Sr. Manager, Software Development (Platform Owner)

We are seeking a Sr. Manager, Software Development (Platform Owner) to lead and grow multiple software engineering teams through the transition from .NET on Azure to Java/React on AWS. This is a Software Development Manager position that requires a strong people leader who can support multiple teams and product owners while remaining hands-on in development practices. The ideal candidate will serve as the primary point of contact for resolving technical issues across the platform, bringing a strong background in software engineering along with proven experience building, mentoring, and scaling high-performing technical teams in agile environments.

The Sr. Manager, Software Development, is a people leader within the software engineering function at CFA Institute, responsible for directly managing and supporting multiple agile delivery teams and their product owners across the full software development lifecycle. This role combines hands-on technical leadership with organizational management: the Sr. Manager is expected to be deeply engaged in development practices, code reviews, and architecture decisions while simultaneously coaching, mentoring, and growing engineering talent. As the primary technical point of contact for the platform, this individual serves as the go-to resource for resolving technical issues, unblocking teams, and driving engineering excellence across all application domains. Our development approach is AI-first: we expect all developers, including this role, to actively leverage AI-powered tools such as Cursor and Claude for code development, unit testing, and accelerating delivery. The role is also accountable for leading the strategic modernization of the platform from Azure-based C#/.NET solutions to AWS-based Java/React architectures, including defining the migration roadmap, establishing the AWS/Java/React technical direction, ensuring coordinated execution across teams, and driving modernization efforts toward scalable, maintainable, and resilient application solutions while maintaining operational continuity.

This position may be based in Charlottesville, Virginia, or approved jurisdictions in the United States. It reports to the Senior Director, IT Delivery and is eligible for flexible working arrangements including remote/hybrid.

What You’ll Do

• Lead and manage multiple platform delivery teams and their product owners, providing people leadership, coaching, and career development while ensuring alignment with the modernization roadmap.

• Manage and prioritize platform technical debt, focusing on accelerating retirement of legacy .NET services and adoption of Java/React-based services on AWS.

• Execute the enterprise platform strategy, including the migration from Azure/.NET to AWS/Java/React.

• Define and enforce technical standards and best practices for applications hosted on AWS and remaining Azure systems during transition.

• Champion and embed an AI-first development culture across all teams, ensuring developers actively use AI-powered tools such as Cursor and Claude for code generation, unit testing, code reviews, and productivity acceleration.

• Manage the Azure/AWS knowledgebase at CFA and serve as the primary point of contact for all technical questions, issues, and escalations related to the platform.

• Provide onboarding, guidance, and ongoing oversight to FTEs and consultant developer teams that may work within the organization’s Azure/AWS platforms.

• Actively monitor the platform product roadmap, communicate and respond to opportunities and threats related to the evolution of the platform.

• Educate business stakeholders about the platform and identify opportunities to extend its use across the organization.

• Contribute platform-specific expertise and insights to the creation of high-level solutions (HLS) developed by the technical leads on the development teams.

• Coordinate any proof-of-concept work required regarding the adoption of new capabilities.

• Manage related environment configurations and automated deployments.

• Ensure pre-production environments are regularly refreshed from production.

• Provide hands-on system troubleshooting and problem solving across platform and application domains – will be expected to roll up sleeves, review code, debug issues, and participate in on-call escalations to troubleshoot customer-facing issues.

What We’re Looking For

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

• 8+ years relevant experience in software architecture and development.

• Strong experience with Java-based application architecture, React front-end development, and cloud-native design on AWS.

• Prior hands-on experience with .NET sufficient to understand and lead modernization from Azure/.NET systems to AWS/Java/React (this role is not intended to continue a .NET-centric platform strategy).

• 5+ years relevant experience working with Azure/AWS.

• Demonstrated experience leading large-scale cloud migration or technology transformation initiatives.

• Significant experience as a people leader managing multiple software development teams and partnering with product owners to deliver business outcomes.

• Experience with deployment to and management of Azure/AWS environments.

• Extensive experience in the following disciplines – Application Architecture, Information Modeling, Service Oriented Architecture (SOA), Object Oriented Programming, Quality Assurance, and Branch Management.

• Hands-on experience with AI-assisted development tools (e.g., Cursor, Claude, GitHub Copilot) and a demonstrated commitment to integrating AI into everyday development workflows including coding, unit testing, and code review.

At CFA Institute, we are committed to transparency and equity in our hiring process. In compliance with wage transparency laws in many of the jurisdictions in which we recruit, we provide the following information regarding compensation for this position: Expected salary range: $106,000 - $160,000 per year. All salary ranges are subject to adjustment based on experience, education, and other factors relevant to the position. Additional benefits include eligibility for an annual incentive bonus, a 12% employer contribution to a 401(k) or pension plan, and a comprehensive medical benefits package.

Please note that we are not able to provide sponsorship at this time. No agencies, please.

#LI-TB1

About CFA Institute

CFA Institute are the global leader in investment excellence and ethics. With nearly 200,000 charterholders across 160 markets, we drive professional growth, ethical behavior, and better markets. We care about our employees’ well-being, offering industry-leading benefits like:

• Comprehensive health coverage for you and your family

• Generous leave and time off

• Competitive retirement plans

• Flexible work options

• Wellness, education, and support programs

If you feel this opportunity could be the next step in your career, we encourage you to click “Apply” and complete our three-minute application.

Be part of a team committed to putting investors first and growing economies. Follow us @CFAInstitute on LinkedIn and X.

Important Message: Your application must clearly demonstrate how you meet the requirements as CFA Institute cannot make assumptions about your education, experience, or location. We thank all those who apply. Only those selected for further consideration will be contacted.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer. CFA Institute prohibits both discrimination and harassment with regard to all identifying characteristics: any individual employee, group of employees, or prospective employee on the basis of race, color, national origin, citizenship or immigration status, religion, creed or belief, age, marital or partnership status, marital or family status, care giver status, pregnancy and maternity, sexual and other reproductive health decisions, physical abilities/qualities, disability, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, predisposing genetic characteristic, military or veteran status, status as a victim or witness of domestic violence or sex offense or stalking, unemployment status, infectious disease carrier status, migrant worker status, educational background, socio-economic status, geographic location and culture or any other basis protected by applicable law. This policy impacts all aspects of employment, including but not limited to, recruitment, hiring, compensation, training, development, promotion, demotion, layoff, recall, furlough, transfer, leave of absence, and dismissal. This is a global policy that applies to all CFA Institute employees, regardless of location.

If, due to a disability or current medical condition, you need an accommodation or assistance to complete a job application, you can request one at any stage of the recruitment process. Please send an email to [email protected] noting the accommodations or assistance you are requesting. Please do not include any medical or health information in this email. We will review your request and contact you to discuss the possible options and arrangements. We will try our best to provide you with an accommodation or assistance that meets your needs and respects your preferences.

Our application is not compatible with Internet Explorer (IE). We recommend using Chrome.