Engineering Manager (Software Engineering)

Requirements

• Proven experience in an engineering management or team lead role, managing software engineers in a cross-functional product development setting
• A strong technical background as a software engineer - you have shipped production code and are comfortable contributing hands-on
• Familiarity with several of the technologies in our stack: Go, Python, C++, Rust, TypeScript/Vue, Kubernetes, NATS, gRPC, …
• Experience building, growing, and retaining engineering teams: hiring, onboarding, coaching, and performance management
• Demonstrated ability to foster collaboration and trust within and across teams
• Experience working in agile, cross-functional product teams alongside Product Managers, Designers, and Tech Leads
• Strong communication skills in English, both verbal and written. You can explain complex situations clearly to engineers, leadership, and non-technical stakeholders
• A genuine interest in people and people development - you find satisfaction in helping engineers grow and succeed
• Experience in using AI for engineering
• (Desirable) Experience in the (professional) audio, embedded systems, or IoT industry
• (Desirable) Experience managing distributed or hybrid teams
• (Desirable) Experience scaling an engineering organization and establishing engineering-wide processes and standards

What the job involves

• We are looking for an Engineering Manager who thrives on building high-performing teams, stays connected to the technical craft, takes ownership for both people and outcomes, and helps shape the software development organization as we grow
• The Matrix Array is a new type of sound system built around precise, software-defined control of sound in three dimensions - grounded in physics and implemented through a combination of custom hardware and purpose-built software
• HOLOPLOT deployed Matrix Arrays in various venues, including the world’s most advanced entertainment venue - the Sphere in Las Vegas (currently also the world's largest audio installation in entertainment)
• More recently, the X2 was introduced: a smaller form factor aimed at speech intelligibility applications
• Systems at that scale demand engineering across every layer of the stack
• Each loudspeaker runs distributed DSP processing onboard, coordinated by on-premises Kubernetes clusters that manage hundreds of devices simultaneously, with cloud services handling remote monitoring and configuration on top, all configured by CAD-like planning software on the desktop
• The teams working on this span embedded Linux, Go backend services, Vue/TypeScript web applications, C++/Rust desktop software, and audio plugins across VST, AU, and AAX formats
• You will manage multiple software engineers across all disciplines (backend, frontend, embedded, desktop, test) who are individual contributors or tech leads in mission-driven product development teams. You report to the Head of Software Engineering
• Foster a highly engaged engineering team through regular, thoughtful 1-on-1s, effective retrospectives, and proactive identification and addressing of sources of dissatisfaction
• Be accountable for successfully onboarding new engineers, ensuring new engineers become productive and integrated quickly
• Actively develop engineers through coaching, feedback, and targeted growth opportunities aligned with both individual aspirations and company needs
• Set clear performance expectations and hold a high bar - delivering regular, direct feedback - both praise and course corrections
• When the need arises: together with Tech Leads, identify hiring needs and drive the recruiting process
• Partner closely with Product to maintain alignment and momentum around established goals and priorities
• Be an enabler for the product teams you support: remove technical obstacles, assist with technical decisions, and maintain high team health
• Together with Tech Leads and the Head of Software Engineering, drive a culture of technical excellence and establish best practices across the organization
• Ensure sustainable high team performance by balancing ambitious goals, quality, and team health over time
• Identify and lead improvement initiatives - both within individual teams and across the software development organization
• Spend 20-30% of your time contributing hands-on as a developer within one of the cross-functional teams. Team assignment may rotate
• Maintain a holistic understanding of the full product and technology landscape at HOLOPLOT - from how a system is configured to how audio reaches the audience - so you can connect the dots and keep development on track
• Set up and guide smaller workgroups for cross-stack tasks, and connect the right people to tackle them efficiently
• Shape a productive work environment by championing collaboration, learning, and continuous improvement within the broader software development organization
• Lead by example with a pragmatic, hands-on, can-do mindset, never shying away from getting your hands dirty
• Create an environment where engineers can do their best work, even under pressure - calm, focused, and intentional
• Inspire trust, ownership, and accountability across teams
• Be proactive and motivate the people around you to take strong action. But also be calm and conscious