Manager, Software Engineering (Darmstadt)

Job Description:

Here at Rakuten Kobo Inc. we offer a casual working start-up environment and a group of friendly and talented individuals. Our employees rank us highly in terms of commitment to work/life balance. We realize that for our people to be innovative, creative and passionate they need to feel valued and supported. We believe in rewarding all our employees with competitive salaries, performance based annual bonuses, stock options and training opportunities.

If you’re looking for a company that inspires passion, personal, and professional growth – join Kobo and come help us on our mission of making reading lives better.

The Role:

We are seeking a passionate individual to lead talented engineering teams in creating exceptional outcomes for Kobo and our customers. As an experienced Engineering Manager, you’ll have the exciting opportunity to guide a dynamic team responsible for some of the software underlying our market-leading eReader devices. Your leadership will be pivotal in delivering an exceptional product with an engaging experience for our customers. The ideal candidate will be located in either Dublin, Ireland or in Darmstadt, Germany.

In the role of Software Engineering Manager, you’ll be responsible for:

• Leading ~20 engineers and testers in three Agile teams, focused on improving the software underlying Kobo’s eReaders.
• Actively participating in technical delivery activities from system design through to monitoring & incident response, providing technical leadership at every stage
• Providing mentorship and coaching to team members, actively seeking opportunities for their professional development & providing feedback in 1:1s and other settings
• Cultivating a collaborative atmosphere where individuals are encouraged to be their authentic selves and reach their full potential.
• Collaborating with cross-functional peers in Product, Design & Architecture to guide initiatives from conception to production.
• Continuously enhancing and evolving team processes to achieve optimal outcomes.
• Continuously optimizing for a balance between immediate product goals, future technical needs, and current team health.
• Coordinating with other delivery team leaders to ensure seamless cross-team collaboration on larger projects.

Desired Experience

• To be successful in this role, you should have comparable experience or aptitude with the following:
• 5+ years of experience in a leadership role within a Software Engineering team, preferably in a consumer device setting.
• Extensive experience in managing individuals, including providing feedback and conducting performance reviews.
• 5+ years of experience as a Software Engineer, preferably in C++
• Familiar with best practices, common challenges with building and maintaining consumer software products.
• Demonstrated ability to understand, represent, and advocate for technical approaches and team needs in strategic discussions, effectively bridging the gap between engineering and leadership.
• Strong understanding and practical experience with project management.
• Exceptional communication, interpersonal, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to build strong relationships across all organizational levels.

Bonus points

• Familiarity with eReader or consumer electronics device development.
• Experience working with embedded systems, C++, or Linux environments.
• Prior experience with the Qt framework or GUI development.
• Exposure to working with hardware partners or suppliers.

The Perks:

• Flexible hours and remote working environment
• 4 extra long weekends around bank holiday weekends
• Full benefits starting from your first day
• Paid volunteer days, unlimited sick days
• Flexible spending account
• Talent and development training budget
• Free Kobo device + free weekly eBook or audiobook
• Weekly Kobo Tech University sessions
• Maternity/paternity leave top-up

About Rakuten Kobo Inc.
Rakuten Kobo Inc. is the world’s digital bookseller created by and for booklovers. Owned by Tokyo-based Rakuten Group, Inc. and headquartered in Toronto, Rakuten Kobo’s millions of worldwide users can read anytime, anywhere, and on any device. With a mission to make reading lives better for all, Rakuten Kobo connects readers to stories using thoughtful and personalized curation of eBooks and audiobooks, and the best dedicated eReaders and apps for reading. With the singular focus of making reading lives the best they can be, Kobo’s open platform allows people to fit reading into more moments in their busy lives. To learn more about Rakuten Kobo, visit www.kobo.com.

Rakuten Kobo Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. Accessibility accommodations for candidates with disabilities participating in the selection process are available on request. Any information received related to accommodation needs of applicants will be addressed confidentially.  

Rakuten Kobo would like to thank all applicants for their interest in this role however only qualified candidates will be shortlisted.  

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