API Development Manager

DataBank is a leading service provider of enterprise class services aimed at providing 100% uptime and availability of customer data, applications, and equipment. DataBank's managed data center services are built around its world-class facilities, multi-homed Internet access hub, and multi-terabyte storage area network. We provide a redundant managed colocation environment for companies wishing to outsource their entire computer room infrastructure. This environment consists of space, power and network transport services. (Translation: We're basically the people who make sure your stuff never goes down. You're welcome.)

DataBank is looking for an experienced Development Manager to lead our PHP API development team consisting of 6 developers. This role focuses on people leadership, team development, and operational excellence while partnering closely with our technical leads on our core API application and legacy systems. The ideal candidate will have a strong technical background in PHP and API development combined with proven expertise in hiring, developing, and managing high-performing development teams. (Basically, you need to know your code AND know how to wrangle the brilliant chaos that is a dev team.)

Responsibilities

People Management & Leadership

• Conduct regular 1-on-1s with team members to support their growth, address concerns, and maintain strong working relationships
• Lead the full hiring lifecycle including job descriptions, candidate screening, technical interviews, and onboarding new developers
• Manage performance through regular check-ins and annual performance reviews with clear, actionable feedback (Yes, you'll actually have to tell people things. Out loud. Like an adult.)
• Make difficult decisions including performance improvement plans and terminations when necessary
• Foster a collaborative, inclusive team culture that encourages continuous learning and innovation
• Champion career development by identifying growth opportunities and creating individual development plans for each team member
• Lead and mentor developers to improve coding skills and development methodology

Team Operations & Delivery

• Balance technical priorities with team capacity and business needs (The eternal struggle. You got this.)
• Develop and maintain team process and procedure documentation, ensuring the team follows established standards and workflows
• Remove blockers and create an environment where developers can do their best work (Shield team from corporate buzzword bingo and unnecessary "synergy alignment sessions")
• Manage resource allocation across the primary API application (95% of effort) and legacy applications
• Assist with planning and managing sprints
• Run daily team standups and help facilitate sprint retrospectives (Turn retro action items into things that actually happen)
• Track team velocity, identify process improvements, and implement solutions that increase efficiency
• Facilitate effective communication between the development teams and stakeholders across IT and the broader organization

Strategic Planning & Technical Oversight

• Collaborate on technical roadmap and help translate business requirements into development priorities
• Identify skill gaps and create strategies to address them through hiring, training, or external resources
• Work with leadership on budget planning for team expenses, tools, and professional development
• Contribute to departmental initiatives and represent the development team in cross-functional meetings
• Maintain sufficient technical understanding of our PHP applications, API architecture, and technology stack to make informed decisions
• Collaborate with Technical Leads in making technical decisions and understanding tradeoffs
• Stay current with development practices, tools, and industry trends to guide team investments (No, we're not rewriting everything in Rust. Probably.)
• Oversee and manage incident response and escalations

Hands-On Technical Engagement (20-30% of time)

• Perform code reviews of developer check-ins to ensure quality and functional requirements are met (Minor Detail: You'll need to actually understand the code you're reviewing)
• Approve merge requests and assist with resolving complex merge conflicts when needed
• Participate in architecture and design discussions for the API and internal tools
• Generate and review development, design, and QA documentation
• Maintain hands-on technical credibility through direct development tasks (Translation: You're still gonna code, just not every day)

Required Qualifications

• 5+ years of software development experience with hands-on PHP development in enterprise applications
• 3+ years developing RESTful APIs and familiarity with MVC-based frameworks
• 3+ years in people management with 4+ direct reports (You've survived managing humans before)
• Proven track record of hiring, developing, and retaining technical talent
• Experience conducting performance reviews and having difficult conversations when needed
• Experience with MSSQL or MySQL databases and ability to understand and write complex SQL queries
• Understanding of highly available and performant application architecture
• Strong communication skills with ability to translate technical concepts for non-technical stakeholders
• Demonstrated ability to balance competing priorities/make sound decisions with incomplete information
• Track record of improving team processes and development workflows
• Experience developing automated testing and integrating it within a CI/CD pipeline
• Experience leveraging AI to improve code quality and team productivity (Yes, we use the robot brains)

Preferred Qualifications

• 3+ years architecting highly available and performant applications and databases
• Experience with Docker, RabbitMQ, Elastic Search, Jenkins, Redis, and/or similar technologies
• Familiarity with Agile/Scrum methodologies in practice
• Hands-on experience developing applications with AI/ML integrations (LLMs, machine learning models, or AI-powered features)

What Success Looks Like

First 90 Days:

• Establish trust and rapport with all team members through consistent 1-on-1s
• Understand the API architecture, legacy systems, and current technical challenges and personally deliver at least one meaningful API feature (Yes, you'll ship actual code)
• Build strong working relationship with technical leads and establish clear responsibilities
• Identify immediate team needs, process gaps, or morale issues requiring attention (Detective work, but for team happiness)

First Year:

• Complete at least one full hiring cycle, bringing on quality talent that strengthens the team
• Implement or improve team processes that demonstrably increase productivity and satisfaction
• Conduct thorough annual reviews with actionable development plans for each team member
• Build credibility with stakeholders through reliable delivery and transparent communication
• Foster team growth while maintaining delivery on DataBank's API and internal tools (Keep the lights on AND make things better. You're talented like that.)

To be considered for this position, all candidates must be U.S. citizens or hold valid Green Card and live in the U.S.. This requirement is due to DataBank's compliance with FedRAMP and FISMA regulations.

No third-party recruiters.