth and morale.
• 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).
• Heightened focus on QA processes, validation, and testing prior to project delivery to customers. First‑pass quality mindset.
• Demonstrated ability to manage large teams (15+ direct reports) and build scalable leadership structures.
• Experience balancing 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.
• Exceptional problem‑solving skills, with the ability to create structure in ambiguous environments.
• Effective communication and cross‑functional collaboration skills – able to influence stakeholders across…