Engineering Manager

Overview

Alianza is searching for a Senior Engineering Manager to oversee a team of approximately eight experienced engineers, predominantly located in New Zealand with some members abroad, operating within a global engineering environment. This leadership role focuses primarily on people management, aiming to nurture a competent and driven team. Additionally, you'll provide technical guidance and be responsible for project and product outcomes.

Team Scope

The team supports carrier-grade voice and communication products currently deployed with service providers. Responsibilities range from planned project delivery to ongoing maintenance ensuring product stability, security, and performance. Tasks include addressing complex bug fixes, managing regular software releases, and swiftly resolving critical issues affecting customers. A significant duty involves balancing scheduled assignments with urgent, unforeseen tasks, collaborating closely with Product Management to determine priorities.

Work Environment

This position is entirely remote within New Zealand, with an annual opportunity for the local team to meet in person. Flexible working hours are necessary to maintain collaboration with global teams, which may include some meetings outside traditional business hours. The company embraces extensive use of AI tools in operations, and while prior AI-related experience is not mandatory, openness to utilizing these technologies is essential.

Primary Responsibilities

• Guide, mentor, and support team members through regular one-on-one meetings, providing constructive feedback and promoting professional growth while encouraging autonomy.
• Coordinate project prioritization and delivery cycles, manage dependencies, and maintain transparent communication with stakeholders regarding progress, potential risks, and necessary trade-offs.
• Collaborate with Product Management to oversee the product backlog, appropriately balancing feature development with defect resolution, technical debt, and support tasks.
• Lead resolution efforts for critical customer-impacting support issues by investigating root causes and ensuring prompt implementation of solutions and follow-up actions.
• Steer the technical direction of the team's products by maintaining comprehensive domain knowledge and influencing roadmap planning and technical decisions alongside Product and Engineering leadership.

Qualifications & Experience

• Over six years of experience in software engineering, including more than three years in a managerial role with a successful track record of independent project delivery.
• Possession of a technical degree in Computer Science, STEM, or equivalent practical experience.
• Possesses wide-ranging technical expertise and sound judgment to assist the team with complex challenges, clarify ambiguous issues, and manage high-pressure incident responses effectively.
• Experience balancing planned project initiatives alongside reactive support duties, making informed decisions on resource allocation.
• Excellent communication skills and proven ability to foster strong interdisciplinary relationships, working collaboratively with Product Management and Technical Leads across different time zones.
• Background in telecommunications or similarly complex technical domains, including familiarity with SIP/VoIP protocols and carrier-grade systems, is advantageous but not mandatory.

Additional Information

Applicants who do not meet every criterion but possess enthusiasm for the role are encouraged to apply. The company actively supports diversity and inclusion, recognizing that some underrepresented groups may hesitate to apply unless all qualifications are met.