Engineering Manager, Product Engineering

As an Engineering Manager in Product Engineering at Thrive Market, your main responsibilities include leading a team of talented engineers, collaborating across functions to enhance customer experiences, and guiding your team in the development of scalable software solutions. You will also be responsible for owning service-level objectives (SLOs), promoting development best practices, and conducting architectural discussions to optimize our microservices.

To qualify for the Engineering Manager position at Thrive Market, applicants should have over 5 years of experience leading teams and more than 10 years in developing high-traffic consumer sites. Proficiency in AWS services, strong understanding of microservices architecture, and experience in coding with languages like Python or Java are critical. Knowledge of performance monitoring tools and database technologies is also essential.

The culture at Thrive Market, especially within the Product Engineering teams, is collaborative and inclusive. As an Engineering Manager, you’ll be encouraged to nurture your team, promote a growth mindset, and ensure that every team member feels valued. We emphasize continuous learning, innovative thinking, and regularly challenge each other to raise the bar while focusing on a common mission of providing sustainable living solutions.

As an Engineering Manager at Thrive Market, you will engage with a diverse technology stack that includes Python, PHP, Java, AWS, and Golang. Familiarity with RESTful services, microservices architecture, and monitoring tools like New Relic will also be crucial for optimizing our high-performance consumer sites and enhancing customer experiences.

Thrive Market is committed to fostering talent and promoting from within. As an Engineering Manager, you will have numerous opportunities to expand your skill set, lead larger teams, or specialize in innovative technologies, all while contributing to impactful projects. You’ll work closely with C-level executives and influence strategic decisions, paving the way for career advancement within the company.

Success for my engineering team at Thrive Market is defined by our ability to deliver high-quality features that enhance the customer experience while meeting our project deadlines. It's also about fostering a positive team environment where every engineer feels empowered to contribute their ideas and grow professionally.

My approach to mentoring junior engineers is rooted in hands-on support and providing guidance tailored to their individual needs. I believe in fostering a collaborative atmosphere where they feel comfortable asking questions and taking risks while I help them navigate their career paths.

In a previous role, I led a project that faced tight deadlines and significant technical obstacles. I organized daily stand-ups to ensure open communication, re-evaluated project timelines, and delegated tasks based on team strengths. By collaborating closely and maintaining transparency, we successfully met our launch date with a high-quality product.

To ensure code quality, I advocate for practices like test-driven development, regular code reviews, and the use of static analysis tools. Continuous integration pipelines also help identify issues early in the development process, ensuring we maintain high standards while delivering timely features.

When conflicts arise, I prioritize open communication. I encourage team members to express their viewpoints in a constructive manner and facilitate a discussion focused on finding common ground. My goal is to mediate fairly and reinforce a positive team dynamic while ensuring we stay aligned with our objectives.

I have extensive experience with microservices architecture, having led projects where we successfully decomposed monolithic applications into scalable services. This involved evaluating suitable technologies, implementing communication protocols, and monitoring service performance to ensure seamless integration and high availability.

I believe a healthy work-life balance is crucial for sustained productivity and team morale. I actively encourage my team to prioritize their well-being, offering flexible work arrangements and respect for personal time. This balance helps prevent burnout and fosters a more creative and engaged workforce.

When planning a new feature, I consider user needs, business objectives, and technical feasibility. I involve key stakeholders from product management and UX design early in the process to ensure alignment, making use of analytics and user feedback to shape development priorities effectively.

I stay updated with technology trends by regularly attending industry conferences, engaging in online technical communities, and reading relevant publications. Continuous learning is essential in tech, and I encourage my team to explore new tools and methods to enhance our engineering practices.

Diversity and inclusion are central to my management style; I believe they drive innovation and improve team performance. I actively promote diversity in hiring practices and create an inclusive environment where all voices are heard, ensuring we benefit from a wide range of perspectives and experiences.