What are the responsibilities and job description for the Development Engineering Manager position at Darwill?
About Darwill:
Darwill is a nationally recognized print and marketing communications firm, headquartered in the western suburbs of Chicago. We specialize in delivering complex, results-driven marketing solutions—from direct mail campaigns and data acquisition to full-service print production and integrated marketing workflows. Our clients rely on us to drive results through creativity, technology, and seamless execution.
As a key partner to CMOs, Marketing Directors, and Print Production professionals, we offer an expansive portfolio that includes direct mail, employee communications, custom print, digital marketing, and more—all backed by a commitment to innovation and excellence.
Department: Technology / Product Development
Reports To: Director of Technology / CTO
Position Summary
We are seeking a skilled and driven Development Engineering Manager to lead and grow our application development team. This individual will be responsible for managing a team of software engineers, overseeing the development and delivery of high-quality software solutions, and helping shape the technical direction of our products. The ideal candidate will be hands-on, experienced in managing engineers, and passionate about mentoring talent, driving team performance, and delivering scalable solutions in a fast-paced environment.
Key Responsibilities
- Team Leadership & Growth
- Lead, mentor, and grow a team of software developers with a focus on performance, engagement, and career development.
- Partner with HR and senior leadership to recruit, onboard, and retain top engineering talent.
- Foster a positive, inclusive, and high-performing engineering culture.
- Project & Technical Management
- Collaborate with product management and stakeholders to plan and deliver features, applications, and tools aligned with business goals.
- Own and manage project timelines, resources, and delivery metrics for the engineering team.
- Ensure adherence to software development best practices, including code quality, testing, and deployment processes.
- Architecture & Technical Direction
- Provide guidance on system architecture, technical strategy, and design decisions.
- Evaluate and adopt appropriate technologies and frameworks to ensure long-term scalability and maintainability of applications.
- Promote and enforce coding standards and software development practices.
- Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Act as a key liaison between engineering, product, QA, DevOps, and business stakeholders.
- Translate business requirements into technical execution plans.
- Communicate project updates, risks, and technical challenges effectively to non-technical stakeholders.
Qualifications
Required:
- Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field (or equivalent experience).
- 5 years of experience in software development, including 2 years in a team leadership or management role.
- Experience delivering enterprise applications.
- Strong understanding of software engineering fundamentals, including architecture, testing, CI/CD, and agile methodologies.
- Proven ability to build and mentor high-performing teams.
Preferred:
- Experience in a mid-sized or scaling company environment.
- Familiarity with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, or GCP).
- Experience with modern tech stacks (e.g. Java, Node.js, React, Angular).
- Understanding of DevOps practices and infrastructure-as-code.
Key Attributes
- Strategic thinker with a passion for execution.
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
- Strong problem-solving and organizational skills.
- Committed to continuous improvement and innovation.
Compensation & Benefits:
- Competitive salary and performance bonus
- Health, dental, and vision insurance
- 401(k) with company match
- Generous PTO and paid holidays
- Professional development opportunities