Software Engineering Manager

** Position Summary
** In this leadership role, you will partner with Portfolio, Architecture, Quality, and business stakeholders to set priorities, predict delivery outcomes, manage capacity, and ensure technical excellence. You will help evolve legacy environments, expand modern cloud capabilities, and guide the engineering team toward scalable, resilient solutions that support the long‑term health of our financial services ecosystem.

This position is ideal for a collaborative, empathetic leader who thrives on solving challenges, cultivating talent, and creating clarity in complex environments.
** About the Team
** Our technology organization supports mission‑critical systems for the
** Accounting and Servicing
** functions within Vanderbilt Mortgage & Finance. We build and maintain the platforms, integrations, and tools that ensure accuracy, compliance, and efficiency throughout the servicing lifecycle.

Our tech stack spans multiple platforms, including:* **.NET**
* ** AWS / on-premises services**
* ** iSeries/AS400 technologies
*** Event‑driven architectures

We partner closely with teams across the Clayton Homes family to deliver scalable, integrated technology solutions that empower both business and technology partners.
** Primary Responsibilities
*** Serve as a coach and mentor for engineering team members and the broader scrum team.
* Build engineering skillsets aligned with business needs.
* Collaborate with leadership to establish annual KPIs and track team performance.
* Proactively remove blockers to ensure sprint and project success.
* Create an environment centered on rapid delivery, high quality, and low technical debt through empowered, self‑directed teams.
* Foster an innovative team culture that encourages ideation, healthy debate, and alignment with organizational goals.
* Partner with architects to understand system design constraints and functional/non‑functional requirements.
* Provide technical guidance focused on reusable, fault‑tolerant, scalable solutions.
* Participate in budgeting for team resources, contractors, software renewals, and development costs.
* Set clear, aligned goals to guide technical decisions and team prioritization.
* Drive alignment between stakeholders and technology partners by eliminating ambiguity and establishing shared understanding.
** Primary Qualifications
*** 3+ years of proven leadership experience in software engineering.
* Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, related field, or equivalent experience.
* Good understanding of  cloud services, architecture, and cost management.
* Nice to have AWS experience.
** Desired Skills
*** Broad understanding of technology stacks, architectural practices.
* Ability to identify cross-team dependencies, reduce delivery risks, and communicate impacts effectively.
* Experience with event-driven architectures and microservices.
* Ability to respectfully challenge ideas, estimates, and processes to align around shared goals.
* Demonstrated thought leadership and innovation mindset.
* Comfortable making informed decisions with limited information.
* Strong relationship-building and communication skills.
** Behavioral Competencies
*** Analytical Thinking
* Influence & Persuasion
* Collaboration & Teamwork
* Clear & Effective Communication Clayton is committed to
* opening doors to a better life*. Clayton is a leading single-family, values-driven home builder dedicated to attainable housing, sustainable practices and creating a world-class experience for customers and team members. Our company portfolio includes a broad offering of attainable housing, and as a vertically integrated home builder, we are uniquely positioned to serve customers through every stage of the home ownership journey – building, selling, financing, and insuring homes.
** Benefits
* ** Competitive benefits including medical, dental, vision, and 401(k) with 100% match on the first 4%
* Quarterly bonus program
* Recognized as one of East Tennessee’s top technology workplaces
* Wellness programs supporting physical, emotional, spiritual, social, environmental, intellectual, and financial well‑being
* An onsite fitness facility featuring a full gym, classes, volleyball,…