Engineering Manager

The Zebra

$125K — $150K *
Information Technology
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 6+ years of software engineering experience with at least 2+ years in engineering management
  • Proficient in programming languages such as Python and/or JavaScript
  • Experience with agentic software development and AI tools
  • Proven success in leading engineering teams and managing technical roadmaps
  • Ability to develop and mentor engineers, fostering high-performance teams
  • Understanding of agile/scrum methodologies and best practices
  • Strong collaboration and stakeholder management skills
  • Strategic thinker with a focus on driving business impact

Responsibilities

  • Lead, mentor, and grow a team of engineers, offering technical guidance and performance coaching
  • Drive technical excellence through best practices in software development and architecture
  • Collaborate with cross-functional teams to define and execute a technical roadmap
  • Manage sprint planning and project delivery, ensuring quality standards are met
  • Encourage data-driven decision making balancing technical feasibility with business impact
  • Advocate for scalable, reliable, and maintainable technical solutions
  • Foster a culture of continuous improvement through reviews and retrospectives
  • Partner with recruiting to attract and onboard engineering talent

Benefits

  • Competitive compensation & stock option offering
  • Health, dental, vision & disability coverage
  • Sabbatical program for tenured employees
  • HSA with employer contribution
  • Fertility support through Carrot
  • $100 monthly wellness perk
  • $300 pet reimbursement program
  • 401k with match
  • Unlimited PTO with flexibility
  • Paid parental leave program
  • Learning & development opportunities
  • Employee Resource Groups
Full Job Description
We're seeking a Manager II of Engineering to lead a team of software engineers at The Zebra. You'll drive engineering execution, develop your team's skills, and ensure we're shipping high-quality software that creates value for our customers.

Location

Our company headquarters are in Austin, TX, but our employees work remotely across the US. For folks who live around Austin, we offer the option to join us in our office or opt for a hybrid setup. Whether you prefer the structure of an office, the convenience of remote work, or a mix of both, we support what works best for you!

Please note: at this time we are not able to hire in Massachusetts.

The Role

We're looking for an Engineering Manager to lead one of our high-impact engineering teams. In this role, you'll empower a group of talented engineers, guide our technical strategy, and keep our systems running smoothly. Reporting to the Director of Engineering, you'll turn big ideas into high-impact products.

You'll work directly with our talented PMs and be the technical voice in the room. You and your team of engineers own the technical "how." You might not write production code in this role, but we believe the strongest managers are former engineers who can mentor, give incisive feedback, and write technical requirements when the moment calls for it.

If you're a supportive leader who loves growing engineers and driving technical excellence, we'd love to meet you.

What You'll Do
  • Lead, mentor, and grow a team of engineers, providing technical guidance, career development, and performance coaching
  • Drive technical excellence by fostering best practices in software development and architecture.
  • Collaborate with product, design, and other engineering teams to help define and execute a roadmap that aligns with company objectives
  • Manage sprint planning, execution, and delivery, ensuring projects are completed on time and meet quality standards
  • Encourage a data-driven approach to decision making, balancing technical feasibility with business impact
  • Advocate for scalability, reliability, and maintainability in all technical solutions
  • Ensure a culture of continuous improvement through code reviews, technical discussions, and retrospectives
  • Promote cross-team collaboration and communication to align engineering efforts with business priorities
  • Partner with recruiting to attract, hire, and onboard engineering talent


What We're Looking For

We look for Zeebs who take ownership of their work, communicate with clarity and empathy, and are eager to learn and grow together. Some requirements to be successful as an engineering manager include:
  • 6+ years of software engineering experience with at least 2+ years in an engineering management role
  • Strong background in one or more programming languages, ideally including Python and/or JavaScript
  • Fluency with agentic software development, including demonstrated knowledge of AI tools and how to use them to drive outcomes
  • Demonstrated success leading engineering teams, managing projects, and driving technical roadmaps
  • Proven ability to develop and mentor engineers, and foster high-performing teams
  • Deep understanding of agile/scrum software development methodologies and best practices
  • Strong collaboration and stakeholder management skills
  • A balance of technical depth and strategic thinking, with a focus on driving business impact
  • Experience working in fintech/insuretech is a plus
What Will Really Impress Us
  • Experience building applications with large language models, training, and fine-tuning.
  • Deep knowledge of fullstack software development, including modern frontend and backend frameworks like React, Django, and FastAPI
  • Experience operating and scaling systems in AWS, Google Cloud, or Microsoft Azure
  • Demonstrated impact as a technical lead with deep system context and architectural influence
Benefits & Perks
  • Competitive compensation & stock option offering
  • Health, dental, vision & disability coverage
  • Sabbatical program for tenured employees
  • HSA with employer contribution
  • Fertility support through Carrot
  • $100 monthly wellness perk
  • $300 pet reimbursement program
  • 401k with match
  • Unlimited PTO + flexibility to enjoy it
  • Paid parental leave program
  • Learning & development opportunities
  • Employee Resource Groups

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