Software Engineering Senior Manager (Chicago)

The Software Engineering Senior Manager is a senior technical leader responsible for architecting, building, and operating the firm's cloud-native automation platform. This role requires deep expertise in Azure cloud architecture, distributed systems, and software engineering.This is a technical leadership role first, people management second. The ideal candidate comes from a cloud engineering, platform engineering, or full-stack development background with DevOps expertise.Duties and Responsibilities:Design and evolve the distributed system architecture for the cloud-native automation platform, including Azure Container Apps, Service Bus, PostgreSQL, Redis, and Blob StorageDesign event-driven architectures using Azure Service Bus for high-volume asynchronous processingOptimize platform performance, cost, and operational complexity through architectural improvementsLead .NET backend development including ASP.NET Core APIs, CQRS pattern with MediatR, Entity Framework Core, and FluentValidationConduct code reviews ensuring adherence to SOLID principles, async programming best practices, and distributed systems patternsOwn and evolve multi-stage Azure DevOps YAML pipelines including multi-phase infrastructure deployment, container image builds, and environment-specific deploymentsManage and mentor software engineers, focusing on cloud engineering skill developmentEducation and/or Experience: Required:Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Information Systems, or related technical field; or equivalent professional experience with demonstrable cloud architecture expertiseMinimum 6 years of hands-on software engineering experience building cloud-native applications on AzureMinimum 3 years of experience with Azure Container Apps, Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS), or equivalent container orchestration platformsMinimum 2 years of people management experience leading software engineering teamsProven track record delivering distributed systems in production using microservices architecture and event-driven patternsHands-on experience with Azure Service Bus, Azure database services including Azure SQL Database with Elastic Pools, Azure PostgreSQL Flexible Server, managed identity authentication, connection pooling, and private endpoint configurationDeep understanding of microservices communication patterns including synchronous asynchronous messaging, event-driven architecture, and service discoveryProficiency in C# and .NET (minimum .NET 6, preferably .NET 8+) including NET Core Web API with Controllers, Async/await patterns and Task-based asynchronous programming, LINQ and lambda expressions, Dependency injection and Options pattern and Entity Framework CoreProficiency in TypeScript/JavaScript including js development, Async patterns (Promises, async/await), npm/pnpm package management, Module systems (CommonJS, ES modules) and scripting proficiency in Bash or PowerShell for deployment automation and troubleshootingContainer image build and deployment workflows including Dockerfile optimization, multi-stage builds, and Azure Container Registry integrationProven ability to mentor software engineers on cloud-native development patterns, distributed systems concepts, and Azure architectureStrong code review skills with ability to provide constructive feedback on backend APIs, infrastructure code, and integration logicSystematic troubleshooting approach for complex distributed systems issuesStrong analytical skills for capacity planning, performance optimization, and cost analysisPreferred:Azure CertificationsExpert-level experience with Azure DevOps YAML pipelines including multi-stage pipelines, pipeline templates, variable groups, and environment-based deploymentsAZ-400: Designing and Implementing Microsoft DevOps SolutionsAZ-305: Designing Microsoft Azure Infrastructure SolutionsAZ-204: Developing Solutions for Microsoft AzureAZ-104: Microsoft Azure AdministratorAdvanced Technical SkillsExperience with .NET Aspire for cloud-native application orchestration and service discoveryExperience with CQRS and Mediator patterns (MediatR or equivalent)Event Grid and Event Hubs for event-driven architecturesAgile/Scrum certifications including Certified Scrum Master (CSM) or SAFe AgilistExperience in professional services industry (legal, financial services, accounting, consulting)Understanding of enterprise security and compliance requirements (SOC 2, ISO 27001, GDPR)Familiarity with legal technology or document management systemsDeep Azure networking expertise including VNETs, subnets, Network Security Groups, private endpoints, Private DNS Zones, VNET peering, Application Gateway, and NAT GatewayAbility to diagnose Azure networking problems including DNS resolution failures, private endpoint connectivity issues, and Application Gateway routing problemsExpert-level Bicep or Terraform proficiency with ability to read, write, and debug complex Infrastructure-as-Code modules (500+ lines)Other Skills and Abilities:The following will also be required of the successful candidate:Strong organizational skillsStrong attention to detailGood judgmentStrong interpersonal communication skillsStrong analytical and problem-solving skillsAble to work harmoniously and effectively with othersAble to preserve confidentiality and exercise discretionAble to work under pressureAble to manage multiple projects with competing deadlines and priorities#LI-OE1Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States without the need for employer sponsorship, now or in the futureThe target salary range for this role is:$195,000 - $234,400 if located in Illinois, New York, Texas, Florida, Massachusetts or Washington, D.C.Salaries vary by location and are based on numerous factors, including, but not limited to, the relevant market, skills, experience, and education of the selected candidate. Our compensation package also includes bonus eligibility and a comprehensive benefits program. Benefits information can be found at Sidley.com/Benefits.To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform the Duties and Responsibilities above satisfactorily and meet the requirements. The requirements listed above are representative of the minimum knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job. If you need such an accommodation, please email View email address on apply.placed-app.com (current employees should contact Human Resources).Sidley Austin LLP is an Equal Opportunity Employer.SummaryLocation: Chicago; New York; Miami; Dallas; Houston; Boston; Washington D.C.Type: Full time