Skills
Engineering management
Team leadership
Java
React
TypeScript
Production software development
Technical architecture
Code reviews
Mentoring
Hiring
Product collaboration
People management
Node.js
Zustand
Tailwind CSS
Express
Kubernetes
Java 17
Java 21
Kotlin
Spring Boot
AWS EKS
Docker
Terraform
Jenkins
Git
PostgreSQL
Redis
Elasticsearch
Redshift
ELK
Grafana
Looker
OpsGenie
Summary
A product-focused Engineering Manager is sought to lead a cross-functional squad responsible for a critical search and discovery experience used by millions of people. You will split your time roughly equally between hands-on engineering and people and delivery leadership, working with frontend and backend engineers, QA, product, and design. The role combines technical architecture, code reviews, roadmap and OKR planning, mentorship, hiring, and cross-team strategy. Strong production experience with Java or React/TypeScript and prior engineering leadership are required. The position is hybrid in Munich, with relocation support available for eligible candidates from other European countries.
Highlights
Leadership role in a high-traffic consumer product used by millions, with meaningful technical ownership, a 50/50 hands-on and people leadership model, relocation support for eligible European candidates, flexible extended remote work, professional development support, travel benefits, and a strong international engineering culture.
Description
Engineering Manager, User-Facing Search Product (React / Java / Kotlin)
Location: Munich, Germany
Working model: hybrid (2 days/week in the office)
For residents of other European countries who are willing to move to Munich, relocation support is provided.
About the company:
Our client is a well-funded, product-led travel tech company operating at significant scale.
Think millions of monthly users, a high-traffic consumer web product, and engineering teams that own their domain end to end.
They have been growing fast and now invest in strengthening the leadership layer across our core product squads.
The opportunity:
They are looking for an Engineering Manager to take ownership of one of their most user-critical product areas: the search and discovery experience.
This is the part of the product where travellers land, browse, and decide, so the stakes are high and the impact is immediate.
You'll run a cross-functional squad of frontend and backend engineers, a QA engineer, and a project manager.
You'll sit at the intersection of product, design, and engineering and you'll work closely with adjacent teams handling ranking algorithms, booking flows, and marketing integrations.
This isn't a purely people-management role.
Expect to spend roughly half your time writing and reviewing code alongside your team.
The stack
Frontend: TypeScript · NodeJS · ReactJS · Zustand · TailwindCSS · Express · KubernetesBackend: Java 17/21 · Kotlin · Spring BootInfra: Microservices on AWS EKS · Docker · Terraform · Jenkins · GitData: PostgreSQL · Redis · Elasticsearch · RedshiftObservability: ELK · Grafana · Looker · OpsGenie
What the role involves
Taking end-to-end ownership of a squad building and maintaining a high-traffic consumer product (up to 1M unique users per day)Splitting your time roughly 50/50 between hands-on engineering and people/delivery leadershipPartnering with Product and Design to shape the team roadmap and set meaningful OKRsRaising the bar on engineering quality: architecture decisions, code reviews, technical standardsGrowing your engineers through structured feedback, mentorship, and a culture where learning is the normContributing to hiring: you'll help build the team, not just manage itCollaborating with staff engineers and other EMs on cross-cutting technical strategy
What they are looking for
A strong engineering foundation (e.g.
you've shipped production backend services and/or frontend applications and can hold your own in technical discussions)Hands-on experience with Java or React/TypeScript in a production environmentPrior experience leading an engineering teamA user-first mindset: you care about how the product feels, not just how it's built
What you get
Technical ownership in a product used by millionsA hybrid setup with flexibility to work remotely for extended periods throughout the yearCompetitive PTO, personal development budget, travel perks, and a strong engineering cultureA team worth leading: smart, international, and genuinely motivated
