Engineering Manager, Software Engineering

Engineering Manager

Department: Software Engineering

Employment Type: Permanent - Full Time

Location: London

Description
Zencargo is looking for a dynamic engineering manager to join our software department and run our AI & Automation squad. This squad is responsible for innovating and solving complex business needs, taking heavily manual processes and turning them into smooth, automated solutions that delight both internal and external stakeholders. It is constantly pushing the boundary of what is possible in our current digital landscape.

In this role, you are accountable for leading a small, focused engineering team to consistently deliver high-quality, secure, and valuable software that delivers positive business outcomes. You are a key driver of delivery practices, technical decision making, team health, and team growth. You balance short-term execution with long-term investment in people and systems.

You will work closely with your Product Manager counterpart and collaborate with the Head of Engineering and other EMs to evolve how we build and ship software as we scale.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead a team of 4-6 engineers to consistently deliver secure, reliable, and high-quality software.
• Drive smooth, predictable delivery by managing team processes, surfacing risks, and unblocking issues early.
• Collaborate closely with your Product Manager to plan and deliver a balanced roadmap that includes both product and engineering led initiatives.
• Support engineers in their personal and professional growth through coaching, regular feedback, and development planning.
• Create a psychologically safe and inclusive team environment where team members feel motivated, supported, and set up for success.
• Own, track and report on key delivery, quality, and team health metrics to drive improvement and ensure transparency with stakeholders.
• Manage performance and support retention by ensuring clarity, fairness, and timely feedback.
• Contribute to the evolution of engineering practices, tooling, and culture as we scale.
  
  

Skills, Knowledge and Expertise
Soft Skills

• Clear and adaptive communication: Able to convey ideas, decisions, and context clearly and concisely to different audiences, from engineers to cross-functional partners to senior stakeholders, adapting style and detail as needed.
• Empathetic leadership: Builds trust and connection through active listening, emotional intelligence, and a genuine interest in helping others thrive.
• Collaborative mindset: Works constructively across functions, encourages input from others, and contributes to shared goals without ego.
• Coaching and mentoring: Supports engineers' growth by asking thoughtful questions, offering guidance from experience, and helping them navigate challenges and career development.
• Adaptability: Stays calm and effective in the face of ambiguity or change, and helps others navigate shifting priorities and complexity.
• Inclusive mindset: Actively supports equity and belonging by creating space for diverse perspectives and ensuring fair opportunities for growth.
  
  

Technical/Competency Skills

• Delivery management: Able to run and improve team delivery processes to ensure consistent output and reduced delivery risk.
• Technical judgment: Understands software systems and engineering tradeoffs well enough to facilitate strong technical decisions.
• Data-informed decision-making: Uses delivery metrics, team health data, and KPIs to track performance, identify improvement areas, and support prioritisation and stakeholder communication.
• Performance management: Proactively manages individual performance, sets clear expectations, and supports growth or course correction.
• Engineering process improvement: Identifies bottlenecks and leads iterative improvements in how the team works.
  
  

Team scaling and retention: Builds sustainable team capacity through hiring, onboarding, and talent development.