Software engineering manager Jobs in Chicago, IL

Be a part of our success story. Launch offers talented and motivated people the opportunity to do the best work of their lives in a dynamic and growing company. Through competitive salaries, outstanding benefits, internal advancement opportunities, and recognized community involvement, you will have the chance to create a career you can be proud of. Your new trajectory starts here at Launch!

The Role:

As a Discipline Leader of Solution Architecture & Development here at Launch, you will operate at the intersection of business strategy, emerging technology, and modern architecture. This role is a key leadership position that combines deep technical expertise with consulting acumen to help clients unlock the power of AI across cloud platforms, data ecosystems, and software solutions. In this role, you will be responsible for shaping and delivering enterprise-grade solutions for clients, while also growing and evolving Launch’s Solution Architecture discipline. You’ll partner with account teams, engineering leads, and executive stakeholders to design high-impact architectures that are scalable, secure, and aligned with business goals—often guiding clients through AI strategy, integration, and enablement along the way.

This is both a hands-on and strategic role—requiring a passion for modern architecture, an understanding of AI’s practical applications, and the ability to lead multidisciplinary teams through complex transformation programs.

Responsibilities Include:

• Lead solution architecture efforts for complex client engagements across cloud, data, AI, and software engineering domains
• Define and design scalable, secure, and AI-enabled architectures that meet business, technical, and operational requirements
• Guide clients through strategic technology decisions, including AI integration, data platforms, and cloud modernization
• Act as a trusted advisor to executive stakeholders—translating business goals into architectural vision and delivery plans
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including business analysts, engineers, designers, and consultants
• Build and maintain Launch’s internal solution architecture frameworks, patterns, and reusable assets
• Serve as the discipline leader—mentoring architects across the organization and helping shape the evolution of our Architecture practice
• Partner with internal teams to support business development, including pre-sales solutioning, proposal development, and client presentations
• Stay on the forefront of emerging technologies and AI capabilities, and contribute thought leadership to the broader Launch community

Required Qualifications:

• 10+ years of experience in technology consulting, solution architecture and software development, with a track record of leading technical teams
• Strong background in architecting modern cloud solutions across Azure, AWS, or GCP
• Professional IT consulting services experience required
• Strong proficiency in modern programming languages (e.g., Java, C#, Python, JavaScript, .Net, C#) and development frameworks.
• Extensive experience with software design patterns, microservices architecture, and cloud-native applications
• Strong understanding of DevOps practices, CI/CD pipelines, and containerization technologies (e.g., Docker, Kubernetes)
• Excellent problem-solving, critical-thinking, and analytical skills
• Strong communication and presentation skills, with the ability to convey technical concepts to non-technical audiences
• Demonstrated experience integrating AI/ML solutions into enterprise architectures, including LLMs, agents, and AI-enhanced platforms
• Deep knowledge of data architectures, APIs, microservices, and cloud-native application design
• Ability to connect the dots between business problems, technical strategy, and delivery execution
• Experience working with cross-functional teams in complex client environments
• Proven leadership in growing or stewarding a technology capability or discipline
• Exceptional client-facing skills—able to influence, facilitate, and present to senior executives
• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree or certifications (e.g., TOGAF, Azure Architect Expert, AWS Solutions Architect) a plus

Compensation & Benefits:

As an employee at Launch, you will grow your skills and experience through a variety of exciting project work (across industries and technologies) with some of the top companies in the world! Our employees receive full benefits—medical, dental, vision, short-term disability, long-term disability, life insurance, and matched 401k. We also have an uncapped, take-what-you-need PTO policy. The anticipated wage range for this role is $190,000-$210,000. Education and experience will be highly considered, and we are happy to discuss your wage expectations in more detail throughout our internal interview process.