Senior Lead - Engineering Manager (Maternity Cover - 6 months)

Are you an experienced technical leader passionate about product data, distributed systems, and building high-performing, geographically split engineering teams?

Join the Operations Technology team and lead a diverse group of Backend Engineers across all experience levels in Berlin and London. Operations Technology is the core engine behind On's supply chain infrastructure. You will be instrumental in transforming On's supply chain technology into a strategic competitive advantage by guiding the team's execution and technical strategy.

This role requires a unique balance of people leadership, technical direction, and deep stakeholder partnership to architect and amplify the systems that enable On to create efficient, sustainable, and cutting-edge innovation.

Your Impact: People, Product, and Delivery

Immediate Focus (First 3 Months):

• Build strong relationships with the Engineering Team, Product Management, and key stakeholders.
• Onboard onto current projects, understanding scope, dependencies, and existing delivery timelines.
• Dive into the future strategic vision, asking critical questions and challenging the direction where appropriate.

Strategic Leadership (After 6 Months):

• Align our software to the vision and strategy, shape product direction, suggesting viable alternatives when ideas are technically costly or difficult.
• Continue the culture of technical excellence. Advocate for necessary refactors, observability, and performance improvements.
• Partner with the PM to create detailed tickets/EPICs. Set realistic timelines, proactively flag risks, and ensure predictable, high-quality software delivery.
• Talent Management: Outline career growth for all IC's, showcase achievements from high performers and provide support for underperforming members.

Your Responsibilities

• Drive the team's roadmap execution, ensuring the work directly fulfills the requirements, by closely collaborating with the PM around the projects, progress, blockers, and risks.
• Coach, mentor, and manage a diverse team, providing continuous feedback for high performance and growth.
• Protect the team from unnecessary distractions, allowing engineers to focus on high-impact work.
• Create an environment for the engineers to make technical decisions by themselves by providing them the context and access to decision making tools.
• Raise the bar in hiring and grow a diverse team by collaborating with the recruiting, talent team, business partners and other engineering leaders

Who You Are

• 3+ years of experience leading, coaching, and managing split or distributed engineering teams.
• Strong background in backend development and modern data architecture (event-driven systems, microservices, GraphQL) to effectively guide technical strategy.
• Exceptional communicator, adept at providing constructive feedback and translating technical strategy to non-technical executives.
• Ability to see the long-term product data landscape and balance strategic initiatives with tactical priorities.
• Committed to fostering a safe, collaborative environment where engineers own projects and embrace continuous learning.

Bonus Points If You Have:

• Hands-on experience with TypeScript/Node.js, Kafka, and GraphQL in a high-volume production environment.
• A background in retail, or fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) technology.
• Experience or strong interest in incorporating AI systems into the software development lifecycle.

What we offer:

On is a place that is centered around growth and progress. We offer an environment designed to give people the tools to develop holistically - to stay active, to learn, explore and innovate. Our distinctive approach combines a supportive, team-oriented atmosphere, with access to personal self-care for both physical and mental well-being, so each person is led by purpose.

For this role, the typical salary band is 90-100k. Individual compensation packages may vary according to the candidate's performance against pre-determined, role-specific competencies and qualifications.

On is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to creating a work environment that is fair and inclusive, where all decisions related to recruitment, advancement, and retention are free of discrimination.

Ready to make your mark? Apply now!