Manager, Software Engineer Student LifeCycle Services

If you’re passionate about building a better future for individuals, communities, and our country—and you’re committed to working hard to play your part in building that future—consider WGU as the next step in your career. Driven by a mission to expand access to higher education through online, competency-based degree programs, WGU is also committed to being a great place to work for a diverse workforce of student-focused professionals. The university has pioneered a new way to learn in the 21st century, one that has received praise from academic, industry, government, and media leaders. Whatever your role, working for WGU gives you a part to play in helping students graduate, creating a better tomorrow for themselves and their families. The salary range for this position takes into account the wide range of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions including but not limited to skill sets; experience and training; licensure and certifications; and other business and organizational needs. At WGU, it is not typical for an individual to be hired at or near the top of the range for their position, and compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case. A reasonable estimate of the current range is: Grade: Management Technical 714 Pay Range: $151,800.00 - $250,500.00 Job Description Job Profile Summary: The Software Engineering Manager will provide technical leadership, vision, direction, and mentoring for the software engineering team. This individual will manage a team of personnel who design, develop, and support applications to meet business requirements. The Software Engineering Manager will deliver product and feature roadmaps and provide overall leadership and day to day management for a team of software development professionals. Additionally, they will provide resource planning and project scheduling using Agile/Scrum software development methodologies.   Why WGU? At Western Governors University, our mission is simple: change lives through education. Every day, millions of learners seek opportunities to improve their careers, support their families, and achieve goals they once thought were out of reach. Technology is at the center of making that possible. We're looking for engineering leaders who want their work to have meaningful impact at scale. If you're excited about building high-performing teams, solving challenging technical problems, and creating products that improve educational access and outcomes, WGU offers an opportunity to combine technical excellence with a purpose-driven mission. As a Software Engineering Manager, you'll help shape the systems, teams, and engineering culture that power one of the most innovative universities in the country. What You'll Do As a Software Engineering Manager, you'll lead one or more engineering teams, typically spanning 5-15 software engineers. You'll partner closely with Product, Program Management, Architecture, and other technology leaders to deliver impactful solutions while building a strong engineering organization. Lead and Grow Exceptional Teams You will create an environment where engineers can do the best work of their careers. Hire, develop, coach, and retain high-performing engineers. Provide meaningful feedback through regular coaching, performance conversations, and career development planning. Foster an inclusive, collaborative culture that encourages innovation, accountability, and continuous improvement. Identify and develop future technical and people leaders. Partner in talent planning, succession discussions, and organizational growth initiatives. Deliver Valuable Outcomes You will be responsible for helping your teams turn strategy into results. Partner with Product and Program Management to define priorities, roadmaps, and execution plans. Drive predictable, high-quality delivery while balancing speed, quality, and technical sustainability. Remove obstacles, manage risks, and help teams navigate ambiguity. Use data and engineering metrics to guide decisions and improve team effectiveness. Communicate progress, dependencies, and challenges clearly to stakeholders at all levels. Drive Technical Excellence You will provide technical leadership without needing to be the primary individual contributor. Guide architectural discussions and help teams make sound technical decisions. Champion modern engineering practices, operational excellence, security, accessibility, and system reliability. Support scalable, maintainable solutions that can meet the evolving needs of students and university operations. Help teams balance innovation, technical debt, and long-term platform health. Participate in technical reviews and contribute your expertise when needed. Own Operational and Financial Success You will help ensure the long-term health of both your systems and your organization. Drive service reliability and continuous improvement across engineering operations. Lead incident response efforts and support blameless root-cause analysis. Manage staffing, vendor relationships, contractor engagements, and budget-related activities. Balance business value and fiscal responsibility, always keeping student outcomes at the center of decisions. What We're Looking For Proven People Leadership You have experience leading engineers, building strong teams, and helping individuals grow in their careers. You understand how to motivate diverse personalities, manage performance effectively, and create an environment where people thrive. Technical Depth and Credibility You have a strong software engineering background and can engage confidently in architecture, design, and technical strategy discussions. You know what high-quality engineering looks like because you've built and delivered software yourself. Strong Execution Skills You can translate broad objectives into clear plans and measurable outcomes. You excel at balancing co