Application Development Manager

Location: Mumbai

Job Summary:

We are seeking a technical heavyweight to join as AVP/VP of Software Development. This is a "Player-Coach" role - you will not just manage spreadsheets and timelines; you will architect solutions, review code, and actively contribute to the codebase while leading a team of high-performing specialists. You are expected to bridge the gap between strategic leadership and tactical execution, driving the delivery of complex financial software solutions through hands-on engineering and expert mentorship.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Hands-On Delivery & Engineering:

- Active Coding: Directly contribute to critical modules of the application stack (Python, React, nodeJs) to set the standard for code quality and design patterns.

- Code Reviews: Act as the final gatekeeper for complex pull requests, ensuring clean, efficient, and secure code.

- Debugging & Firefighting: Lead the triage of critical production incidents, utilizing deep system knowledge to diagnose root causes that junior engineers cannot resolve.

- Proof of Concepts (PoC): Personally build and validate PoCs for new technologies (AI/ML integration, Cloud migration) before handing them off to the team for scaling.

2. Architecture & Technical Strategy:

- System Design: Architect scalable, high-availability solutions for investment management workflows, making authoritative decisions on microservices vs. monolith, data consistency models, and cloud-native patterns.

- Tech Roadmap: Define the long-term technical vision, ensuring the platform evolves from Cloud (AWS) server architecture to serverless.

- Innovation: Evaluate and implement cutting-edge tools (e.g., AI-driven analytics, Serverless compute) to maintain competitive advantage.

3. Team Leadership & Mentorship:

- Technical Mentorship: Go beyond "people management" by specifically coaching developers on how to write better code, optimize queries, and structure applications.

- Culture of Excellence: Foster a "builder's culture" where engineering rigour is paramount.

- Resource Management: Optimize team allocation, identifying skill gaps and personally conducting technical training sessions where necessary.

4. Delivery Management & Stakeholder Alignment:

- Project Execution: Own the full SDLC. Translate high-level business goals from executive leadership into executable technical specs.

- Stakeholder Management: Collaborate with Product Managers and Operations Heads to manage expectations, balancing feature requests with technical debt reduction.

- Risk Mitigation: Proactively identify architectural risks and single points of failure, implementing code-level safeguards.

Required Skills:

- Experience: 10-20 years in software development, with at least 5+ years in a hybrid Lead/Architect role.

- Strong technical background with expertise in application development using technologies like python, react/nodejs, analytics, cloud technologies.

- Education: Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or related field.

Good to Have:

- Understanding of Front, Middle, and Back office systems.

- Familiarity with compliance frameworks (SOC2 / ISO27001 / HIPAA) in cloud context.