At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and scale engineering teams while collaborating on product milestones.
- Company: Join a dynamic Series A backed AI startup shaping the future of technology.
- Benefits: Enjoy hybrid work, competitive salary, and opportunities for growth.
- Why this job: Be a foundational leader in a fast-paced environment with a chance to shape company culture.
- Qualifications: 5+ years in engineering leadership with a strong technical background required.
- Other info: Ideal for those excited about building high-performing teams and nurturing talent.
The predicted salary is between 95000 - 130000 £ per year.
Salary range: 110,000 - 150,000
Location: Hybrid, 3 days a week
Tech stack includes: React, Typescript, Node, AWS
We're looking for the first engineering manager hire, a proven and hands-on technical leader who’s ready to shape the culture, structure, and future of engineering at a Series A backed AI startup. This is not just a managerial role, it’s a foundational leadership position. You’ll work directly with the CTO and VP of Engineering, lead high-caliber teams of engineers, and help scale the engineering organization from the ground up.
You’ll be responsible for:
- Leading and scaling a team of full-stack and platform engineers.
- Collaborating closely with Product and Design to define and deliver key roadmap milestones.
- Maintaining a high technical bar while fostering autonomy, ownership, and growth in your teams.
- Contributing to architectural decisions and occasionally rolling up your sleeves to code or unblock your team.
- Building the engineering hiring pipeline, onboarding, and career frameworks from day one.
What We’re Looking For:
- 5+ years of engineering leadership experience, including managing other managers or tech leads.
- A strong engineering background (ideally full-stack or backend-heavy SaaS), with an ability to earn technical trust.
- Experience in fast-paced startup environments and a willingness to wear multiple hats.
- A track record of building high-performing teams and nurturing talent.
- Someone excited to shape not just the product, but the company.
- Experience managing multiple teams, ideally above 10 heads.
- Bonus: B2B experience
- Experience going through series funding rounds within a startup.
Contact Detail:
Gravitas Recruitment Group (Global) Ltd Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Engineering Manager (London Area)
✨Tip Number 1
Network with current and former employees of StudySmarter on platforms like LinkedIn. Engaging with them can provide you with insights into the company culture and expectations, which can be invaluable during interviews.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare to discuss your leadership style and experiences in detail. Since this role is foundational, showcasing how you've built and scaled teams in previous positions will demonstrate your capability to shape the engineering culture at StudySmarter.
✨Tip Number 3
Familiarise yourself with our tech stack, especially React, Typescript, Node, and AWS. Being able to speak confidently about these technologies and how they relate to your past experiences will help you earn technical trust during discussions.
✨Tip Number 4
Showcase your adaptability and willingness to take on multiple roles in a fast-paced environment. Highlight specific examples from your career where you've successfully navigated challenges in startup settings, as this aligns with what we're looking for.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Engineering Manager (London Area)
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights your engineering leadership experience, particularly in fast-paced startup environments. Emphasise your ability to manage teams and your technical background, especially with the tech stack mentioned (React, Typescript, Node, AWS).
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: In your cover letter, express your excitement about shaping the culture and future of the engineering team. Mention specific examples of how you've built high-performing teams and contributed to architectural decisions in previous roles.
Showcase Relevant Experience: When detailing your work history, focus on your experience managing multiple teams and nurturing talent. Highlight any B2B experience or involvement in series funding rounds, as these are considered bonuses for this role.
Prepare for Technical Questions: Be ready to discuss your technical expertise and how you’ve earned trust within your teams. Prepare examples of when you’ve rolled up your sleeves to code or unblock your team, as this hands-on approach is crucial for the role.
How to prepare for a job interview at Gravitas Recruitment Group (Global) Ltd
✨Showcase Your Leadership Experience
Be prepared to discuss your previous leadership roles in detail. Highlight specific examples where you successfully managed teams, especially in fast-paced environments. This will demonstrate your capability to lead and scale teams effectively.
✨Demonstrate Technical Proficiency
Since the role requires a strong engineering background, be ready to talk about your technical skills, particularly in React, Typescript, Node, and AWS. Share experiences where you contributed to architectural decisions or coded alongside your team.
✨Emphasise Cultural Fit
As this is a foundational leadership position, it's crucial to convey how you can shape the culture of the engineering team. Discuss your approach to fostering autonomy, ownership, and growth within your teams, and how you plan to build a positive work environment.
✨Prepare for Strategic Discussions
Expect to engage in conversations about scaling the engineering organisation and collaborating with Product and Design. Be ready to share your vision for building an effective hiring pipeline and onboarding process, as well as how you would contribute to key roadmap milestones.