Software Engineering Manager

About Serko

Serko is a leading NZX50 company based in Auckland, New Zealand, specializing in global business travel and expense solutions. As the 2020 HI-Tech Company of the Year, Serko operates as a SaaS provider with a diverse and close-knit culture where every opinion counts. It has established itself as a dominant player in Australasia and is expanding its footprint in the USA and Europe, revolutionizing business travel experiences.

Role Purpose

The Software Engineering Manager will lead and empower a team of engineers to consistently deliver dependable results while promoting their growth. This role bridges product and business objectives into achievable goals, ensuring effective planning, coordination, and execution both within the team and the broader organization.

Responsibilities

• Accountable for delivery outcomes in your product domain, maintaining clear planning, visibility of progress, risk management, and honoring commitments.
• Lead, mentor, and provide ongoing feedback and career development support to engineers, nurturing engagement and psychological safety.
• Enforce engineering standards, uphold reliability, and maintain quality practices across the team.
• Facilitate disciplined execution through established practices, team rituals, and tooling aligned with Engineering Leadership directions.
• Collaborate closely with other teams and stakeholders to manage dependencies, proactively identify issues, and align decisions with business goals.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives by encouraging experimentation and practical enhancements to team processes and productivity.
• Champion adoption of modern engineering practices, including automation and AI tools where they add distinct value.

Candidate Profile

• Proven leadership experience managing engineering teams within delivery-centric settings, balancing business objectives, individual growth, and team wellbeing.
• Adopts a people-focused leadership style fostering inclusive teams, psychological safety, and employee wellbeing.
• In-depth understanding of agile methodologies, delivery metrics, and iterative team workflow optimization.
• Accountable for delivery commitments by setting and tracking goals, managing risks actively, and communicating progress.
• Ability to grasp business and product contexts to ensure team actions support broader organizational strategies.
• Proficient in utilizing engineering data—such as delivery and reliability metrics—to guide decisions and improvements.
• Strong communication skills enabling effective cross-functional collaboration and stakeholder management.
• Technical familiarity with modern engineering technologies and cloud-native platforms to provide guidance and enforce standards.
• Experienced in supporting teams through dynamic changes, fluctuating priorities, and growth phases with steady leadership.

Benefits

• Competitive remuneration package including salary, Kiwisaver contributions, life insurance, and an employee share incentive scheme.
• Provision of laptops and tools, a modern office environment with recreational amenities, quality coffee, snacks, and a vibrant social culture.
• Flexible working arrangements including remote options and adaptable hours.
• Enhanced leave benefits and opportunities for internal promotion within a global and expanding company.
• Personal growth support through one-on-one sessions and diverse career pathways.
• Access to discounted flu vaccinations and confidential employee assistance programs offering support and counseling.
• A welcoming culture celebrating diversity with many nationalities represented and an emphasis on inclusive team contributions.