Manager, Software Engineering

Company Description

VERSANT is a leading force in news, sports and entertainment - home to iconic and trusted brands that inspire, inform, and delight audiences. Our unique combination of content, technology and services enriches the cultural fabric, igniting passions, sparking conversations, and connecting people to what they love most.

As an independent, publicly traded company, VERSANT brings together powerhouse cable networks - including USA Network, CNBC, MS NOW (formerly MSNBC), Oxygen, E!, SYFY, and Golf Channel - with dynamic digital and direct-to-consumer brands such as Fandango, Rotten Tomatoes, GolfNow, GolfPass, and SportsEngine. Together, these businesses reflect our commitment to delivering exceptional experiences across every screen and service.

VERSANT is an industry-changing media company fueled by innovation and an entrepreneurial spirit. With a strong foundation and a forward-looking vision, VERSANT empowers creativity, embraces change, and drives connection in an ever-evolving world.

Job Description

ABOUT THE ROLE

We are seeking an experienced and forward-thinking Manager, Software Engineering to lead our engineering team in building and operating reliable, scalable, and high-impact digital products. This leader will be responsible for driving engineering excellence across the full software development lifecycle, leveraging modern development practices, robust architecture and data-informed decision-making.

The ideal candidate is both a strong technical leader and an effective people manager who can build and mentor high-performing teams, foster a culture of ownership and accountability, and continuously improve engineering processes. You will play a key role in shaping technical strategy, guiding system design, and ensuring the successful delivery of impactful products aligned with business goals.

WHAT YOU'LL DO

As a Manager, Software Engineering on our team, you will:

• Serve as both a technical leader and people manager, guiding your team to make sound architectural and engineering decisions.
• Support your team through regular one-on-ones, clear communication of priorities, cross-functional collaboration, and by proactively removing blockers and resolving conflicts.
• Mentor and develop team members, fostering career growth, engagement, and a high-performance culture.
• Partner with business and technology leadership to align on priorities, manage stakeholder expectations, and deliver impactful outcomes.
• Provide accurate effort estimates and technical input for new features, enhancements, and product initiatives.
• Promote ownership and accountability across the full software development lifecycle (SDLC), from design through delivery and operations.
• Collaborate closely with product management and design to prioritize and execute on the team’s roadmap.
• Work with fellow engineering leaders to continuously improve engineering practices, processes, and overall team effectiveness.
• Encourage the adoption of AI development tools and intelligent solutions to improve productivity and product capabilities.
• Participate in security and compliance governance, including PCI and PII standards.
• Take on additional responsibilities as needed to support team and organizational success.

Qualifications

WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR

• 8+ years in a software engineering role following Agile development processes
• 3+ years in team lead or management role
• Strong understanding of software engineering best practices
• Solid track record of leading a software engineering team in a technical capacity
• Demonstrated ability to drive technical excellence, pushing innovation and quality
• Experience leading geographically dispersed teams in a collaborative, team-driven environment.
• Adept at prioritizing and balancing multiple projects in a constantly evolving environment.
• Strong understanding of system design, scalability, performance and reliability best practices.
• 5+ years of hands-on experience architecting, designing and developing technology platforms using Ruby on Rails, Node.js, JavaScript, TypeScript.
• 3+ years of experience working with relational and NoSQL database platforms (MySQL, MongoDB)
• Some experience with modern caching technologies (Redis preferred)
• Experience developing and deploying applications in cloud environments, including familiarity with cloud-native architectures and services.
• Deep understanding of service-oriented and event-driven architecture
• Outstanding interpersonal skills: written and verbal, in-person, and remote. 

BONUS POINTS FOR

• Experience leveraging AI-assisted development tools or i