Senior Engineering Manager (f/m/d)

As a Senior Engineering Manager at Contentful, you'll take the lead in hiring, managing, and developing software engineering teams focused on innovative product development. You'll collaborate with Product Management and Design teams to create a strategic roadmap, instilling a culture of high performance and continuous improvement among your staff. Your role will also involve celebrating collaborative, customer-driven product development, mentoring engineers, and ensuring timely delivery of value to customers.

To be successful as a Senior Engineering Manager at Contentful, candidates should possess 5+ years of experience in leading engineering teams, complemented by a solid background in software engineering. An understanding of modern web application technologies, strong project management skills, and experience with early-stage product development are vital. A passion for mentoring and fostering team growth, paired with excellent communication and organizational skills, will set you apart in this dynamic role.

Teams led by the Senior Engineering Manager at Contentful thrive in a culture that values collaboration, inclusivity, and innovation. It's important to establish practices that support high performance while also embracing the diversity of team members’ backgrounds. Your leadership will help cultivate a supportive atmosphere encouraging creativity, experimentation, and continuous learning, allowing team members to grow professionally while delivering meaningful projects.

At Contentful, a Senior Engineering Manager will find numerous growth opportunities. As part of the product development team, you will shape the direction of new products while developing leadership and management skills. The culture encourages continuous improvement, so you can expect substantial professional development through mentorship, training, and participating in educational events—allowing you to grow along with the company.

Contentful offers a suite of benefits to its Senior Engineering Managers, including stock options to share in the company’s success, generous paid time off, and an annual education budget for personal growth. Additionally, you will enjoy a wellbeing stipend, communication and internet reimbursements, and support for family planning. The company is committed to providing a healthy work-life balance and fostering an inclusive work environment.

When asked about your management style, it's crucial to illustrate how you empower team members through a supportive leadership approach. Discuss strategies you use such as fostering open communication, trusting your teams to take ownership of their work, and actively mentoring for growth, which aligns with the culture at Contentful.

In addressing project uncertainties, emphasize your experience in iterative development. Discuss your approach to breaking down projects into manageable parts, embracing agile methods, and maintaining a focus on customer feedback to guide the team in navigating complex situations.

Use this opportunity to highlight your commitment to inclusivity in your hiring practices. Share specific instances where you leveraged diverse experiences and ideas to enhance team dynamics and foster innovation, aligning with Contentful's culture of inclusiveness.

Discuss your personalized approach to mentoring, focusing on understanding team members' strengths and growth aspirations. Share examples of how you've provided constructive feedback, encouragement, and learning opportunities to help engineers advance their careers.

When answering this, discuss your experience with project management methodologies, including agile and scrum techniques. Emphasize the importance of setting clear objectives, maintaining regular communication, and adapting plans based on team input and customer feedback to deliver value on time.

Describe your process for evaluating task priorities based on factors such as project deadlines, customer impact, and team capability. Highlight your commitment to collaboration with your team in making these decisions to ensure their insights shape priorities.

Share specific strategies you have implemented, such as regular team celebrations of achievements, creating a feedback loop, and fostering a sense of ownership in projects. Highlight how these have fostered increased engagement and productivity within teams.

Talk about your involvement in various stages of the product development cycle, from initial ideation to launch. Share examples of how you ensured team alignment with customer needs and maintained flexibility in adapting to changes throughout the cycle.

Explain your recruitment philosophy, focusing on not only technical competence but also cultural fit and potential for growth. Discuss your methods for attracting diverse candidates and building relationships throughout the hiring process.

Highlight your proactive approach to continuous learning through various channels like industry conferences, webinars, networking groups, and online courses. Show how staying informed fosters innovation and informs your team’s direction in their work.