Engineering Manager - Subscriptions Team (Payments) in London

Engineering Manager - Subscriptions Team (Payments) in London

London Full-Time 70000 - 90000 £ / year (est.) Home office (partial)
SoundCloud

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead the Subscriptions Team to build and maintain payment systems for millions of users.
  • Company: Join SoundCloud, a creator-first platform revolutionising music sharing since 2007.
  • Benefits: Enjoy flexible work culture, generous PTO, and professional development opportunities.
  • Other info: Diversity and inclusion are at our core; join a community that values every voice.
  • Why this job: Shape the future of subscriptions while working with cutting-edge technology in a vibrant environment.
  • Qualifications: 2+ years in engineering management and 5+ years as a software developer.

The predicted salary is between 70000 - 90000 £ per year.

Sound Cloud empowers artists, tastemakers and fans to connect and share through music.

Founded in 2007, Sound Cloud is a creator-first platform helping artists build and grow their careers by providing them with the most advanced tools, services, and resources.

With over 4x the music catalog of every other major streaming platform, spanning 40+ million artists across 190+ countries, Sound Cloud is where emerging artists find their sound, hidden gems are discovered, and music culture is shaped in real time.

We are looking for an Engineering Manager to join our Subscriptions Team within the Payments domain.

Our team is responsible for building and maintaining the systems that power subscriptions and purchases across i OS, Android, and web platforms.

From integrating with external vendors to building a seamless and secure checkout experience, we enable millions of users to access and enjoy premium features on Sound Cloud.

This is a hybrid leadership role with a strong hands-on component.

You will contribute directly to the codebase while leading a team of engineers, shaping technical direction, and ensuring high-quality delivery.

You’ll play a key role in evolving our subscription platform, improving reliability, and driving new payment initiatives.

Key Responsibilities

  • Own backend systems responsible for subscription purchases and life-cycle.
  • Contribute hands-on to production systems, setting a high bar for code quality, testing, and observability.
  • Lead the team in building scalable, maintainable, and performant services across the payments stack.
  • Drive architecture decisions and ensure alignment with broader system design and engineering standards.
  • Balance feature development with technical debt and long-term system sustainability.
  • Support team members through mentorship, career development, and effective performance management.

Background & Experience

  • 2+ years of engineering management experience.
  • 5+ years of experience as a software developer - you're comfortable writing code, discussing trade-offs, and participating in system design.
  • Proven ability to operate as a hands-on technical leader while managing a team.
  • Experience leading delivery, making trade-offs, and driving outcomes in a product-focused environment.
  • Experience managing engineers, including coaching, feedback, and performance development.
  • Effective communication skills across technical and non-technical stakeholders.
  • Experience with subscription, billing, or e-commerce systems.
  • Bonus Points
  • Familiarity with mobile payment ecosystems (Apple App Store, Google Play).
  • Experience with Graph QL APIs and analytics platforms (e. g., Big Query).
  • Background in experimentation, pricing, or monetization systems.
  • Experience in infrastructure, reliability, and large-scale system operations.

If you’re excited about building scalable systems, leading teams, and shaping the future of subscriptions at Sound Cloud, we’d love to hear from you.

About us

  • We are a multinational company with offices in the US (New York and Los Angeles), Germany (Berlin), and the UK (London)
  • We provide a flexible work culture that offers the opportunity to collaborate and connect in person at our offices, as well as accommodate work from home
  • We are deeply committed to ensuring diversity, equity and inclusion at all levels of our organisation and fostering a community where everyone’s voice, perspective and experience is respected and heard.
  • We believe a strong team is made by investing in employees through mentorship, workshops and enrichment opportunities

Benefits

• Not located in Berlin?

No worries, we offer extensive relocation support including allowances, one-way flights, temporary accommodation and, by partnering with Expath, on-the-ground support on arrival

  • Interested in a gym membership, photography course or book? We have a Creativity and Wellness benefit!
  • Employee Equity Plan
  • Generous professional development allowance
  • Flexible vacation and public holiday policy, where you can take up to 35 days of PTO annually
  • We offer free German courses at the beginner, intermediate and advanced levels
  • Various snacks, goodies, and 2 free lunches weekly when at the office
  • Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at Sound Cloud

Sound Cloud is for everyone.

Diversity and open expression are fundamental to our organization; they help us lead what’s next in music by understanding and empowering our creators and fans, no matter their identity.

We acknowledge the challenges in the music industry, and strive to influence an inclusive culture where everyone can contribute respectfully and thrive, especially the historically marginalized communities that many of our creators, fans and Sound Clouders identify with.

We are dedicated to creating an inclusive environment at Sound Cloud for everyone, regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, migration background, national origin, age, disability status, or care-giver status.

At Sound Cloud you can find your community or elevate your allyship by joining a Diversity Resource Group.

Diversity Resource Groups are employee-organized groups focused on supporting and promoting the interests of a particular underrepresented community in order to build a more inclusive culture at Sound Cloud.

Anyone can join, whether you share the identity or strive to be an ally.

Engineering Manager - Subscriptions Team (Payments) in London employer: SoundCloud

At SoundCloud, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer that fosters a collaborative and innovative work culture. Our Media Streaming Team offers unique opportunities for professional growth, allowing you to work with cutting-edge technologies in a dynamic environment that impacts millions of users globally. Join us in shaping the future of music delivery while enjoying a supportive atmosphere that values your contributions and encourages continuous learning.

SoundCloud

Contact Details:

SoundCloud Recruitment Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Engineering Manager - Subscriptions Team (Payments) in London

Join Local Tech Meetups

Get out there and mingle with fellow developers by joining local tech meetups. It’s a fantastic way to meet people who might be working at SoundCloud or know someone who does. Plus, you can pick up some trendy tech skills and trends while you're at it!

Contribute to Open Source Projects

Show off your coding chops by jumping into open-source projects. Not only does this give you practical experience, but it also gets you noticed in the dev community. You'll create a killer portfolio that speaks volumes about your skills to SoundCloud.

Tap into Online Developer Communities

Don’t underestimate the power of online developer communities like GitHub, Stack Overflow, and even Reddit. Participate in discussions, share your projects, and build your visibility. We can often find opportunities through these channels that can lead to a full-time gig at companies like SoundCloud.

Explore Job Boards Specifically for Tech Roles

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We think you need these skills to ace Engineering Manager - Subscriptions Team (Payments) in London

Engineering Management
Software Development
Hands-on Technical Leadership
Code Quality Assurance
System Design
Team Mentorship
Performance Management

Some tips for your application 🫡

Show off your coding skills:When applying for a software engineering role, it's super important to showcase your coding skills. Make sure your CV includes your tech stack, any relevant programming languages you’re comfortable with, and examples of projects you've worked on. If you have a GitHub profile, link it up! We love to see code in action.

Tailor your portfolio:For a full-time role, we’d expect to see some solid examples of your work in your portfolio. Make sure to include at least two or three projects that highlight your problem-solving skills and your ability to work with different technologies. Focus on the projects that are most relevant to the position at SoundCloud.

Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at SoundCloud and how your skills align with the role. Show us your passion for software development. We dig enthusiastic candidates who understand the value of collaboration and continuous learning!

Be clear and concise:When it comes to writing your CV and cover letter, clarity is key. Avoid jargon that could confuse us and stick to simple, direct language. Highlight your achievements with quantifiable results where possible, and keep everything easy to read. A well-organised application goes a long way!

How to prepare for a job interview at SoundCloud

Brush Up on Your Coding Skills

For a full-time software engineering role, it's crucial that we stay sharp with our coding abilities. Expect technical questions that might involve solving problems on the spot or discussing algorithms. Practise on platforms like LeetCode or HackerRank to get comfortable with the types of questions that often come up.

Know Your Tools and Frameworks

Make sure we’re well-acquainted with the tools and technologies listed in the job description. Familiarise ourselves with any specific frameworks or programming languages mentioned. If SoundCloud uses React or Node.js, for instance, be ready to discuss how we’ve used them in previous projects or coursework.

Showcase Your Projects

Bring along a portfolio that highlights our best work. This could be code samples, GitHub repositories, or any side projects we’ve built. Make sure we can talk through our thought process for each project, especially the challenges we faced and how we solved them—this shows our problem-solving skills in action.

Prepare for Behavioural Questions

While technical skills are key, full-time positions also require cultural fit. Be ready to discuss our previous experiences and how we handle teamwork, conflict, and deadlines. Brush up on the STAR method—Situation, Task, Action, Result—to clearly articulate our past experiences when discussing how we've contributed to a team.