Engineering Manager, Search in London

Depop is a peer‑to‑peer circular fashion marketplace where anyone can buy, sell and discover secondhand fashion. Our mission is simple: to make fashion circular by making secondhand as exciting and rewarding as buying new. Founded in 2011, Depop’s diverse community has helped move resale into the mainstream, and today more than 56 million registered users use the platform to find great value, express personal style and extend the life of clothes. We are headquartered in London with offices in New York and are committed to an inclusive environment that reflects the diversity of the communities we serve. Depop is a proud equal‑opportunity employer, providing employment opportunities without regard to age, ethnicity, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy or maternity, marriage, civil partnership or any other protected status.

In 2026 we aim to be a high‑performing, delivery‑focused organisation and the best engineering company for those who value meaningful career growth. We are looking for a UK‑based Engineering Manager to lead our Search Retrieval squad, a key team responsible for improving the relevance of search on Depop. You will build features and experiments on the search engine that improve key purchasing metrics, guide your team while contributing to strategy, and help shape a culture of high performance and high compassion.

Responsibilities

• Deliver Value and Drive Results: Ensure the team delivers high‑quality solutions that meet business needs, focusing on delivery and measurable value.
• Lead and Support Your Team: Manage a cross‑functional team of 3‑6 engineers, keeping them motivated, happy, and set up for success while remaining hands‑on to enable peak performance.
• Foster Growth and Feedback: Own the team’s performance and career growth, providing regular feedback, guidance, and coaching through 1:1s and continuous support.
• Collaborate Across Functions: Partner closely with marketing, analytics, engineering, and product to align goals, set priorities, and ensure smooth cross‑functional collaboration.
• Build an Inclusive Culture: Advocate for health, inclusion, and diversity, nurturing a respectful and empowering environment that encourages continuous learning and improvement.

Qualifications

• A proven track record as an Engineering Manager building high‑performing teams and processes.
• Experience as an individual contributor or leader in the Search domain.
• Worked closely with Machine Learning and Data Science colleagues.
• Worked closely with Design and Product as a Product Engineer or Engineering Manager to build rich user experiences.
• Full‑stack expertise, leveraging technical leadership to uphold high engineering standards across backend and frontend.
• Strong sense of ownership and a track record of delivery.
• Thrives on tackling complex, ambitious problems and delivering high‑quality features.
• Strong decision‑making skills, using data to navigate ambiguity and preference for simplicity and delivery.
• Strong stakeholder management skills, collaborating with cross‑disciplinary teams to achieve excellent results.
• Drives positive team interactions and fosters continuous improvement.
• Embodies Depop DNA: showing up for the community, supporting each other, acting purposefully while considering sustainability and cost.

Bonus points if:

• You are familiar with search engine technology such as OpenSearch, ElasticSearch, or Vespa.
• You are familiar with observability, tracking, and data pipeline tools and methodologies.

Additional Information

• Health & Mental Wellbeing: PMI and cash plan healthcare access with Bupa, subsidised counselling and coaching with Self Space, Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) 24/7 confidential support, Mental Health First Aiders across the business.
• Work/Life Balance: 25 days annual leave, 5‑day carry‑over, up to 2 days additional paid leave per year for volunteering, fully paid 4‑week sabbatical after 5 years of consecutive service.
• Flexible Working: MyMode hybrid‑working model with Flex, Office‑Based, and Remote options (role‑dependent), all offices are dog‑friendly.
• Family Life: 20 weeks paid parental leave for birth parents, 12 weeks for non‑birth parents, IVF leave, shared parental leave, and paid emergency parent/carer leave.
• Learning & Growth: Biannual development chats, yearly performance reviews, learning budget, company‑wide training workshops, materials and resources.
• Financial & Insurance: Life Insurance (3× salary), pension matching up to 6% of full base salary with Aviva. Special milestones celebrated with gifts and rewards.