Engineering Manager

In the role of Engineering Manager at Heard, your primary responsibilities revolve around overseeing technical implementations, maintaining high code quality, and ensuring team performance aligns with organizational goals. You'll be deeply involved in mentoring and coaching team members, conducting performance reviews, and fostering a culture of collaboration and job satisfaction within your team. Additionally, you will take full ownership of system production operations and work closely with Product Managers to ensure project goals are met efficiently.

To qualify as an Engineering Manager at Heard, you should have at least 3 years of experience in an engineering management position and 3-5 years as a software engineer. A strong technical foundation, experience with TypeScript and React, and knowledge of AWS infrastructure are also beneficial. Importantly, having a background in health-tech or fintech, particularly with user-facing products, will enhance your application. We value relationship-building and a product mindset that leads to optimal user experiences.

At Heard, the culture is all about psychological safety, curiosity, and collaboration. As an Engineering Manager, you will lead by example in creating an inclusive and supportive environment, empowering your team to take ownership and engage fully with their work. We foster a culture that values retention and engagement, ensuring everyone aligns their job satisfaction with their broader career aspirations. You'll be part of a mission to build strong relationships and teams while significantly impacting the mental health industry.

The salary for the Engineering Manager role at Heard ranges between $170,000 and $200,000 per year, depending on experience and qualifications. Additionally, we offer a competitive benefits package that includes flexible PTO, medical coverage, retirement support, and wellness stipends, all aimed at enhancing your work-life balance and overall well-being.

As an Engineering Manager at Heard, you’ll have ample opportunities for growth through mentorship, skill development, and leadership experiences. Your role in guiding high-performing teams and collaborating across departments will sharpen your managerial skills and expand your network. We believe in encouraging our team members to be relentlessly curious and provide avenues for professional development that align with their passions and aspirations.

To ensure high code quality, I prioritize thorough code reviews, adopting best practices, and continuous integration practices. I encourage open feedback among the team and foster an environment where developers can openly discuss their challenges, which helps maintain high standards throughout our projects.

I typically use metrics like velocity, sprint burndown, code quality (e.g., through tools like code reviews or automated testing), and user satisfaction ratings to gauge team performance effectively. These metrics help me identify areas for improvement and ensure alignment with project goals.

My mentoring style is hands-on and empathetic, where I prioritize understanding each team member's unique strengths and areas for growth. I believe in tailored mentorship, providing resources and support that align with their career aspirations, while maintaining regular check-ins to track progress.

When conflicts arise, I facilitate open discussions where team members can express their viewpoints. I aim to mediate calmly and collaboratively find solutions that align with our team's objectives. My goal is to foster an atmosphere of respect and understanding, where all voices are heard.

I encountered a situation where our sprint cycle was dragging on due to excessive meetings. To address this, I analyzed the team's workflow, identified bottlenecks, and adjusted our meeting schedule to reduce unnecessary touchpoints while ensuring that critical collaboration occurred. This led to a noticeable decrease in cycle time and increased productivity.

I prioritize clear communication and shared goals with cross-functional teams. Establishing regular alignment meetings and actively involving stakeholders in the development process has been beneficial. I also encourage team-building activities that strengthen relationships and trust among team members, regardless of their departments.

I believe in a structured hiring process that involves collaborating with HR and stakeholders to define the ideal candidate profile. I prioritize a mix of technical assessments and soft skills evaluation to ensure cultural fit. Additionally, ensuring a diverse candidate pool is crucial to building a well-rounded team.

Essential tools I recommend include project management software like Jira for tracking tasks, GitHub for version control, and communication tools such as Slack. Utilizing these effectively ensures that everyone is aligned, and progress can be monitored transparently.

I take a proactive approach to career development by holding regular 1:1 meetings with team members. During these sessions, I help set long-term career goals and provide resources or training opportunities to support their growth. I also encourage participation in workshops or industry conferences.

A product mindset is vital as it fosters empathy for our users and aligns engineering efforts with business objectives. By prioritizing user experience and collaborating closely with product teams, we can ensure that our technical investments effectively meet user needs and drive overall business success.