Software Development Management Professional (M4)

Avalara seeks an experienced Manager - Automation to lead the Returns Engineering automation team. In this role, you will oversee a team of 5-Automation Engineers, working closely with Engineering leads to achieve automation objectives, primary goals of enhancing efficiency, reducing risk, and ensuring an excellent customer experience.

Key Responsibilities:

Team Leadership & Development

• Recruit, mentor, and develop a high-performing automation engineering team.

• Conduct regular performance reviews, provide feedback, and foster a collaborative team culture.

• Define team goals, monitor performance, and ensure timely project delivery.

Automation Strategy, Planning, Maintenance and Support

• Develop and implement a comprehensive automation strategy aligned with business objectives.

• Identify and prioritize automation opportunities across the organization.

• Ensure compliance with industry standards and best practices.

• Maintain and support existing automation.

Project Management

• Oversee multiple automation projects, ensuring adherence to timelines, budgets, and quality standards.

• Collaborate with stakeholders to define scope, set objectives, and measure outcomes.

• Monitor progress, address issues as they arise, and provide status updates.

Technical Leadership

• Lead the team in designing, developing, and maintaining automation frameworks and test scripts.

• Provide technical expertise and hands-on support for automation tools and technologies.

• Continuously evaluate new tools and techniques to optimize efficiency and effectiveness.

Process Optimization & Continuous Improvement

• Collaborate with engineering, product, and quality assurance teams to identify automation needs and develop solutions.

• Establish metrics to measure the impact and effectiveness of automation initiatives.

• Promote a culture of continuous improvement and best practice adoption.

Risk Management & Compliance

• Ensure automated systems meet security, data privacy, and regulatory standards.

• Proactively manage risks associated with automation processes, including system failures and resource dependencies.

• Implement safeguards to minimize business disruptions from automation failures or anomalies.

Qualifications

• Education: Bachelors or Masters degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field.

• Experience:

• 10+ years of experience in software engineering or automation, with at least 2 years in a management role.

• Proven track record in managing and delivering successful automation projects.

• Experience with automation tools such as Selenium, Jenkins, Ansible, or similar frameworks.

• Familiarity with Agile methodologies and project management principles.

• Technical Skills:

• Strong knowledge of RPA tools like UIPath, Robocorp, or similar.

• Proficiency in CI/CD tools and methodologies.

• Familiarity with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP) and containerization (Docker, Kubernetes) is a plus.

• Soft Skills

• Excellent communication, problem-solving, and interpersonal skills.

• Ability to influence and collaborate across functions, especially with engineering, product, and operations teams.

• Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.