Development Manager / Technical Lead for Engineering Consultant

Moffatt & Nichol specializes in large complex waterfront infrastructure projects and is recognized as one of the worldwide leaders in this field. We are actively looking for a Development Manager / Technical Lead to join our IT team. As part of the IT Group, the Development Manager / Technical Lead is a highly experienced technical leader and working manager responsible for leading and empowering the development team to deliver high-quality software solutions that align with the firm's objectives. This role serves as the senior technical lead for the team, working alongside developers to guide architecture, solution design, development practices, and delivery approach, while personally contributing to solution design and development work. The position partners closely with the Business Analyst to translate stakeholder requirements into actionable technical plans, while helping the team strengthen quality, estimation, documentation, and delivery discipline. This role is expected to spend approximately 60% of its time on hands-on technical work and approximately 40% on team leadership, planning, coaching, and stakeholder management, subject to business needs.

About Moffatt & Nichol:

Moffatt & Nichol is a leading U.S.-based global infrastructure advisor specializing in the planning and design of facilities that shape and serve our coastlines, harbors and rivers, as well as an innovator in transportation. For the 4th year in a row, Moffatt & Nichol is Ranked #1 in Engineering News-Record for Marine & Port Facilities in the U.S. Additionally, our firm consistently ranks in the Top 100 Pure Designers in the US and the Top 50 Designers in International Markets.

Moffatt & Nichol's professional staff includes engineers, planners, scientists and architects who serve our global client base from offices in Europe, North America, Latin America, and the Pacific Rim. The firm provides clients worldwide with customized service and a level of excellence that have become the firm's hallmark in several primary practice areas - ports and harbors; coastal, environmental and water resources; urban waterfronts and marinas; transportation, bridges and rail; inspection and rehabilitation; and energy.

Duties and responsibilities:

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions.

• Lead and manage the development team, fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation, shared accountability, and technical excellence
• Work with the development team to guide direction for architecture, solution design, coding standards, development practices, and delivery discipline
• Perform hands-on development work on high-priority and high-complexity solutions, including design, coding, code review, troubleshooting, resolution of escalated technical issues, and technical implementation
• Set clear goals and expectations for the team, providing regular feedback, coaching, and performance evaluations
• Promote accountability across the team for delivery commitments, technical quality, estimation accuracy, documentation, and timely maintenance of task status, estimates, and work tracking in approved tools such as ClickUp
• Partner with the Business Analyst to clarify requirements, define project scope, and prioritize initiatives
• Guide technical estimation, work decomposition, and resourcing recommendations for development efforts in collaboration with the team; review and refine estimates as needed to ensure work is appropriately sized, well understood, and aligned with delivery expectations
• Monitor project timelines, budgets, and resources, ensuring projects are delivered on time and within budget
• Collaborate with the team on the development process, ensuring adherence to coding standards, best practices, QA/QC controls, and applicable industry regulations
• Establish and champion consistent engineering practices across the team, including peer reviews, design reviews, source control discipline, documentation standards, testing expectations, and release readiness
• Conduct technical design and code reviews, providing constructive feedback to ensure quality, maintainability, and consistency across the team
• Mentor and coach developers in solution design, problem solving, estimation, professional growth, and team effectiveness
• Partner with the Business Analyst to define UAT acceptance criteria, ensure readiness for testing, and support successful delivery of solutions that meet user needs
• Advocate for clear and comprehensive documentation, and create standards that ensure technical documentation is maintained and updated throughout the project lifecycle
• Foster a culture of continuous learning and professional development within the team
• Contribute to the development of the firm's technology strategy and stay abreast of emerging technologies and industry trends, evaluating their potential impact and application within the firm
• Address performance, workload, communication, and collaboration issues constructively and promptly to maintain a healthy, productive, and accountable team environment
• Clarify role boundaries within the delivery team so that developers own technical execution responsibilities, while the Business Analyst remains focused on requirements, coordination, testing support, and stakeholder communication rather than serving as the primary point of follow-up for development execution matters

Other duties:

Please note this job posting is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Information Systems, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and directly relevant experience
• 15+ years of relevant experience, including 5+ years of experience managing and leading development teams
• Demonstrated success serving as both a people manager and a senior technical contributor in a hands-on development environment
• Proven experience leading teams and delivering successful software projects
• Experience in resource allocation, budgeting, and project prioritization
• Demonstrated ability to coach technical contributors, navigate conflict, and reinforce team standards and delivery expectations in a constructive manner
• Strong strategic planning and decision-making abilities
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Strong leadership, management, mentorship, collaboration, and team accountability skills in a small, high-output development environment where the manager is also an active individual contributor
• People management, coaching, performance management, and team development skills
• Excellent communication and collaboration abilities, including the ability to lead technical discussions and presentations
• Ability to build productive working relationships across developers, business stakeholders, and analyst functions while maintaining clear ownership boundaries
• Strategic thinking and ability to align technology initiatives with business goals
• Deep hands-on understanding of software development methodologies, SDLC controls, technical delivery practices, and effective team operating rhythms
• Strong technical leadership with the ability to guide standards, make sound design decisions, and support implementation approaches across the team
• Deep understanding of software architecture principles, design patterns, and best practices
• Expert-level proficiency in programming languages and development frameworks commonly used for team solutions, such as Python, C#, Java, and/or C++, with the ability to guide framework selection and implementation
• Experience with cloud technologies, distributed systems, and microservices architectures
• Advanced SQL skills, including database design, data manipulation, Stored Procedures, DDL, optimization, and hands-on experience with MSSQL databases
• Knowledge of data modeling, ETL processes, APIs, data synchronization, and PowerShell scripting
• Proficiency in using Git and GitHub for version control, code reviews, branching and merging, and team collaboration
• Working knowledge of Agile methodologies, specifically Scrum and TDD, with familiarity with modern development practices such as BDD
• Strong experience with technical estimation, work breakdown, prioritization, and identifying delivery risk early
• Experience performing code reviews, design reviews, and development oversight in a way that improves quality and consistency across the team
• Ability to reinforce consistent team processes, including task updates, documentation, estimation, and development lifecycle expectations
• Strong knowledge of algorithms, design patterns, sound coding practices, and performance tuning and optimization
• Understanding software performance optimization, secure coding practices, and software security/compliance requirements
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills with attention to detail
• Familiarity with emerging technologies and their potential applications in engineering.
• All new hires will be required to successfully complete and pass a pre-employment (post offer) background check in compliance with NIST 800-171
• Moffatt & Nichol uses E-Verify and employment is contingent upon the legal ability to obtain employment in the U.S. and to present the required documentation at hire

Working conditions:

Sedentary for prolonged period of time, interact with clients, and travel occasionally.

Moffatt & Nichol's Employment Benefits:

At Moffatt & Nichol, we genuinely care about our team and strive to create a warm, welcoming environment. We're excited to offer a range of great benefits and cover many costs to support you. Here are some highlights:

• Enjoy low-cost employee healthcare with our company-paid high-deductible medical, dental, and vision plans

• Family coverage is available

• Low-deductible plan available

• Generous HSA match to help manage healthcare expenses

• Stay energized with our amazing Wellness Program (with financial incentives) to keep you healthy and fit

• Features include: monthly one-on-one sessions with nutritionists, access to a Healthwise Pharmacist, mindfulness apps like The Calm and BetterHelp, and more

• Free and confidential Employee Assistance Programs for counseling and support

• Generous Paid time off (15 to 25 days based on experience level), Paid Holidays (7), and a floating holiday

• 401(k) match to help you reach your financial goals

• Excellent Life Insurance coverage, fully paid by the company

• You may also have the option to further your education with our comprehensive Tuition Reimbursement Program

• Plus, there are plenty of training opportunities, a Leadership Development Program, a formal Mentoring program, an active YP (Young Professionals) group, and so much more

• And because we care about all members of your family, we offer Pet Insurance to look after your furry friends

Moffatt & Nichol's EEO Statement:

As a global business, Moffatt & Nichol relies on diversity of culture and thought to deliver on our goal of Creative People, Practical Solutions serving our client needs, and ensures nondiscrimination in all activities in accordance with Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. We draw from the world's best and brightest, regardless of geographic, cultural, or institutional background. This approach enables us to better understand and serve our clients, foster innovation, and create a rich, collaborative work environment. Moffatt & Nichol is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity / Federal Contractor desiring priority referrals of all protected veterans for job openings.

EEO is the LAW

If you need more information or require special assistance for persons with disabilities or limited English proficiency, please contact Human Resources at (562) 590-6500 or TTY/TDD users please call 711.