Senior Engineering Manager – Software Asset Management (SAM) Manager

Intel Corporation • Santa Clara, CA

11d • Hybrid

About The Position

The world is transforming - and so is Intel. Intel is a company of bold and curious inventors and problem solvers who create some of the most astounding technology advancements and experiences in the world. With a legacy of relentless innovation and a commitment to bring smart, connected devices to every person on Earth, our diverse and brilliant teams are continually searching for tomorrow's technology and revel in the challenge that changing the world for the better brings. We work every single day to design and manufacture silicon products that empower people's digital lives. Come join us and do something wonderful. The Role and Impact: We are seeking a Senior Manager, Software Asset Management (SAM) to lead and mature a comprehensive enterprise SAM program. This leader will work across organizations to optimize the processes, tools, and governance required to provide complete visibility into the organization's software landscape, ensuring effective license compliance, financial optimization, and strategic vendor management. The role will combine technical discovery capabilities, financial and contractual acumen, and strong cross-functional leadership to enable the organization to manage software assets as a strategic portfolio. The Senior Manager will partner closely with IT, Engineering, Procurement, Finance, Security, and Legal teams to optimize software usage, rationalize redundant tools, and maximize value from enterprise software investments. This leader will play a critical role in enabling cost transparency, vendor accountability, and technology portfolio optimization across the enterprise.

Requirements

• Bachelors & 9+ years or Masters & 6+ years or PhD & 4+ years
• 10+ years experience in Software Asset Management, IT Asset Management, Procurement, or IT Operations.
• 7+ years experience establishing or scaling enterprise SAM programs in complex environments.
• 7+ years experience overseeing software licensing models across major vendors (e.g., Microsoft, Oracle, Adobe, SAP, SFDC, etc.).
• 5+ years experience implementing and operating SAM discovery and license management tools.
• 10+ years experience of software lifecycle management, compliance, and optimization practices.
• 10+ years experience partnering with Procurement, Finance, Legal, and IT leadership.
• 10+ years experience of analytical and financial acumen with experience managing large software spend portfolios.
• 10+ years experience of stakeholder management and cross-functional leadership skills.

Nice To Haves

• Familiarity with ITIL, ITAM, or SAM frameworks (ISO 19770).
• Experience supporting vendor audit defense and contract negotiations.
• Knowledge of cloud licensing models and SaaS optimization.
• Certifications such as Certified Software Asset Manager (CSAM), ITIL, or related ITAM certifications.

Responsibilities

• Enterprise Software Discovery and Visibility Optimize and bridge the gaps in a comprehensive software discovery capability to identify and track all software assets deployed across the enterprise (on-premise, SaaS, and cloud environments).
• Own and manage SAM tooling to provide accurate inventory, entitlement management, and usage analytics.
• Develop processes to ensure continuous monitoring and reconciliation between deployed software and purchased licenses.
• Create a single source of truth for enterprise software assets.
• Software Portfolio Categorization and Governance Develop a standardized framework to categorize software assets into industry-standard portfolios (e.g., productivity, infrastructure, developer tools, security, collaboration, etc.).
• Maintain an enterprise software catalog and technology taxonomy.
• Partner with IT leaders and Business to rationalize redundant tools, consolidate platforms, and reduce portfolio complexity.
• Drive governance processes to ensure new software acquisitions align with enterprise standards and architecture strategy.
• License Compliance and Optimization Manage software licensing compliance across major vendors and platforms.
• Lead internal readiness for vendor audits and ensure accurate license reconciliation.
• Identify opportunities to optimize license utilization and eliminate unused or underutilized software.
• Drive cost savings and efficiency improvements through proactive software lifecycle management.
• Vendor and Contract Management Partner with Procurement and Legal teams to manage software vendor relationships and contract lifecycle.
• Ensure licensing agreements are structured to maximize flexibility and cost efficiency.
• Develop vendor governance frameworks and performance metrics.
• Support enterprise negotiations with key strategic software vendors.
• Financial Management and Cost Optimization Provide transparency into software spend, consumption trends, and optimization opportunities.
• Collaborate with Finance and IT leadership to align software investments with enterprise priorities.
• Drive initiatives to reduce software spend through rationalization, license optimization, and vendor negotiations.
• Establish KPIs and reporting for software portfolio health and cost efficiency.
• Stakeholder Engagement and Leadership Partner with IT, Security, Enterprise Architecture, and Engineering teams to embed SAM practices into operational workflows.
• Build and lead a high-performing SAM team.
• Educate business and technology stakeholders on software lifecycle management best practices.
• Establish executive reporting on software portfolio insights and optimization opportunities.

Benefits

• We offer a total compensation package that ranks among the best in the industry. It consists of competitive pay, stock bonuses, and benefit programs which include health, retirement, and vacation.
• Find out more about the benefits of working at Intel.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level