Sr Manager, Engineering - Reporting & Transparency

As a Sr Manager, Engineering - Reporting & Transparency at OpenGov, your main responsibilities include leading and managing a skilled team of engineers focused on developing multi-tenant SaaS solutions. You'll supervise the design, development, testing, and deployment of cloud-native solutions while ensuring best practices in coding and architecture. You are expected to foster a culture of innovation and continuous improvement, guiding your team toward technical excellence. Additionally, you will maintain clear communication with product managers and designers to align technical capabilities with business objectives, ensuring successful feature delivery.

To succeed in the Sr Manager, Engineering - Reporting & Transparency role at OpenGov, candidates should have at least 3 years of experience in technical leadership and people management, alongside over 5 years of hands-on software development experience in modern languages such as Java, .NET, or JavaScript. Proficiency in React and AWS cloud services is essential, along with a strong understanding of API design and multi-tenant architecture. Effective communication skills and a track record in coaching engineers will also be vital in this role.

At OpenGov, we prioritize operational excellence through the definition and maintenance of Service Level Agreements (SLAs) and reliability metrics for the services under the Reporting & Transparency team. This includes implementing processes for continuous improvement and transforming reactive measures into proactive systems that enhance operational efficiency. By focusing on ensuring high-quality code, performance, and reliability standards, the team is dedicated to delivering superior cloud-native applications.

Career development for a Sr Manager, Engineering - Reporting & Transparency at OpenGov is geared towards fostering growth and professional learning. As a leader, you’ll have the opportunity to provide mentorship and coaching to your team, helping them achieve their personal and professional goals. OpenGov is committed to recognizing excellent performance, and the collaborative culture allows for open discussions on ideas and innovations, which can lead to further career advancements within the company.

OpenGov's work environment stands out for its fast-paced, result-oriented atmosphere where impact matters more than just hours clocked. The team is passionate about innovation, and you’ll be among like-minded individuals driven by a mission that directly affects local and state governments. The company prides itself on a performance-based culture that encourages team members to take initiative and contribute ideas, along with offering flexible work arrangements and collaborative spaces that enhance creativity.

My leadership style is centered on cultivating an inclusive and collaborative environment. I believe in empowering my team by fostering a culture that encourages innovation and continuous learning. Effective communication is key, so I focus on maintaining transparency regarding project statuses while also being available for support and feedback. I aim to inspire my engineers to take ownership of their work and develop professionally.

I have extensive experience in designing and implementing multi-tenant SaaS solutions, particularly utilizing AWS cloud architecture. I focus on creating scalable applications that serve various clients while ensuring data security and performance consistency. My approach generally involves breaking down complex projects into manageable components for iterative development, along with rigorous testing to meet quality standards.

Certainly! One significant challenge was managing differing skill levels across the team when implementing a new technology stack. To overcome this, I organized training sessions tailored to varying levels of expertise, which promoted peer learning and fostered collaboration. I encouraged team members to share their insights and experiences, which helped bridge gap in knowledge and enhanced team cohesiveness.

To ensure adherence to best coding practices, I emphasize the importance of code reviews and pair programming sessions within the team. Regular code quality assessments and using CI/CD tools also help maintain high standards. Moreover, I actively promote coding standards documentation and encourage team members to participate in knowledge-sharing sessions to keep updated on best practices.

Aligning technical capabilities with business goals begins with regular communication with product managers and key stakeholders. I encourage collaboration between technical teams and product owners to ensure project specifications meet business needs. Additionally, I focus on creating a shared understanding of the product vision, enabling my team to prioritize their work effectively and foster a mission-driven mindset.

Key metrics I track include service uptime, response times, and error rates in our applications. Additionally, I assess user satisfaction and feedback as part of our reliability metrics, which helps identify areas for improvement. Monitoring these metrics allows me to gauge our team's performance, listen to user needs, and implement continuous improvements effectively.

In a past project, we faced ambiguity regarding client requirements for a new module. I organized workshops with stakeholders to uncover their needs and expectations, which clarified our direction. By fostering an open dialogue, we established a clear project scope and timeline, turning potential confusion into a strong foundation for success.

Mentoring junior engineers involves understanding their unique needs and goals. I prioritize regular one-on-one meetings to discuss their career aspirations and provide personalized guidance. Additionally, encouraging them to take on challenging projects while offering regular feedback fosters their growth and confidence, ensuring they feel supported on their journey to becoming high-performing engineers.

Feedback is a cornerstone of my management approach. I believe in creating a culture where constructive feedback is routinely exchanged, helping team members improve and grow. I encourage open discussions during retrospectives and one-on-one meetings which allows for a constructive dialogue and helps everyone understand how they can contribute better to the team.

To promote innovation, I have initiated hackathons and innovation challenges where team members work on side projects that interest them. This fosters a creative environment and can lead to valuable insights and advancements for our main objectives. Additionally, I support ongoing education by providing resources for courses and conferences, empowering my team to stay ahead of industry trends.