Manager, Software Engineering

Our Purpose Mastercard powers economies and empowers people in 200+ countries and territories worldwide. Together with our customers, we’re helping build a sustainable economy where everyone can prosper. We support a wide range of digital payments choices, making transactions secure, simple, smart and accessible. Our technology and innovation, partnerships and networks combine to deliver a unique set of products and services that help people, businesses and governments realize their greatest potential. Title and Summary Manager, Software Engineering Job Overview Lead a team of software engineering professionals responsible for designing, developing, testing, deploying, and maintaining high-quality software solutions in a timely and cost-effective manner. Provide strategic, technical, and people leadership while partnering across business and technology teams to deliver critical initiatives and advance organizational objectives. Major Accountabilities • Establish and monitor departmental and individual objectives aligned with organizational strategies, priorities, and business outcomes. • Lead the definition, development, and delivery of major cross-functional and cross-department initiatives with broad scope and long-term business impact. • Partner with business and technology stakeholders to identify innovative solutions, develop business cases, and drive strategic decisions aligned with Mastercard objectives. • Champion innovation and creative problem-solving by identifying opportunities to improve technology, processes, operational efficiency, and customer outcomes. • Present strategies, recommendations, business cases, and technical solutions to senior management, business owners, and key stakeholders to support effective decision-making. • Provide recommendations to senior leadership on technology selection, software design, architecture, engineering practices, and the strategic technical direction of the department. • Guide teams in designing scalable and maintainable software solutions with well-defined structures, components, interfaces, and interactions. • Lead the implementation and continuous improvement of software engineering processes, methodologies, and supporting tools based on evolving organizational needs. • Promote engineering practices that support software quality, including code reviews, secure coding standards, and unit, functional, and integration testing. • Ensure solutions are designed and maintained for performance, scalability, reliability, operational readiness, observability, and ongoing supportability. • Identify process and technology gaps, define business and technical requirements, develop estimates, and establish project scope and delivery plans. • Manage scope throughout the project lifecycle, balancing business priorities, technical considerations, resource capacity, risk, and time-to-market objectives. • Ensure initiatives are appropriately staffed, trained, and managed, with the necessary technical skills, leadership behaviors, and accountability for successful delivery. • Provide coaching, development, and performance feedback to team members while fostering collaboration and continuous improvement across diverse teams. • Build and develop high-performing teams while promoting an enterprise mindset, accountability, adaptability, and effective leadership through change and ambiguity. • Manage resources and initiatives within approved staffing and budget guidelines. • Lead strategic planning, financial planning, resource management, administration, and overall management of the department. • Provide leadership during application incidents through effective data analysis, troubleshooting, incident triage, and coordination across mainframe and Java technology environments. Education • Bachelor’s degree in a relevant discipline, or an equivalent combination of education and professional experience. Knowledge & Experience • Strong background in software development and application support across mainframe and Java technology stacks. • 5–8 years of relevant software engineering and technology experience, including leadership or management responsibilities. • Experience leading multiple, diverse engineering teams and conducting formal performance reviews. • Demonstrated experience in data analysis, structured problem-solving, troubleshooting, production incident triage, and technical decision-making across mainframe and Java environments. • Experience with budget, resource, and workforce management. • Experience managing financials across multiple projects or programs. • Advanced knowledge of project or program management and strategic planning, with working knowledge of financial management. • Strong understanding of software engineering principles and practices, including software design, architecture, data structures, development methodologies, testing, deployment, and ongoing maintenance. • Knowledge of secure coding, code review, performance engineering, and operability practices that support reliable, scalable, observable, and maintainable systems. • Experience leading complex initiatives involving multiple business, technology, and operational stakeholders. Skills & Abilities • Strong people leadership skills, including coaching, mentoring, performance management, and development of engineering talent. • Ability to establish objectives, policies, operating plans, and execution strategies aligned with broader organizational goals. • Ability to shape technical direction, connect engineering priorities to enterprise impact, and lead teams through complexity and organizational change. • Strong verbal, written, presentation, and stakeholder-management skills, including the ability to communicate effectively with senior leadership. • Ability to provide overall business and technical planning for complex product and platform enhancements. • Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities, with the ability to translate business challenges into practical technology solutions. • Ability to manage competing priorities, dependencies, risks, resources, and delivery commitments across multiple initiatives. • Ability to lead teams through complex production issues while maintaining focus on resiliency, operational excellence, and continuous improvement. Mastercard is a merit-based, inclusive, equal opportunity employer that considers applicants without regard to gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, disabled or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. We hire the most qualified candidate for the role. In the US or Canada, if you require accommodations or assistance to complete the online application process or during the recruitment process, please contact [email protected] and identify the type of accommodation or assistance you are requesting. Do not include any medical or health information in this email. The Reasonable Accommodations team will respond to your email promptly. Corporate Security Responsibility All activities involving access to Mastercard assets, information, and networks comes with an inherent risk to the organization and, therefore, it is expected that every person working for, or on behalf of, Mastercard is responsible for information security and must: Abide by Mastercard’s security policies and practices; Ensure the confidentiality and integrity of the information being accessed; Report any suspected information security violation or breach, and Complete all periodic mandatory security trainings in accordance with Mastercard’s guidelines. In line with Mastercard’s total compensation philosophy and assuming that the job will be performed in the US, the successful candidate will be offered a competitive base salary and may be eligible for an annual bonus or commissions depending on the role. The base salary offered may vary depending on multiple factors, including but not limited to location, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. Mastercard benefits for full time (and certain part time) employees generally include: insurance (including medical, prescription drug, dental, vision, disability, life insurance); flexible spending account and health savings account; paid leaves (including 16 weeks of new parent leave and up to 20 days of bereavement leave); 80 hours of Paid Sick and Safe Time, 25 days of vacation time and 5 personal days, pro-rated based on date of hire; 10 annual paid U.S. observed holidays; 401k with a best-in-class company match; deferred compensation for eligible roles; fitness reimbursement or on-site fitness facilities; eligibility for tuition reimbursement; and many more. Mastercard benefits for interns generally include: 56 hours of Paid Sick and Safe Time; jury duty leave; and on-site fitness facilities in some locations. THIS POSTING RELECTS ONE OR MORE CURRENT VACANCIES ON OUR TEAM, AND MASTERCARD INTENDS TO FILL THIS POSITION BY 01/25/2027. If the fill date has passed, Mastercard intends to fill this position as soon as possible. Pay Ranges O'Fallon, Missouri: $140,000 - $231,000 USD