Software Engineering Manager - Commercial Platform

Bluestaq US External • Colorado Springs, CO

8h • Onsite

About The Position

At Bluestaq, we build secure data platforms that matter for space missions, national defense, healthcare systems, and commercial innovation. Founded in 2018, we've become a leader in enterprise software and secure data management by staying focused on what counts: modern architecture, operational excellence, and mission impact. We're engineers, problem-solvers, and builders who take the mission seriously, but not ourselves. We automate the repeatable, question the status quo, and design systems that are as reliable as they are scalable. Whether we're supporting space, defense systems, or healthcare advancements, we build with the same principles: cloud-native solutions, security by design, and relentless simplicity. Our name? "Blue" (military shorthand for the good guys) and "staq" (as in software stack). It's who we are, mission-aligned technologists building platforms that protect the world’s most valuable data. We've earned national recognition as one of Inc. Magazine's Fastest-Growing Private Companies and consistently rank among Colorado's Best Workplaces. We are seeking a people-first, technically grounded Engineering Manager (EM) to lead high-performing teams that design, build, and deliver secure, scalable software solutions for both government and commercial customers. In this critical role, you will be the leader your team trusts — someone who creates clarity, removes barriers, and develops engineers into the best versions of themselves. You will set technical direction by breaking down complex problems and partnering closely with senior engineers and architects, while keeping your teams healthy, aligned, and delivering with velocity and quality. Your greatest impact will come through your people. You will build a culture of psychological safety, accountability, and growth — empowering your teams to take ownership and do their best work. You will partner with Product, Program, and Architecture leaders to translate strategic vision into action, and you will be the bridge that connects your team’s work to the broader mission. This is a unique opportunity to shape the future of our engineering organization and make a direct impact on mission-critical systems that serve both government and commercial domains. Great engineering organizations are built by great leaders — not just great technologists. As an Engineering Manager, your ability to communicate clearly, develop people, and build trust is what makes everything else possible. The strongest technical strategy fails without a team that’s engaged, supported, and aligned. If you are motivated by developing people, building teams where engineers thrive, and driving delivery through strong leadership and clear communication, this is your opportunity to lead impactful work that advances national security and commercial innovation.

Requirements

• Proven experience leading software engineering teams in a fast-paced, agile environment.
• Strong understanding of system design, software architecture, and modern cloud-native engineering practices.
• Demonstrated ability to coach, mentor, and develop engineers and technical leaders at multiple levels.
• Hands-on experience with agile methods, backlog planning, and delivery at scale.
• Ability to build trust and alignment across product, architecture, program, and operations teams.
• Familiarity with engaging stakeholders and incorporating user and customer feedback into team execution.
• Ability to balance short-term delivery with long-term sustainability and innovation.
• Comfortable conveying complex technical or operational concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Master’s degree in Business, Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field and 4+ years of engineering or related experience, OR Bachelor’s degree in Business, Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field and 6+ years of engineering or related experience, OR Associate degree in a related field and 8+ years of engineering or related experience, OR High School Diploma/GED and 10+ years of engineering or related experience.
• May require the ability to obtain a TS/SCI Clearance.
• U.S. citizenship is required to be eligible for a security clearance.
• Must agree to participate in a background screen and credit check.

Responsibilities

• Build trust through transparent, honest communication.
• Develop engineers and grow careers.
• Create psychological safety.
• Navigate difficult conversations with empathy and directness.
• Hire and retain diverse, high-performing talent through inclusive recruiting practices and by building a team culture people don’t want to leave.
• Actively listen.
• Uphold Bluestaq’s core values of trust, ownership, curiosity, teamwork, mentorship, and talent development, fostering a culture where team members take initiative, support one another, and grow together.
• Break down complex technical problems into actionable plans that your team can execute against.
• Set technical direction by partnering with senior engineers, architects, and technical leads — leaning on their deep expertise while providing leadership context and strategic alignment.
• Guide teams through major technical decisions (e.g., migrations, modernization, architectural shifts), ensuring alignment with long-term strategy and business goals.
• Champion quality, operational excellence, and system sustainability — knowing when to push for speed and when to invest in durability.
• Balance delivery speed with technical integrity by partnering with engineers, product owners, and program managers to make informed trade-offs.
• Drive delivery of initiatives by partnering with product owners, product managers, program managers, or project managers to manage scope, priorities, resources, and timelines.
• Support and reinforce agile practices (e.g., planning, standups, reviews, retrospectives) to maintain cadence and accountability.
• Monitor team throughput, quality, and operational health; intervene early when risk, bottlenecks, or misalignment appear.
• Continuously adjust priorities and capacity in coordination with product and program partners to stay aligned with business and mission needs.
• Partner with Product, Program, and Architecture to prioritize work, break down initiatives, and align feasibility with business goals.
• Communicate progress, risks, and blockers clearly to leadership and stakeholders—no surprises.
• Bring engineering and operational insights into customer or product discussions to influence roadmaps and scoping.
• Ensure your teams understand the “why” behind what they’re building, not just the “what.”
• Build and maintain trusted relationships with government and commercial customers through regular engagement, active listening, and consistent follow-through.
• Serve as a technical point of contact for customers — translating their mission needs and operational challenges into engineering priorities and actionable requirements.
• Break down complex technical solutions into clear, compelling narratives that resonate with both technical and non-technical customer stakeholders.
• Partner with business development, capture, and program teams to present technical approaches, demonstrate solution feasibility, and build customer confidence in our delivery capability.
• Lead or contribute to technical discussions, demonstrations, and solution walkthroughs that help customers understand the value and impact of proposed solutions.
• Advocate for the customer’s perspective within engineering — ensuring that what we build aligns with what the customer actually needs and can adopt.
• Support proposal efforts by contributing technical content, solution designs, and staffing strategies that position Bluestaq to win new work.
• Shape technical roadmaps with program, product, and engineering partners, balancing new capabilities, technical debt reduction, and platform sustainability.
• Continuously improve engineering processes, systems, and tooling to reduce friction and increase impact.
• Make cost-conscious decisions regarding infrastructure, tools, and staffing, in alignment with program and organizational constraints.
• Collaborate with product owners, program managers, business development, and other stakeholders to translate business requirements into feasible technical approaches.

Benefits

• Purpose-Driven Work: Support systems that power industries and critical operations, including healthcare and defense.
• Continuous Growth: Expand your technical expertise with hands-on projects and mentorship.
• Dynamic Environment: Be part of a team that thrives on problem-solving, learning, and collaboration.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager
• Number of Employees: 11-50 employees