At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and mentor engineering teams to deliver high-quality software.
- Company: Zinc, a forward-thinking tech company in London.
- Benefits: Generous holiday, remote work options, and wellness coaching.
- Other info: Enjoy a vibrant culture with team retreats and social events.
- Why this job: Shape the future of data ownership while growing your leadership skills.
- Qualifications: Proven experience managing software engineers in a SaaS environment.
The predicted salary is between 95000 - 95000 £ per year.
We are looking for a people-first Engineering Manager to lead two of our core product engineering squads. Our platform is at a critical inflection point: we are evolving from a fast-growth startup into a mature, scaled engineering organisation. You will lead a group of eight senior and mid-level engineers. This is not a hands‑on coding role; instead, your “code” is the team itself. You will focus on building a high‑trust environment, refining our delivery engine, and ensuring our engineers have the clarity and support they need to ship high‑quality, compliant software.
Key Responsibilities
- People Leadership & Growth
- Coach & Mentor: Manage 1:1s, career progression frameworks, and performance reviews for 8 engineers.
- Hiring & Onboarding: Own the talent pipeline for your squads, ensuring we hire for both high skill and high cultural add.
- Performance Management: Set a high bar for excellence. You’ll celebrate wins and directly address underperformance with clear, actionable feedback.
- Delivery & Process Evolution
- Scaling Maturity: Lead the transition from “scrappy” startup workflows to structured, predictable delivery patterns without introducing unnecessary bureaucracy.
- Operational Excellence: Partner with Product Managers to improve sprint predictability, throughput, and the “Definition of Done.”
- Cross-functional Alignment: Act as the bridge between your squads and the wider business, ensuring stakeholders have visibility into progress and risks.
- Technical Stewardship
- Architecture Review: While you won't be writing PRs, you will facilitate technical discovery and review architectural proposals to ensure they align with our long‑term goals for scalability and security.
- Quality Standards: Foster a culture of “Security by Design,” ensuring our background checking platform maintains the highest standards of data privacy and auditability.
Skills, Knowledge and Expertise
- An Experienced Leader: You have a proven track record of managing 5+ software engineers in a SaaS environment (ideally B2B).
- A “Systems Thinker”: You don’t just fix a bug; you fix the process that allowed the bug to happen. You have experience evolving engineering cultures as they scale.
- Technical Foundation: You have a strong background in modern full-stack development (ideally within the TypeScript/Node/Vue ecosystem) which allows you to challenge technical decisions and mentor senior talent.
- High Integrity: You understand the responsibility of building a platform that handles sensitive PII (Personally Identifiable Information) and value reliability over “moving fast and breaking things.”
- Empathetic but Direct: You care deeply about your team’s well‑being but are comfortable having difficult conversations when necessary.
What we offer
- Zinc offers a chance to work on a product that brings a fresh perspective on data ownership in hiring.
- 24 days holiday + Bank Holidays + your birthday off.
- £1200 annual benefits allowance (ThanksBen, from month 2).
- Early finish Fridays (16:00).
- Yearly company retreat abroad.
- 30 days to Work from anywhere.
- Enhanced Maternity, Paternity, and Adoption Leave (2 months full pay, then statutory).
- Statutory pension with NEST (3% employer, 5% employee).
- Zinc shares, issued through the EMI Scheme.
- Unlimited access to MoreHappi coaching + Spill.
- Company socials, quarterly team socials.
- Free Monday lunches.
- Nursery workplace benefit scheme (Yellownest).
- Option to lease an electric car through Electric Car Scheme.
- Celebrated Zinc anniversaries.
Engineering Manager employer: Zinc Work Limited
Zinc is an exceptional employer that prioritises a people-first approach, fostering a high-trust environment where engineers can thrive. With a strong focus on employee growth, the company offers generous benefits such as 24 days of holiday, early finish Fridays, and a £1200 annual benefits allowance, alongside unique perks like unlimited coaching access and the opportunity to work from anywhere for 30 days. Located in London, Zinc provides a vibrant work culture that celebrates achievements and encourages collaboration, making it an ideal place for those seeking meaningful and rewarding employment.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Engineering Manager
✨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 Zinc Work Limited 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 Zinc Work Limited.
✨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 Zinc Work Limited.
✨Explore Job Boards Specifically for Tech Roles
Keep your eyes peeled on job boards that focus on tech roles. Sites like TechCareers or Stack Overflow Jobs can often have listings for companies like Zinc Work Limited that might not show up on broader job sites. Make it a habit to check these regularly, and don’t hesitate to apply directly through our website!
We think you need these skills to ace Engineering Manager
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 Zinc Work Limited.
Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at Zinc Work Limited 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 Zinc Work Limited
✨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 Zinc Work Limited 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.
