Engineering Manager

As an Engineering Manager at Rootly, your primary responsibilities will include building and leading a high-performing team of engineers, setting and executing the technical vision and roadmap, and mentoring team members to ensure their professional and technical growth. You'll play a vital role in aligning your team's success with the overall goals of the product, ensuring a balance between delivering new features and managing technical debt.

Rootly seeks candidates with at least 5 years of software engineering experience and 2 years in a management role, preferably in a high-growth startup or SaaS environment. Candidates should have a strong understanding of agile methodologies, cloud-based infrastructure, and the ability to make data-driven decisions while adapting to shift in priorities.

The work environment at Rootly is dynamic and fast-paced, reflecting the nature of a startup. Engineers are encouraged to contribute ideas actively, collaborate effectively, and navigate challenges as a cohesive unit. With options for hybrid or remote work, you can enjoy flexibility while still fostering a strong team spirit.

Absolutely! Mentoring is a core aspect of the Engineering Manager position at Rootly. If you have a passion for developing talent, this role allows you to guide engineers in their professional journey, fostering skills and confidence that align with both individual and company goals.

As an Engineering Manager at Rootly, you'll oversee projects that involve enhancing the incident management platform, integrating new features, and ensuring that the technical roadmap is practical and aligned with business objectives. This includes balancing the development of new functionalities with the management of existing technical debts to ensure scalability.

Balancing technical direction with people management requires a clear understanding of both your team members' strengths and the project's technical needs. I approach this by fostering open communication, establishing regular one-on-ones with team members, and keeping myself updated on the technical aspects to make informed decisions while also supporting my team’s growth.

My experience with agile methodologies includes implementing Scrum practices within my team, which has significantly improved our velocity and collaboration. I focus on maintaining sprint ceremonies, encouraging iterative development, and making sure all team members are involved in the planning and review processes to enhance ownership over our work.

I believe mentorship should be personalized and impactful. I employ a combination of regular check-ins, setting clear career goals, and encouraging pair programming. Additionally, I create opportunities for our junior engineers to take on responsibilities gradually so they can gain confidence while being supported.

Handling disagreements involves fostering an environment where open discussion is encouraged. I facilitate conversations to understand different perspectives, aiming for constructive dialogue. Often, I find that bringing the discussion back to our common goals helps in reaching a consensus while valuing each person’s opinion.

During a past project, we faced shifting priorities as new business requirements emerged. I facilitated discussions with stakeholders to clarify expectations, then gathered my team for an agile planning session to prioritize tasks effectively. Our proactive approach allowed us to adapt quickly and meet our deadlines while maintaining quality.

Prioritization is key in roadmap development. I use a combination of stakeholder input, team feedback, and data analysis to weigh the importance of features against technical debt. By considering both short-term impacts and long-term goals, I ensure our roadmap aligns with business objectives while keeping the team motivated.

Effective communication is vital in my approach as an Engineering Manager. I prioritize transparency by sharing updates and facilitating discussions within the team and with other departments. Regular communication builds trust, aligns efforts, and ensures that everyone is on the same page regarding project goals and challenges.

Measuring success involves both qualitative and quantitative metrics. I look at project delivery timelines, code quality, and team engagement scores. Additionally, I collect feedback from team members on their growth and morale, which provides insight into the overall health and performance of the team.

I have extensive experience working with cloud-based infrastructure, specifically using AWS and Azure. I have led teams in deploying scalable applications, optimizing costs, and ensuring high availability. I regularly assess our infrastructure and tools to ensure we stay updated on best practices and emerging technologies.

Mentoring is crucial as it empowers junior engineers to grow their skills and confidence. It also fosters a culture of learning and collaboration within the team. By nurturing talent and providing guidance, we ensure that we not only produce high-quality work but also develop future leaders in engineering.