Manager, Software Engineering, People (Application Software)
Hawthorne · USD 195,000-290,000 · 1+ years experience · Posted Oct 13, 2026
At a glance
- Experience
- 1+ years experience
- Location
- Hawthorne
- Salary
- USD 195,000-290,000 · Base salary
About the role
- Manage teams of software engineers to build and support mission-critical People software systems including HRIS, payroll, and employee lifecycle applications.
- Design, own, and evolve platforms that HR, payroll, and recruiting depend on daily while ensuring data accuracy, reliability, and security.
Responsibilities
- Manage all aspects of the software supporting People operations, including HRIS, payroll, time and attendance, benefits, recruiting, employee master data and org structure, and integrations.
- Ensure successful execution on core goals such as reliability, data accuracy, privacy, auditability, scalability, and alignment with stakeholder needs.
- Provide strong technical leadership and strategic guidance to the software teams while continuously raising the bar on engineering and quality of execution.
- Drive speed of iteration of the software teams with focus on capability-based deliverables.
- Work with teams to set priorities, plan work, and help make trades on what is important at any given time.
- Own all aspects, including prioritization, implementation, and delivery, of the system roadmap.
- Collaborate with other leaders in the department and across the company to ensure data flows cleanly end-to-end and controls stay strong.
- Directly manage a team of software engineers and software engineering leads.
- Attract, onboard, and retain diverse top talent, developing people and teams through coaching, mentoring, and management support.
- Conduct weekly 1:1s, goal setting, feedback conversations, and semi-annual performance reviews with engineers and engineering leads.
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in computer science, engineering, math, or science discipline and 5+ years of software development experience; OR 7+ years of professional software development experience in lieu of a degree
- 1+ years of experience with direct report management for a software engineering team
- Must be able to work extended hours and weekends as needed
- Must be able to travel to other SpaceX sites as needed (~10%)
- Ability to pass Air Force background checks for Cape Canaveral and Vandenberg
- Must be a U.S. citizen or national, U.S. lawful permanent resident, Refugee, Asylee, or eligible to obtain required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State under ITAR regulations
Preferred qualifications
- 5+ years of experience developing across a full-stack: web server, database, and client-side (HTML/JavaScript/CSS), CI/CD
- Programming experience in Python, C#, .NET, Go, Java, or similar object-oriented language
- Front-end experience in Angular, React, or similar JavaScript framework
- Experience with PostgreSQL, SQL Server, or similar database technologies
- Experience building or integrating with HRIS, payroll, or talent systems
- Experience with sensitive employee data, privacy, auditability, and access controls
- SOX-aware payroll systems a plus
- Domain expertise in HRIS, payroll, time and attendance, or benefits platforms
Benefits
- Company stock or long-term cash awards
- Discretionary bonuses
- Employee Stock Purchase Plan with discounted stock
- Comprehensive medical, vision, and dental coverage
- 401(k) retirement plan
- Short and long-term disability insurance
- Life insurance
- Paid parental leave
- 3 weeks of paid vacation
- 10 or more paid holidays per year
Workplace
- Must be able to travel to other SpaceX sites as needed (~10%)
Skills
- Python
- C#
- .NET
- Go
- Java
- Angular
- React
- HTML
- JavaScript
- CSS
- PostgreSQL
- SQL Server
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- Workday
- UKG
- SAP SuccessFactors
