IT Application Manager

Illuminate USA

$90K — $120K *
Manufacturing & Automotive
8 - 10 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, IT, or related field, or equivalent experience.
  • 8+ years of experience with business applications and leading teams.
  • Broad knowledge of ERP, MES, and WMS systems, including analysis and integration.
  • Proven leadership skills in mentoring engineers and making technical decisions.
  • Ability to quickly learn and communicate with both technical and business teams.
  • Strong programming skills with emphasis on hands-on application development.
  • Experience with AI-assisted code development and tools like GitHub Copilot.

Responsibilities

  • Lead and mentor a team of Application Engineers to foster growth and collaboration.
  • Set technical direction and architecture decisions across ERP, MES, and WMS systems.
  • Prioritize workloads and coordinate team activities to meet project goals.
  • Report application initiatives' status and provide strategic recommendations to senior management.
  • Oversee daily operations of business applications and ensure reliable support.
  • Identify recurring issues and coordinate improvements and standards implementation.
  • Drive application projects from concept to execution including testing and deployment.

Benefits

  • Professional development opportunities to enhance technical skills.
  • Collaborative work environment promoting a positive culture.
  • Access to cutting-edge technology and AI tools.
  • Engagement with cross-functional teams and stakeholders.
Full Job Description
Job Description

We are seeking an experienced Application Manager to lead the team responsible for the development, implementation, maintenance, and continuous improvement of our core business applications, including ERP, MES, and WMS systems. This role combines deep business knowledge with broad technical expertise to ensure our application landscape aligns with business objectives and delivers efficient, reliable processes across manufacturing, supply chain, and back-office operations. Reporting directly to the Head of IT, the Application Manager functions as a liaison between IT and the business, sets technical direction, drives complex cross-functional projects, and leads and develops a team of Application Engineers. The ideal candidate brings strong leadership ability, a strategic mindset, and the hands-on technical depth needed to guide solution design and resolve complex system issues in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.

Responsibilities:

Leadership and Team Management

  • Lead, mentor, and develop a team of Application Engineers, fostering technical growth, collaboration, and a positive, high-performing culture.


  • Set technical direction and make key architecture and solution decisions across ERP, MES, WMS, and related systems.


  • Allocate resources, prioritize workloads, and coordinate team activities to meet business and project commitments.


  • Report on the status of application initiatives to senior management, providing insights and strategic recommendations.


System Operations and Support

  • Oversee the daily operations, maintenance, and troubleshooting of business applications, ensuring reliable support and uninterrupted business activities.


  • Direct the identification of recurring problems and coordinate the implementation of improvement measures and standards.


  • Establish standards for system data analysis, problem resolution, user permissions, and system parameter management to meet evolving business and regulatory needs.


  • Ensure regular training is delivered to key system users and end-users across the organization.


Optimization and Project Delivery

  • Direct the collection, analysis, and implementation of system optimizations and upgrades to enhance functionality and user experience.


  • Drive complex application projects from conception to execution, including planning, requirements gathering, process review, system configuration, testing, data migration, and deployment.


  • Foster innovation to develop cutting-edge solutions that provide competitive advantages.


  • Ensure seamless integration and consistent information flow across ERP, MES, WMS, and other enterprise systems.


  • Guide custom application development and system integration efforts, leveraging AI-assisted development tools to accelerate delivery while upholding code quality, security, and maintainability standards.


Collaboration and Governance

  • Liaise with vendors, IT partners, and stakeholders to maintain system integrity and foster partnerships that support the application infrastructure.


  • Create and maintain system and application documentation, including requirements, processes, procedures, operation manuals, and guidelines.


  • Provide on-call support coverage to business teams and complete other duties as assigned, reflecting the dynamic nature of system operations within a manufacturing environment.


Leadership and Team Management

  • Lead, mentor, and develop a team of Application Engineers, fostering technical growth, collaboration, and a positive, high-performing culture.


  • Set technical direction and make key architecture and solution decisions across ERP, MES, WMS, and related systems.


  • Allocate resources, prioritize workloads, and coordinate team activities to meet business and project commitments.


  • Report on the status of application initiatives to senior management, providing insights and strategic recommendations.


System Operations and Support

  • Oversee the daily operations, maintenance, and troubleshooting of business applications, ensuring reliable support and uninterrupted business activities.


  • Direct the identification of recurring problems and coordinate the implementation of improvement measures and standards.


  • Establish standards for system data analysis, problem resolution, user permissions, and system parameter management to meet evolving business and regulatory needs.


  • Ensure regular training is delivered to key system users and end-users across the organization.


Optimization and Project Delivery

  • Direct the collection, analysis, and implementation of system optimizations and upgrades to enhance functionality and user experience.


  • Drive complex application projects from conception to execution, including planning, requirements gathering, process review, system configuration, testing, data migration, and deployment.


  • Foster innovation to develop cutting-edge solutions that provide competitive advantages.


  • Ensure seamless integration and consistent information flow across ERP, MES, WMS, and other enterprise systems.


  • Guide custom application development and system integration efforts, leveraging AI-assisted development tools to accelerate delivery while upholding code quality, security, and maintainability standards.


Collaboration and Governance

  • Liaise with vendors, IT partners, and stakeholders to maintain system integrity and foster partnerships that support the application infrastructure.


  • Create and maintain system and application documentation, including requirements, processes, procedures, operation manuals, and guidelines.


  • Provide on-call support coverage to business teams and complete other duties as assigned, reflecting the dynamic nature of system operations within a manufacturing environment.


Qualifications:

  • A bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.


  • At least 8 years of experience working with and supporting business applications, including significant experience leading projects, teams, or technical staff.


  • Broad knowledge of enterprise application systems such as ERP, MES, and WMS, including systems analysis, design, and integration between platforms.


  • Demonstrated leadership ability, with experience mentoring engineers and making technical decisions in a cross-functional environment.


  • Demonstrated ability to learn quickly and communicate effectively with both technical teams and business stakeholders.


  • Strong programming and technical skills, with a preference for candidates who exhibit a depth of technical proficiency.


  • Hands-on experience in application development, including designing, building, and deploying custom applications, integrations, and automation to extend and connect enterprise systems.


  • Experience with AI-assisted code development and AI development tools (such as GitHub Copilot, Microsoft Copilot, or similar), with the ability to apply these tools to accelerate delivery while maintaining code quality and security standards.


  • Proficiency in the Microsoft Office suite.


  • Excellent team working skills balanced with the ability to work independently, and a positive attitude.


Preferred Qualifications

  • Experience with Oracle ERP / EBS technology and ERP integration between Oracle and other systems.


  • Experience with Manufacturing Execution Systems and Rockwell FTPC platforms, Java, XML, and Oracle SQL.


  • Familiarity with warehouse management operations and PL/SQL.


  • Prior experience in solar or other high-volume manufacturing environments.

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