Software Engineering Manager

Our client is seeking a Software Engineering Manager to lead engineering teams for critical Point of Sale applications and services used across a large retail store environment. This leader will be responsible for POS application development, architecture, delivery, integration, and operational excellence for capabilities that support store associates, customers, payment systems, tax, and store hardware components.

The role also leads integration with external and enterprise systems, including loyalty, promotions, fuel, quick service restaurant platforms, tax engines such as OneSource, cloud-hosted applications, and other retail systems. The ideal candidate combines strong application architecture and coding expertise with people leadership, vendor management, budget ownership, and the ability to prioritize multiple projects in a fast-paced environment., * Lead the POS engineering teams responsible for designing, developing, deploying, supporting, and continuously improving POS applications and services.

• Define and guide well-architected POS, store systems, and cloud-connected retail platform designs that balance performance, reliability, scalability, security, maintainability, and cost.
• Provide hands-on technical leadership across Java, C++, Node.js, React, Electron JS, Windows application development, REST APIs, Spring Framework, MongoDB/NoSQL, AWS, Azure, and CI/CD practices.
• Leverage AI, AI agents, and AI-assisted development tools such as Codex, Devin (Windsurf), and similar platforms to improve engineering productivity, code quality, testing, documentation, and troubleshooting.
• Oversee development of POS applications and services that support and integrate with store and POS peripherals.
• Lead integrations with retail back office, loyalty, promotions, fuel dispensers, quick service restaurant systems, payments, tax, and customer experience platforms.
• Drive tax integration for retail transaction flows, with focus on accuracy, auditability, reliability, and performance.
• Integrate store applications with cloud-hosted services in AWS and Azure using secure APIs, event-driven patterns, data flows, monitoring, and access controls.
• Apply AWS expertise across services such as AWS Lambda, EC2, Fargate, S3, SNS, SQS, API Gateway, Auto Scaling, and Kinesis, and use Infrastructure as Code tools such as CloudFormation and Terraform.
• Champion fast, reliable checkout and store workflows by improving transaction processing, peripheral communication, offline and online behavior, observability, and incident response.
• Build an automation-first engineering culture across provisioning, deployment, configuration management, testing, monitoring, documentation, and operational support.
• Mentor managers, architects, developers, and cloud engineers in secure software development, application architecture, DevOps, testing, debugging, and production support.
• Partner with product, security, infrastructure, data, support, vendors, and business stakeholders to clarify requirements, manage backlogs, communicate progress, and deliver customer-focused outcomes.
• Manage multiple projects, vendors, contracts, budgets, software assets, hardware assets, and delivery commitments with clear prioritization and transparent reporting.
• Evaluate emerging technologies, tools, frameworks, and retail platform capabilities that improve reliability, security, customer experience, engineering velocity, and total cost of ownership., To provide a consistent, fair, and flexible experience for all candidates, we use AI-assisted tools to support parts of the interview process. This includes our proprietary AI platform Pete & Gabi, which includes AI recruiter Rebecca.

These AI hiring tools help us:

• Conduct recorded video interviews
• Transcribe interviews
• Summarize candidate responses
• Generate job-related insights
• Streamline communication and scheduling

Please note that:

The AI does NOT make hiring decisions; all decisions are made by our human recruiters, hiring managers, or client partners.

The AI does not evaluate facial expressions, emotions, or physical traits; it is used only to support fairness, consistency, and efficiency.

If you prefer a non-AI interview format, we will gladly provide an alternative.

Technical or Case Interviews (Role-Dependent):

When applying for certain tech jobs, you may participate in:

• A technical interview
• A coding challenge
• A case study
• A client-specific assessment

We will always explain what to expect in advance so you can prepare with confidence.

Human Review & Selection:

Every candidate’s profile including interviews, conversations, and assessments is reviewed by experienced recruiters and hiring leaders.

AI insights may assist with organization and evaluation, but final decisions are always human-driven.

• Master’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 10+ years of progressive software engineering, architecture, cloud, and technology leadership experience, including experience leading managers, developers, architects, or cross-functional teams.
• Experience with POS platforms, retail store systems, payment or transaction processing, high-volume retail applications, or similar mission-critical distributed systems.
• Strong technical foundation in Java, C++, Node.js, React, Electron JS, Windows application development, REST APIs, Spring Framework, MongoDB/NoSQL, CI/CD, Docker, and Kubernetes.
• Advanced AWS experience and hands-on experience integrating applications hosted in AWS and Azure.
• Experience integrating software with store hardware such as scanners, cash drawers, PIN pads, coin dispensers, receipt printers, or other peripherals.
• Proven ability to design and operate scalable, secure, high-performance systems that support large transaction volumes and customer-facing workflows.
• Demonstrated experience managing multiple priorities, project portfolios, vendor relationships, contracts, budgets, software assets, hardware assets, and delivery commitments.
• Strong knowledge of secure software development, application security, cloud security, networking, testing, observability, incident response, and operational support.
• Excellent communication, analytical, troubleshooting, and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to explain complex technical topics clearly.
• Experience with SAFe Agile or comparable enterprise agile delivery methods across design, development, testing, deployment, release, and support.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in convenience retail, grocery, fuel retail, quick service restaurants, or other high-volume store technology environments.
• Experience integrating with fuel, loyalty, promotions, payment, foodservice, and customer engagement platforms.
• Experience modernizing POS / Windows applications into cloud-connected, API-driven, event-enabled retail platforms.
• Experience using AI-assisted development tools and agentic engineering practices in an enterprise software environment.
• Experience with vendor scorecards, budget planning, hardware lifecycle planning, contract management, and software license governance.

Key Competencies:

• Application architecture and design leadership
• POS and store systems engineering
• Retail hardware and peripheral integration
• Cloud-native architecture across AWS and Azure
• Performance engineering and high-volume transaction processing
• AI-assisted engineering and agentic development leadership
• Vendor, contract, budget, and portfolio management
• Agile delivery, prioritization, and execution discipline
• Secure software development and operational excellence
• Team mentoring, coaching, and stakeholder communication

Salary: $170,000-$180,000 annually (based on experience) + benefits.

Peterson Technology Partners (PTP) is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to creating a transparent, inclusive, and human-centered hiring experience.

For more than 28 years, PTP has operated as one of the top IT staffing and recruiting firms in the USA built on trust, long-term partnerships, and technical excellence.

Based in the Chicago suburb of Park Ridge, IL, our team of more than 500 employees and consultants is dedicated to, For more than 28 years, PTP has focused on putting people first candidates, consultants, employees, and clients.

We’re committed to a hiring process that is:

• Transparent
• Compliant
• Equitable
• Powered by innovative technology that enhances not replaces human judgment

Welcome to the future of hiring at Peterson Technology Partners.