Engineering Manager - Software Engineering (f/m/d)

The ideal candidate is

We are looking for an Engineering Manager who thrives on building high-performing teams, stays connected to the technical craft, takes ownership for both people and outcomes, and helps shape the software development organization as we grow.

The Matrix Array is a new type of sound system built around precise, software-defined control of sound in three dimensions - grounded in physics and implemented through a combination of custom hardware and purpose-built software. HOLOPLOT deployed Matrix Arrays in various venues, including the world’s most advanced entertainment venue - the Sphere in Las Vegas (currently also the world's largest audio installation in entertainment). More recently, the X2 was introduced: a smaller form factor aimed at speech intelligibility applications.

Systems at that scale demand engineering across every layer of the stack. Each loudspeaker runs distributed DSP processing onboard, coordinated by on-premises Kubernetes clusters that manage hundreds of devices simultaneously, with cloud services handling remote monitoring and configuration on top, all configured by CAD-like planning software on the desktop. The teams working on this span embedded Linux, Go backend services, Vue/TypeScript web applications, C++/Rust desktop software, and audio plugins across VST, AU, and AAX formats.

Your role and responsibilities

You will manage multiple software engineers across all disciplines (backend, frontend, embedded, desktop, test) who are individual contributors or tech leads in mission-driven product development teams. You report to the Head of Software Engineering.

Build and grow the teams

• Foster a highly engaged engineering team through regular, thoughtful 1-on-1s, effective retrospectives, and proactive identification and addressing of sources of dissatisfaction.
• Be accountable for successfully onboarding new engineers, ensuring new engineers become productive and integrated quickly.
• Actively develop engineers through coaching, feedback, and targeted growth opportunities aligned with both individual aspirations and company needs.
• Set clear performance expectations and hold a high bar - delivering regular, direct feedback - both praise and course corrections.
• When the need arises: together with Tech Leads, identify hiring needs and drive the recruiting process.

Drive engineering success

• Partner closely with Product to maintain alignment and momentum around established goals and priorities.
• Be an enabler for the product teams you support: remove technical obstacles, assist with technical decisions, and maintain high team health.
• Together with Tech Leads and the Head of Software Engineering, drive a culture of technical excellence and establish best practices across the organization.
• Ensure sustainable high team performance by balancing ambitious goals,, quality, and team health over time.
• Identify and lead improvement initiatives - both within individual teams and across the software development organization.

Stay connected to the craft

• Spend 20-30% of your time contributing hands-on as a developer within one of the cross-functional teams. Team assignment may rotate.
• Maintain a holistic understanding of the full product and technology landscape at HOLOPLOT - from how a system is configured to how audio reaches the audience - so you can connect the dots and keep development on track.
• Set up and guide smaller workgroups for cross-stack tasks, and connect the right people to tackle them efficiently.

Foster a healthy organization

• Shape a productive work environment by championing collaboration, learning, and continuous improvement within the broader software development organization.
• Lead by example with a pragmatic, hands-on, "can-do" mindset, never shying away from getting your hands dirty.
• Create an environment where engineers can do their best work, even under pressure - calm, focused, and intentional.
• Inspire trust, ownership, and accountability across teams.
• Be proactive and motivate the people around you to take strong action. But also be calm and conscious.

What you need to succeed in this role

• Proven experience in an engineering management or team lead role, managing software engineers in a cross-functional product development setting.
• A strong technical background as a software engineer - you have shipped production code and are comfortable contributing hands-on.
• Familiarity with several of the technologies in our stack: Go, Python, C++, Rust, TypeScript/Vue, Kubernetes, NATS, gRPC, …
• Experience building, growing, and retaining engineering teams: hiring, onboarding, coaching, and performance management.
• Demonstrated ability to foster collaboration and trust within and across teams.
• Experience working in agile, cross-functional product teams alongside Product Managers, Designers, and Tech Leads.
• Strong communication skills in English, both verbal and written. You can explain …