Manager, Software Engineering

Northwestern Mutual (NM) has been helping families and businesses achieve financial security for over 165+ years. Through a distinctive, whole-picture planning approach including both insurance and investments, we empower people to be financially confident. We combine the expertise of our financial professionals with a personalized digital experience and leading-edge technology to best serve our clients. To help guide the collaborative effort, we are in search of a Manager, Software Engineering to join our team.  

Overview: 

At Northwestern Mutual, the Planning Solutions team is on a mission to transform how Financial Advisors connect with clients through innovative technology. As part of the Factfinder team, you’ll be at the heart of these efforts, building a critical application that sets the tone for an advisor’s relationship with their clients. 

Factfinder is used during live, first-call conversations to gather key client data, helping advisors create tailored financial recommendations in real time. It’s a tool that not only drives efficiency but plays a crucial role in shaping a client’s decision to trust Northwestern Mutual and their advisor. When Factfinder performs well, it ensures advisors can deliver a seamless and impactful experience during these pivotal moments. 

We thrive in a fast-paced, agile environment that values bold thinking, experimentation, and constant learning. Our teams embrace a culture of full ownership—taking charge of everything from architecture and testing to deployment and optimization. We innovate with state-of-the-art technologies, including microservices and microfrontend architectures, leveraging Javascript, Typescript, React, Node, Java, and Kotlin, all hosted on AWS with Kubernetes orchestrating our scalable infrastructure. 

As an Engineering Manager, you’ll balance technical leadership with people management responsibilities. You’ll work alongside your team and crossfunctionally, writing high-quality code, guiding architectural decisions, and ensuring delivery of impactful features. At the same time, you’ll mentor and develop your team members, foster collaboration, and align their efforts with business objectives. This role is ideal for someone who thrives in a hands-on technical environment while also building and supporting a high-performing team. If you’re excited about building software that makes a tangible difference in people’s lives and want to be part of a team that values innovation, collaboration, and pushing boundaries, we’d love to have you on board. 

You’re Excited About This Opportunity Because You Will… 

• Lead by example by actively contributing to the codebase, solving complex technical challenges, and setting the standard for high-quality engineering practices. 

• Oversee the development and delivery of scalable, reliable, and maintainable solutions. 

• Mentor, coach, and support the growth of team members, fostering a collaborative and inclusive culture. 

• Work closely with product managers and designers to align technical execution with business priorities. 

• Drive architectural decisions and ensure best practices in development, deployment, and maintenance. 

• Balance hands-on technical work with people management responsibilities, ensuring the team’s success and well-being. 

We’re Excited About You Because You Have… 

• 6+ years of professional experience in software engineering, including time in a leadership or mentorship role. 

• Proficiency in building web applications using modern tools and frameworks (e.g., React, Node.js, Java, Kotlin). 

• Strong knowledge of scalable system design utilizing cloud technologies and modern frameworks. 

• A track record of solving complex technical problems while delivering impactful features. 

• Experience managing or mentoring engineers, with a focus on their growth and performance. 

• Excellent communication skills and the ability to collaborate across disciplines. 

• Ability to influence stakeholders and connect technical solutions to business objectives. 

Nice to Haves: 

• Experience leading teams in an agile environment. 

• Familiarity with microservices, SOA, or other architecture patterns. 

• Expertise with CI/CD pipelines. 

• Experience communicating with business stakeholders and influencing the direction of product-driven decisions. 

Benefits:  

• Tuition reimbursement, commuter plans, and paid time off  

• Highly competitive compensation that include base salary plus bonus  

• Medical/Dental/Vision plans, 401(k), pension program  

#LI-Hybrid