Senior Manager, Engineering – Restaurant Technology

Who We AreWe’re not in the wing business. We’re in the flavor business. It’s been our mission to Serve the World Flavor since we first opened in 1994, and we’re just getting started. 1997 saw the opening of our first brand partner operated Wingstop location, and by 2002 we had served the world one billion wings. It’s flavor that defines us and has made Wingstop one of the fastest growing brands in the restaurant industry.Above all else – our success is largely due to our people and our core values, or what we call The Wingstop Way of being entrepreneurial, service-minded, fun, and authentic. We believe having a strong people foundation centered on these collective values creates a crave-worthy culture and talented team, as well as ensures our brand is poised for accelerated growth. We all win together.What We’ll NeedWingstop is seeking a strong, results-oriented Sr Manager, Engineering within our Restaurant Technology space to lead the development and evolution of systems supporting in-restaurant operations, including POS (NCR), back-office (NBO), and Smart Kitchen systems (KDS).You will play a key role in translating business and operational objectives into technical solutions, improving system performance, and driving platform evolution across a complex, high-transaction environment.This role is responsible for leading engineering efforts that focus on scalability, integration, usability, and long-term platform sustainability across restaurant systems. You will also be instrumental in building and mentoring a high-performing engineering team, attracting top talent, and ensuring that Wingstop’s restaurant technology continues to evolve in alignment with business growth.Role ResponsibilitiesManage and grow a team of software engineers, including providing guidance on career progression, planning, and continuous developmentBe accountable for delivery, deployment, and performance of restaurant technology systemsStrategically plan and prioritize engineering initiatives, balancing new capabilities, platform improvements, and technical debtCommunicate with stakeholders, product partners, operations teams, and vendors to deliver solutions aligned with business prioritiesGuide the team in design, architecture, implementation, testing, and monitoring, ensuring scalable and maintainable systemsEstablish and enforce engineering best practices, coding standards, release quality controls, and operational guidelinesParticipate in architecture reviews and provide hands-on technical leadership where neededDrive modernization initiatives, including transformation of back-of-house systems and evolution toward next-generation POS and restaurant technology platformsCreate and manage a backlog of technical debt, platform enhancements, and long-term engineering improvementsDevelop internal tools, automation, and integrations that improve operational efficiency and system visibilityPartner with vendors including NCR, KDS vendors, device providers, and related restaurant hardware partners to ensure performance and integration qualityFoster a collaborative and high-performing engineering culture focused on ownership, accountability, and continuous improvementLead hiring, onboarding, and development of engineering talent, including performance management and career growthDrive innovation through proofs of concept and adoption of modern technologies, including cloud-native architectures and AI-driven capabilities such as voice ordering, chat experiences, computer vision, and intelligent automationWhat You’ll NeedEducation RequirementsBachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field (or equivalent practical experience)CertificationsCloud certifications (AWS preferred) are a plusTools & Technical Experience2+ years of professional software engineering experience, including leadership roles2+ years of engineering management experience with a proven track record of delivery and talent developmentStrong experience in restaurant POS, retail store systems, hospitality technology, or similar multi-location operating environmentsExperience working with NCR is preferred, with strong consideration for candidates who have experience with other POS platforms and next-generation POS or restaurant technology transformationsExperience building modern products and platforms using APIs, microservices, cloud-native architectures, and event-driven integration patternsExperience guiding teams that work across frontend, backend, and integration layers; hands-on knowledge of modern engineering practices is expectedExperience designing and operating systems in AWS or comparable cloud environmentsExperience with CI/CD, infrastructure automation, release management, and secure software delivery practicesExperience with monitoring, observability, and production support practices across business-critical systemsFamiliarity with messaging technologies, distributed caching, and scalable data platforms is a plusFamiliarity with PCI-sensitive or regulated transaction environmentsExposure to AI/ML-driven systems, voice interfaces, chat-based experiences, computer vision, or intelligent automation use cases is a plusStrong written and verbal communication, presentation, problem-solving, and analytical skillsExperience working in Agile environments such as Scrum, Kanban, or SAFePeople SkillsStrong cross-functional collaboration and stakeholder management skillsAbility to translate operational business requirements into scalable system designHigh ownership and accountability mindsetCommitment to engineering excellence, sound technical judgment, and practical executionAbility to operate as a hands-on engineering leader who can build teams and proactively drive solutionsWho You AreNo job is too small. You recognize that the real work happens in the restaurants, and everything we do should support their success. You stay humble, roll up your sleeves, and always look for ways to help. You learn from others and contribute wherever you can.You care deeply about doing great work and driving results. You’re curious, ask questions, and seek out opportunities to improve. You don’t just point out problems—you bring solutions, ideas, and perspectives that move the team forward.You take full responsibility for your work and see things through to completion. You aren’t afraid to fail because you know that failure is a part of learning and growth. You take action, move fast, and keep pushing forward.You lead with empathy, respect, and emotional intelligence. You collaborate effectively, fostering a culture of trust and constructive feedback. You understand the importance of teamwork and ensure that your actions build others up rather than break them down.You push yourself and others to be better. You embrace healthy conflict, knowing that great ideas and strong teams emerge from honest, constructive conversations. You believe that leaders create leaders and are committed to fostering a culture of growth, challenge, and continuous improvement.BenefitsFLAVOR PERKS: Unlimited paid time off for exempt employees One paid volunteer day of your choice Competitive bonus structure for eligible roles Team member stock purchase plan Health savings or flexible spending account options 401k – (dollar for dollar on the first 3% and then 50 cents on the dollar for the next 2% for team member contributions up to 5% of eligible compensation) Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision benefits Basic life and AD&D insurance provided Pet insurance Education Assistance Wellness reimbursement program Paid maternity and paternity leaveFun Is The Best Flavor Lunch provided every Tuesday and Thursday in office Discount on Wingstop gift cards Onsite game roomWingstop provides equal opportunities for everyone that works for us and everyone that applies to join our team, without regard to sex or gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, race, religious creed, color, national origin, ancestry, pregnancy, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, any service, past, present, or future, in the uniformed services of the United States (military or veteran status), or any other consideration protected by federal, state, or local law.