Manager, Software Engineering – Herndon VA

Company Overview

Cogent Communications is a global, Tier 1 facilities‑based ISP, consistently ranked among the top five networks worldwide and publicly traded on NASDAQ (CCOI). The company provides businesses with high‑speed Internet access and Ethernet transport services via an all‑optical IP network backbone that delivers large‑bandwidth connections at competitive prices, supported by end‑to‑end service delivery and network monitoring.

Job Summary

Cogent Communications is seeking a Manager, Software Engineering to lead, mentor, and inspire development staff. The role involves contributing to technical direction through research, prototyping, and design decisions while supporting the team in delivering high‑quality software solutions. The manager will facilitate communication between development teams and departmental end‑users, guiding discussions toward effective outcomes and staying connected to technical details.

Compensation

Base Salary Pay Range: $135,000 – $165,000 per year. Specific offers are determined by experience, education, skills, certifications, and business needs.

Benefits

• Health, Dental, Vision insurance
• Paid Time Off (PTO)
• Short‑ and Long‑Term Disability
• Life Insurance
• Holidays
• Parental Leave
• 401(k) plan with employer match
• Stock options
• Employee Assistance Program
• Most benefits take effect within 30 days of employment; some require a waiting period

Responsibilities

• Lead, mentor, and manage a team of software developers, including hiring, training, and performance management.
• Foster a collaborative, innovative, and high‑performance culture.
• Encourage continuous learning and professional growth.
• Oversee the full software development lifecycle, ensuring project timelines and expectations are met.
• Collaborate with product management, quality assurance, and other stakeholders to define requirements and deliver solutions.
• Manage multiple projects and priorities in a fast‑paced environment.
• Provide technical direction and contribute to design and implementation discussions, ensuring best practices for development, testing, and deployment.
• Evaluate and implement development methodologies, tools, and frameworks; validate approaches through hands‑on exploration or prototyping.
• Continuously improve processes, tools, and workflows to optimize efficiency and quality.
• Stay close to the team’s technical work to provide guidance, remove blockers, and support sound engineering decisions.
• Lead efforts to automate manual processes and improve operational efficiency.
• Facilitate regular communication with stakeholders to provide updates on progress, challenges, and risks.
• Drive a culture of transparency, collaboration, and accountability within the team.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of solid hands‑on software development experience across a variety of languages and frameworks.
• 2+ years leading, mentoring, and guiding software developers.
• Demonstrated ability to balance team leadership with continued technical problem‑solving and system design.
• 5+ years collaborating with department heads and end‑users to identify requirements and produce specifications.
• 2+ years of PHP/Laravel experience (a plus).
• Deep knowledge of relational databases, including advanced SQL queries and data modeling.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills; ability to summarize technical concepts in plain English.
• Creative problem‑solving skills and a strong troubleshooting instinct.
• Ability to learn and evaluate new technologies for possible team use.
• Proficiency in writing clear, concise, and accurate technical documentation.
• Outstanding customer service and time‑management abilities.
• Strong interpersonal, communication, and organizational skills.

Physical Requirements

• Frequently remains in a sitting/stationary position during the workday.
• Operates a computer and performs desk‑based tasks continuously, frequently viewing a computer screen.
• This is an in‑office position.