Engineering Manager - Application Platform & Infrastructure

As the Engineering Manager - Application Platform & Infrastructure at Top Hat, your responsibilities will include leading a talented team of engineers, spearheading the modernization of the internal platform, managing development workflows, and fostering a culture of collaboration and continuous improvement. You'll also be involved in coaching team members and enhancing the overall developer experience.

To be considered for the Engineering Manager position at Top Hat, candidates should have at least 7 years of experience in application development and a strong background in backend frameworks and languages, alongside a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science or a related field. Proven leadership and management experience in a collaborative environment are also essential.

Top Hat supports the growth of its Engineering Manager by providing professional learning and development opportunities, a competitive stock options program, and a management team focused on performance and engagement. The culture emphasizes coaching and mentorship, allowing you to foster both personal and professional development.

Candidates for the Engineering Manager - Application Platform & Infrastructure role at Top Hat should possess strong technical skills in modern application frameworks, DevOps practices, and backend development languages like Python or Django. Familiarity with AWS services such as Fargate and Lambda is also beneficial for success in this position.

The team culture at Top Hat is collaborative, innovative, and supportive. As an Engineering Manager, you’ll benefit from an environment that fosters creativity, growth, and open communication, ensuring that your team members feel valued and engaged in their work.

In answering this question, consider sharing specific examples of how you've motivated your team in the past. Discuss techniques such as setting clear goals, providing regular constructive feedback, and encouraging collaboration. Highlight how you foster a positive team culture that values individual growth and empowers engineers to take ownership of their work.

Think of a specific instance where you successfully introduced a new technology. Discuss how you assessed the need for this change, engaged stakeholders, and guided your team through the transition. Emphasize the positive outcomes such as enhanced performance or improved workflows to showcase your leadership.

You can highlight your approach by discussing the importance of emotional intelligence in resolving conflicts. Share techniques such as open communication, understanding differing perspectives, and fostering a safe environment for team members to express concerns, which can lead to constructive discussions and resolutions.

When asked this question, you might want to discuss your use of agile methodologies to prioritize tasks effectively. Mention how you balance immediate business needs with long-term strategic goals and your reliance on feedback from your team to allocate resources efficiently.

In your response, focus on a specific example where you've made a significant impact on the team's development process. Explain the challenges you faced, the strategies you implemented, and the measurable outcomes that demonstrated the improvements, highlighting your leadership and problem-solving skills.

Reflect on qualities like strong technical expertise, effective communication skills, emotional intelligence, and a passion for mentoring. Describe how these attributes enable an Engineering Manager to lead teams effectively, drive innovation, and foster a positive work culture.

Share your strategies for staying up-to-date with industry trends and advancements. This can include engaging in continuous learning through online courses, attending workshops, and participating in community discussions. Express your commitment to professional development as it relates to your role.

In your answer, detail your approach to conducting performance reviews. Emphasize the importance of setting clear expectations, providing continuous feedback throughout the year, and offering constructive, actionable insights during reviews to promote growth and development.

Discuss your familiarity with agile methodologies and how you've implemented them in your past roles. Highlight the benefits you've seen, such as increased collaboration, faster delivery, and improved alignment between engineering and product goals.

In your response, outline the key metrics you consider when evaluating project success, such as meeting deadlines, achieving project goals, team satisfaction, and quality of deliverables. Share an example where you successfully applied these metrics to assess project outcomes effectively.