Manager, Software Engineering

As a Manager of Software Engineering at Sovrn, your key responsibilities include leading the Sovrn Platform team, mentoring a diverse group of engineers, and managing the entire software development lifecycle. You'll be involved in developing and executing the product roadmap, clarifying project deliverables, as well as breaking down full project plans into incremental deliveries. Supporting engineering teams and driving standards for code quality is also crucial in this pivotal role.

To apply for the Manager of Software Engineering role at Sovrn, candidates should have at least 5 years of software engineering experience, with a minimum of 2 years in a leadership position. You’ll need proven skills in managing cross-functional teams, developing web applications, and understanding agile methodologies. Strong communication skills and a passion for mentoring are also essential to guide your team effectively.

The work environment at Sovrn is collaborative and innovative, designed to empower you as a Manager of Software Engineering. With hybrid work options, you’ll have the flexibility to balance in-office collaboration in Boulder with remote work. The culture values accountability, continuous learning, and technical excellence, making it an exciting place to foster growth for both yourself and your team.

At Sovrn, the Manager of Software Engineering thrives in an Agile environment, utilizing methodologies such as Scrum to facilitate quick turnaround and adaptability. You will be responsible for ensuring that the engineering team adheres to these practices, promoting high quality deliverables, and enhancing the team's overall efficiency in meeting project milestones.

As Manager of Software Engineering at Sovrn, you’ll find ample opportunities for career growth. With a focus on technical excellence and innovation, you’re encouraged to explore new technologies and drive improvements within your team. Additionally, you’ll be well-positioned to develop leadership skills and potentially advance to higher managerial or strategic roles within the company as it continues to grow.

In answering this question, focus on your collaborative approach, emphasizing your ability to foster a supportive team environment and mentor engineers. Discuss specific strategies you use to empower team members and how you approach conflict resolution to maintain morale.

Explain how you use regular check-ins and collaborative meetings to maintain alignment between teams. Share your experience working closely with product management to translate business requirements into technical deliverables while keeping the teams aligned on goals and timelines.

Detail your approach to breaking down projects into manageable tasks, and how you track progress using engineering metrics. Emphasize your use of tools like JIRA or Trello, and how clear communication helps keep timelines on track.

Share a specific example showcasing your problem-solving skills, where you identified the issue, collaborated with your team to brainstorm solutions, and ultimately implemented a fix. This illustrates your technical capabilities and leadership in challenging situations.

Discuss your efforts to encourage experimentation and risk-taking by creating a safe environment for sharing new ideas. Highlight any initiatives you've implemented to promote continuous learning, such as hackathons, coding challenges, or knowledge-sharing sessions.

Mention key performance indicators (KPIs) you consider important, such as team velocity, software quality, and development cycle time. Explain how you utilize these metrics to inform decision-making and guide improvements in both processes and team morale.

Describe your systematic approach to prioritization, often aligning tasks with business objectives or customer needs. Illustrate how you involve your team in the prioritization process to ensure buy-in and clarity on what is most critical.

Share your experience in the hiring process, including how you evaluate candidates' skills and cultural fit. Discuss your mentoring strategy for new hires and ongoing development to enhance their skills and career growth.

Illustrate your conflict resolution skills by sharing a structured approach you take to mediate disagreements. Emphasize active listening to understand both sides, facilitating open communication, and working towards a constructive resolution.

Discuss your proactive approach to professional development, including attending conferences, following industry leaders, and encouraging your team to share insights from relevant articles and resources. This illustrates your commitment to innovation and continuous learning.