Application Development Manager

At Thorlabs, we design and manufacture components, instruments, and systems that transform the world by identifying, enabling, and accelerating key photonics (i.e., light-based) technologies. Backed by a dedicated workforce of more than 3,000 employees worldwide, Thorlabs contributes to cutting-edge research and real-world innovation.

Whether you're early in your career or bringing years of experience, you’ll find opportunities to grow, take ownership, and make meaningful contributions from day one. We know every employee brings unique talents and perspectives that fuel our success, and we seek driven individuals who are excited to make an impact in a fun, fast-moving culture.

The Application Development Manager is responsible for leading the day-to-day operations, delivery coordination, people management, and hands-on technical contribution of the Application Development team. This role manages a technical team responsible for custom application development, integrations, automation, QA, DevOps, low-code solutions, and any related enterprise application support.

The Application Development Manager combines operational leadership with hands-on software development, application integration, and technical problem-solving. The role works closely with IT leadership, business stakeholders, and technical team members to prioritize work, improve team performance, mature development practices, and support the continued evolution of the company’s application development capabilities. Although the location of the position is in Newton, NJ, from time to time it may be required to undertake duties at other Thorlabs locations.

Essential Job Functions include the following, but are not limited to:

• Lead the day-to-day operations of the Application Development team, including work coordination, prioritization, communication, and delivery follow-up.

• Manage, coach, and support team members across application development, QA, integrations, automation, and low-code development, including performance feedback, professional development, and workload balancing.

• Establish team operating cadence and accountability practices, including regular one-on-ones, team meetings, status updates, delivery reporting, and escalation of risks, issues, dependencies, and resource constraints.

• Coordinate application development work intake, prioritization, resource planning, and delivery tracking across projects, enhancements, operational support, and production issues.

• Perform hands-on software development, application integration, troubleshooting, and technical problem solving as needed to support project delivery, production issues, and team execution.

• Design, develop, and support application integrations using APIs, Azure services, Azure Functions, OData services, Dynamics 365, Power Platform, and related Microsoft technologies.

• Oversee and contribute to the design, development, testing, deployment, and support of application solutions, ensuring work is delivered with appropriate quality, documentation, maintainability, security, and support readiness.

• Promote and reinforce software development lifecycle best practices, including requirements documentation, technical specifications, code reviews, testing, release management, CI/CD, production support transition, and post-implementation follow-up.

• Collaborate with business stakeholders and cross-functional IT teams to clarify requirements, manage expectations, communicate timelines, improve business processes, and support successful solution delivery.

• Align priorities, improve delivery practices, support roadmap planning, and strengthen team operating discipline.

In addition to the essential functions and duties listed above, all positions are also responsible for:

• Meeting company standards pertaining to quantity and quality of work performed on an ongoing basis, performing all work-related tasks in a manner that is in compliance with all Company policies and procedures.

• Adhering to Company policies, procedures, and directives regarding standards of workplace behavior in completing job duties and assignments.

The Company retains the right to change or assign other duties to this position.