Software Engineering Manager II

Department: Tech

Employment Type: Permanent - Full Time

Location: Vancouver

Compensation: $170,000 - $190,000 / year

Description

What You’ll Do

• Adapt & Execute Across Varied Contexts: Lead multiple concurrent micro-squads (1–2 engineers) through rapidly shifting project scopes, team structures, and operational frameworks, applying a pragmatic lens to execution rather than enforcing one-size-fits-all processes.
• Drive Agile Operations: Lead fast, high-quality project cycles from scoping through to production deployment, embracing changing business needs with composure and flexibility.
• Leverage AI Integration: Empower engineers with AI tools like Claude AI to navigate complex codebases via natural language, accelerating onboarding and smooth project rotations.
• Manage Capacity & Trade-offs: Own capacity planning and project sequencing, pragmatically balancing high-ROI initiatives with technical debt reduction and operational stability.
• Interface with Stakeholders: Serve as the key interface for project delivery—leading trade-off conversations with cross-functional stakeholders, managing delivery timelines, and setting realistic expectations.
• Partner on Execution: Partner with Product Managers and Staff Engineers on sprint planning, task creation, and resource allocation without conducting direct code reviews.
• Cross-Domain Guidance: Guide engineers as they traverse front-end, back-end, integrations, data engineering, and AWS cloud infrastructure across different project rotations.
• Maintain Health & Stability: Review operational metrics (incidents, bugs, debt) and ensure squads schedule proactive improvements to continuously reduce operational workload.
• Cultivate Accountable Culture: Model "above the line" behavior across squads, maintaining high standards of fairness, ownership, and clear accountability.

Who You Are

• Process-Agnostic & Pragmatic: You understand that rigid methodologies don't work in a fluid environment. You adapt your approach to match the needs of varying projects, processes, and team dynamics rather than trying to fit teams into a strict playbook.
• Comfortable with Fluidity: You thrive in an environment where engineering resources rotate, project scopes evolve, and micro-squad structures shift regularly.
• Solutions-Oriented: You focus on what works in practice over theoretical perfection, balancing speed, quality, and business value.

• Clear Expectation Setting: Set clear expectations, define squad goals, and hold engineers accountable with fairness and direct support.
• Technical Leader Coaching: Coach senior engineers and technical leaders in effective mentoring, flexible squad rituals, and practical decision-making.
• Continuous Feedback Loop: Actively gather 360-degree stakeholder feedback to guide performance reviews and individual career growth plans.

• Delivery Management: Expert in sprint planning, trade-off discussions, and stakeholder communication in fast-paced environments.
• Cross-Functional Communication: Ability to translate complex technical decisions clearly for non-technical partners.
• Resilience: Highly resilient when managing shifting business priorities and fast delivery cycles.

• Engineering Management: Previous experience directly managing software engineers across various experience levels.
• Multi-Squad Oversight: Proven track record managing capacity and project delivery across multiple concurrent projects or micro-squads.
• Full-Stack Familiarity: Comfortable supporting full-stack engineering environments across frontend, backend, APIs, data pipelines, and AWS cloud infrastructure.
• Modern Engineering Standards: Hands-on familiarity with modern software practices (CI/CD, monitoring, incident response, unit testing).

• Legally able to work in Canada.
• Completion of a criminal background check.

Perks & Benefits

• The salary range is $170,000 to $190,000
• Starting salary is determined by your transferable skills, knowledge, work experience, and the hiring team’s budget, which is based on business needs, market compensation data, and internal equity
• We believe in Winning Together. When Article hits its annual financial goals, eligible employees will receive a cash bonus
• 4% RRSP matched contributions through Wealthsimple 

• 20 days of vacation*
• 1 extra day off (Inclusion and Diversity Day)
• 6 well-being (sick) days 
• Hybrid work: 3 days a week in the office
• Work remotely (anywhere in the world) for up to 3 weeks

• Excellent extended health and dental benefits packages
• $1000 health/lifestyle spending account* for your total physical and mental well-being
• TELUS Health App
  • Mental Health Assistance/Counseling 
  • Virtual medical appointments

• The Article HQ is a converted warehouse, with an open accessible layout and no offices (even for our founders)
• Work from your desk, an Article sofa, collaboration spaces, or a private meeting room
  • Standup desks can be requested too
• Our kitchens are stocked with salty, sweet and healthy snacks, & all the premium coffees and teas to keep you buzzing 
• Onsite fitness equipment with showers and towel service
• Pickleball, badminton, and table tennis matches happen, from very competitive to very casual
• A dog-friendly office - well-socialized pups are welcome

• Free street parking (first come, first serve; no reserved spots for senior leaders)
• Indoor secure bike storage with change rooms and showers
• 20-minute walk to either Main Street- Science World or VCC Clark Skytrain stations 

• 45% discount on our entire product range (15% for friends and family)