ENGINEERING MANAGER - Engineering at Happiest… · Bengaluru

Job Title: Engineering Manager

Work Location: Bangalore

Experience: 14 to 20 Years

The Software Engineering Manager (SEM) is a leader who focuses on the growth, well-being, and performance of people while ensuring reliable, predictable delivery of high-quality software.
This role combines people management, delivery leadership, competence leadership, and technical leadership, and typically operates across one or two engineering teams in an Engineering Team Lead (ETL - aka Scrum Master) capacity.
The SEM aligns engineering execution with business objectives and customer needs, fosters a culture of continuous improvement and learning, and acts as a trusted partner to Product, Technology, and Senior stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities

People Management

• The Software Engineering Manager is accountable for building, developing, and sustaining high-performing engineering teams.
• Apply the client talent framework to identify, recruit, onboard, and retain the right mix of skills, experience, and potential.
• Actively engage and retain team members by fostering psychological safety, inclusion, and trust.
• Organize and contribute to onboarding and continuous training of new and existing team members.
• Support career growth by aligning challenging, impactful work with individual strengths, skills, and interests.
• Set clear objectives and expectations; address performance issues constructively with appropriate support.
• Provide continuous, real-time (360 degree) feedback, coaching, and mentoring to drive high performance and development.
• Encourage and support readiness for next-level roles by facilitating stretch assignments and growth opportunities.
• Champion team members across the organization, advocating for their success and visibility with (senior) leadership.

Delivery Management (Engineering Team Lead Scope)

• In the ETL role, the SEM ensures transparent planning and predictable delivery while continuously improving team processes.
• Work closely with the team leadership triangle (Product Owner, Tech Lead, and ETL) to define objectives, plans, and priorities.
• Guide discovery, quarterly planning, and execution by aligning scope with team capacity and business priorities.
• Ensure a healthy, well-groomed backlog with clear Definition of Ready (DoR) and Definition of Done (DoD).
• Proactively identify, manage, and communicate risks, dependencies, and impediments.
• Prepare and lead delivery syncs, clearly highlighting progress, deviations, and proposed adjustments.
• Organize regular demos and updates to ensure stakeholder alignment and transparency.
• Optimize team processes (e.g. Scrum, quarterly cycles) to improve predictability, quality, and sustainability of delivery.
• Promote continuous improvement, efficiency, and waste reduction across delivery workflows.

Competence Leadership
The SEM contributes to the development and consistent application of engineering disciplines and standards.

• Ensure engineering practices, processes, and deliverables meet quality, security, and compliance requirements.
• Promote shared standards, tools, and best practices within and across teams.
• Foster a learning culture that encourages experimentation, reflection, and continuous improvement.
• Support competence development through coaching, feedback, and targeted learning initiatives.
• Help create and oversee team budgets, engaging in responsible cost management.
• Advocate for the resources, tooling, and capabilities teams need to succeed.

Technical Leadership
While not the primary technical decision-maker, the SEM provides technical leadership in close collaboration with Tech Leads.

• Partner with Tech Leads to onboard and mentor engineers and support technical growth.
• Help troubleshoot complex delivery or technical challenges when escalation or coordination is required.

Qualifications

• Bachelors degree in Computer Science or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.
• 14 to 20 years of experience managing software engineering teams in a SaaS or technology-driven environment.
• Proven experience in people management, career development, and performance coaching.
• Strong background in delivery management within agile, cross-functional, and potentially distributed teams.
• Solid understanding of the software development lifecycle (SDLC) and modern engineering practices.
• Excellent communication, stakeholder management, and organizational skills.