Engineering Manager

Team: Engineering

Location: Austin, Texas

Commitment: Full Time

Workplace Type: hybrid

What You'll Do

• Lead, coach and grow a high‑performing engineering team of eight, providing regular mentorship, feedback, and career development opportunities
• Plan, manage, and track sprints in JIRA, balancing workload and ensuring commitments are met while adapting to mid‑sprint changes and removing blockers
• Define and monitor engineering metrics; measure project performance using appropriate systems, tools and techniques to improve productivity and quality
• Collaborate with product management to understand customer needs, participate in Agile planning, and shape the product roadmap and strategy
• Work cross‑functionally with design, sales, marketing and operations to ensure alignment on vision and deliver products that meet market needs
• Drive the safe adoption of AI in our products by incorporating ethical guidelines, prioritizing transparency and explainability, and evaluating systems to prevent bias
• Facilitate daily Scrum and other rituals; encourage self‑organizing teams and continuous improvement practices
• Identify and address planning gaps, quality issues, and resource constraints; continuously refine processes and champion modern development practices

What We're Looking For

• Technical skills & experience
• Proven experience managing and mentoring software engineering teams (ideally 6–10 engineers) and driving productivity improvements 
• Deep understanding of Agile/Scrum methodology; able to facilitate sprint planning, daily stand‑ups and retrospectives, and manage work in JIRA
• Strong analytical skills with expertise in measuring project performance, defining metrics, and using tools to track progress and quality
• Hands‑on technical background in software engineering, architecture, and cloud technologies, with ability to guide technical design and ensure high‑quality code
• Experience working closely with product management to translate customer needs into technical roadmaps and deliverables
• Knowledge of AI/ML principles and ethical considerations; experience incorporating AI features responsibly into products


• Soft skills
• Servant‑leader mindset with strong coaching and mentoring skills; ability to inspire, motivate and develop tenured engineers
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills; adept at bridging engineering, product, sales and other teams to achieve shared outcomes
• Ability to manage competing priorities, balance workload, and adapt to changing requirements while maintaining focus on long‑term goals
• Strategic thinker with curiosity about the product and market, capable of aligning engineering efforts with customer needs and business objectives
• Commitment to ethical and responsible use of AI and technology; advocates for transparency, fairness and ongoing learning
• Empathy and openness to feedback, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and psychological safety

Bonus Experience

• Experience working in early‑stage startups or public‑sector technology companies
• Familiarity with government policy, regulatory environments or civic tech
• Exposure to product design or UX, including running user research and beta programs
• Experience implementing analytics dashboards or developer productivity tools
• Contributions to AI ethics or participation in industry forums on responsible AI

Perks And Benefits

• Being a part of an innovative and collaborative team that will both support and challenge you
• Significant opportunity for growth and ownership and to shape Esper for the long-term
• Competitive salary and equity at a growing early-stage company
• Paid holidays & unlimited PTO
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Generous parental & sick leave
• 401(k) retirement plan with employer match
• Short/Long term disability & life insurance
• Flexible spending account (FSA)Work anniversary equity grants
• Monthly stipend to offset remote work expenses
• Office equipment allowance
• Paid Time Off to participate in volunteer/community events