IT Manager, Software Development and Business Systems

Systems Analysis and Business Partnership Partner with business leaders, Business Systems Analysts and subject matter experts to understand operational needs, define problems and translate business requirements into effective technology solutions. As software development practices continue to evolve, this role will establish practical, secure and accountable use of AI-assisted development tools while preserving the disciplines that protect software quality, data integrity, regulatory compliance and maintainability.

IT MANAGER, SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT AND BUSINESS SYSTEMS

Location; Huntington Beach, CA, open to remote for candidates who are willing to travel as needed to Huntington Beach

JOB DESCRIPTION

The IT Manager - Software Development and Business Systems will lead the company's software development, application support, systems analysis, data and business systems functions. This is a hands-on leadership role for a small IT organization and requires recent experience designing, coding, troubleshooting and supporting business applications in a Microsoft .NET / C# and SQL environment hosted in Azure. The Manager will balance day-to-day delivery with technical leadership, team development, business analysis and long-term application strategy.
As software development practices continue to evolve, this role will establish practical, secure and accountable use of AI-assisted development tools while preserving the disciplines that protect software quality, data integrity, regulatory compliance and maintainability. The Manager will modernize SDLC practices where appropriate, using automation and AI to accelerate analysis, development, testing and documentation without removing necessary human review, change control or production accountability.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Software Development and Technical Leadership

• Lead the design, development, enhancement and support of internally developed business applications and integrations using .NET / C#, SQL and Microsoft Azure technologies.
• Hands-on ability to review code, troubleshoot complex application issues, validate technical approaches and contribute directly when business priorities require it.
• Establish and enforce practical coding standards, architecture patterns, source control practices, peer review and technical documentation expectations.
• Guide application architecture decisions with emphasis on security, reliability, scalability, maintainability and appropriate separation of business logic, data and integration services.
• Oversee APIs, system integrations, background services and data interfaces connecting internal and third-party business systems.

Systems Analysis and Business Partnership

• Partner with business leaders, Business Systems Analysts and subject matter experts to understand operational needs, define problems and translate business requirements into effective technology solutions.

AI-Assisted Development and Software Modernization

• Define responsible standards for the use of AI coding assistants and generative AI throughout analysis, design, coding, testing, troubleshooting and documentation.
• Evaluate emerging AI development capabilities, agentic workflows, low-code/no-code platforms and software engineering tools for practical business value, security, supportability and total cost.
• Coach the software team in effective AI-assisted engineering practices, including prompt/context discipline, validation of generated code, secure coding and avoidance of unreviewed production changes.

SDLC, Quality and Release Management

• Own and continuously improve a right-sized SDLC appropriate for a small IT team, combining necessary governance with efficient delivery.
• Use Agile, Waterfall or hybrid delivery practices based on project size, risk, dependencies and business needs rather than applying a single methodology to every initiative.

Data, SQL and Application Performance

• Provide technical oversight for SQL Server / Azure SQL database design, stored procedures, queries, data integrations and application data access.

Application Support and Operational Reliability

• Ensure business-critical applications are effectively supported, incidents are prioritized according to business impact and root causes are addressed rather than repeatedly worked around.
• Coordinate with Infrastructure and Cybersecurity leadership on application hosting, identity, access, vulnerability remediation, cloud services, backups and disaster recovery dependencies.
• Provide technical leadership during significant application outages, failed deployments or data-related incidents and communicate status to business stakeholders.

Project, Vendor and Budget Management

• Lead software and business systems projects from discovery through implementation, establishing scope, milestones, resources, risks, dependencies and stakeholder communication.
• Manage software-related vendors, consultants and service providers; evaluate proposals, licensing, support models and cost-benefit considerations.
• Plan and manage the software/application portion of the IT budget, including licensing, development tools, cloud application services and outside development resources.
• Maintain an application roadmap that balances business priorities, technical debt, lifecycle needs, modernization and available team capacity.

People Leadership and Team Development

• Lead, coach and develop software development, business systems analysis and related application / reporting resources.

QUALIFICATIONS

Software Development and Systems Experience

• Recent hands-on software development experience with C#/.NET and strong working knowledge of modern .NET application architecture and development practices.
• Strong SQL Server / Azure SQL skills, including relational data modeling, query development, stored procedures, troubleshooting and performance optimization.
• Experience with Microsoft Azure application services and cloud-based software architecture; familiarity with APIs, service integrations and asynchronous messaging is strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated systems analysis experience translating business processes and requirements into technical solutions.
• Experience supporting custom business applications through the full lifecycle, including production troubleshooting and enhancement delivery.
• Working knowledge of source control, CI/CD, automated testing, secure coding, application monitoring and modern DevOps practices.
• Practical experience using AI-assisted software development tools and the judgment to establish appropriate governance, validation and security controls.
• Ability to assess legacy applications and technical debt and create pragmatic modernization plans without disrupting essential business operations.

Leadership and Project Management Experience

• Proven experience leading software developers, analysts or multidisciplinary application teams in a hands-on technical environment.
• Strong problem-solving, prioritization, risk management and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Excellent written, oral and interpersonal communication skills, including the ability to explain technical topics to business audiences.
• Experience leading remote resources, vendors, and consultants.

Formal Education

• Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Information Systems or a related field; equivalent combination of education and directly relevant experience may be considered.
• 7+ years of progressive software development and business systems experience, including recent hands-on .NET/C# development experience.
• 3+ years of technical leadership, team leadership or software project leadership experience.
• Experience in a regulated industry or environment with formal change control, data privacy and security requirements is preferred.

Platinum Resource Group is a professional level consulting firm, providing resources to Fortune 1000 client companies in the areas of technology, human resources, accounting, finance, business systems and supply chain, on a contract and interim basis. PRG has operations in Orange County, San Diego, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. As a W-2 employer we offer our consultants direct deposit bi-weekly payroll, health, dental, vision benefits, and referral bonuses.