Engineering Manager

Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom

Company Overview:

At our core, we are passionate about delivering impactful learning experiences with sustainability focused content. Our team comprises a diverse blend of filmmakers, educators, technologists, and cognitive scientists, united in our mission to revolutionize digital learning. We make it more engaging, effective, and accessible for learners of all ages.

Our cutting-edge digital platform fuels independent learning journeys. We provide inspirational multimedia content centered on sustainability themes. Personalized analytics and rewards systems motivate learners, offering insights to optimize their progress. This powerful combination equips students with the tools to chart their own educational paths while developing vital skills for the future.

Role overview:

Reporting to the company's CEO, the EM is responsible for steering the organization's technical direction and overseeing all information technology and engineering operations. This includes software development, technical platforms and services, support, IT development, and system operations. As part of the leadership team, the EM contributes to defining the company's financial plan and ensuring the necessary technical resources are available to achieve stated outcomes within budgetary constraints.

As a senior management member in this start up the Engineering Manager role plays a critical role in guiding the business's overall strategic direction, emphasizing both strategic and tactical decisions' commercial implications while working close to the code.

Key Responsibilities:

Build and write code using Mongo DB, Next and Node JS, Webflow, Cloud Platforms

Define the technical strategy, identify required technology, processes, and human resources, and communicate it effectively across teams.

Collaborate with the CEO and leadership to develop and refine the product offering.

Manage the engineering team, providing support, guidance, and training to promote a collaborative approach.

Define and communicate technology roadmaps, gaining company-wide buy-in and commitment.

Continuously improve software development processes.

Lead all technical activities, foreseeing and addressing necessary changes as the company grows.

Monitor and ensure compliance with security, data management policies, and regulatory requirements.

Develop efficient communication processes to facilitate collaboration across teams.

Act as an ambassador, raising the company's profile, branding, and credibility with investors, partners, and suppliers.

Collaborate with the CEO and leadership to develop and review the Business Plan, ensuring alignment and validity as the business evolves.

Manage the engineering team's performance through regular reviews, objective-setting, and performance monitoring.

Hire and nurture technical talent aligned with the company's strategic objectives and budgets.

Experience and Qualifications:

The following skills and qualifications will need to be demonstrated by successful candidates for this role:

Ten plus years of experience in a senior software development or technical delivery role, ideally gained in the development of mobile applications.

Recent experience using Mongo DB, Next and Node JS, Webflow, Cloud Platforms and some broader experience on Mobile Apps on iOS and Android using Native.

In-depth knowledge of working with cloud-based infrastructure services (e.g. AWS, Azure, Google Cloud Platform).

Up to date with the latest technology advances and in particular the use of artificial intelligence and large language models.

Experience of leading teams with an Agile development approach (e.g. Scrum) for rapid product design, development and release cycles.

Demonstrable leadership and communication skills to effectively steer the company’s technology strategy and delivery capability, ideally in a start up/ small team of under 10.

Strong decision-making skills to make choices that directly impact the company’s profitability.

An in-depth understanding of a small company’s challenges and objectives to effectively align technical, product and commercial strategies within tight budgetary constraints.

Excellent leadership and organisational skills to successfully coordinate the efforts of the engineering team.

The ability to think strategically, anticipate future developments and provide technical vision to the company.

Excellent time-management skills and the ability to prioritise tasks to cope with the multifaceted and dynamic nature of the role.

Proven ability to define and negotiate commercial contracts with third-party technology companies and other technical service providers.

Experience of establishing and managing effective hybrid delivery teams utilising both in-house development capabilities and third-party suppliers.

An understanding of the challenges involved in developing large scale systems in some of the following areas would also be advantageous:

Scalable mobile and web application architectures

Video and audio streaming

Computer based education and learning management systems

Content management systems

Operational and business support systems (e.g. e-Payments, CRM, help desk, etc.)

Bachelor’s degree level qualification or higher