Engineering Manager, Notifications

About the role

Discord is on the lookout for a skilled technical leader to head the Notifications team within our Growth division. This role involves managing the systems and infrastructure that facilitate communication for millions of active users daily. You will play a pivotal role in shaping the user experience through effective notification strategies and ensuring the reliability of our platform.

Key facts

What you'll do

• Lead a full-stack engineering team dedicated to enhancing the notification platform, which includes orchestration, in-app notification centers, and user preferences.
• Develop and implement a technical roadmap that prioritizes reliability and scalability as the complexity of our systems grows.
• Partner with Product, Design, Data Science, and Marketing teams to effectively execute notification strategies that enhance user experience.
• Analyze metrics and conduct experiments to boost user retention, engagement, and overall trust in the platform.
• Recruit, mentor, and guide engineers, fostering a culture of excellence in development practices.
• Collaborate with internal teams to refine the foundational elements used for communication across the platform.
• Contribute to the broader organizational strategy and long-term planning alongside engineering leadership.
• Drive innovation by encouraging team members to propose and implement new ideas that can improve the notification experience.
• Ensure that the team adheres to best practices in software development, including code reviews and testing protocols.
• Monitor industry trends and emerging technologies to keep the notification systems competitive and effective.
• Facilitate regular team meetings to track progress, address challenges, and celebrate successes.
• Advocate for the needs of the team and represent their interests in discussions with upper management.

Requirements

• A minimum of 5 years of experience as a Software Engineer, particularly focusing on backend or infrastructure systems that operate at scale.
• At least 2 years of experience in an Engineering Management position, demonstrating leadership capabilities.
• Strong proficiency in managing production systems utilizing technologies such as Elixir, Python, Kubernetes, and pubsub/streaming pipelines.
• Experience collaborating with cross-functional teams, including product managers and data scientists, to deliver impactful features.
• A proven track record in developing talent and facilitating career advancement for team members.
• Significant technical involvement in team decision-making processes and system architecture discussions.
• Ability to balance the need for rapid iteration with the delivery of high-quality, reliable software.
• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written, to articulate complex technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders.

Nice to have

• Experience managing shared platform teams or working with internal communication primitives.
• Familiarity with consumer-scale push notifications, including aspects like throttling, deliverability, and policy management.
• Background in full-stack development, providing a well-rounded perspective on system architecture.
• Proven experience in leveraging data-driven experimentation to enhance user retention and engagement metrics.
• Knowledge of the gaming industry and its unique communication needs.
• Active user of Discord, with a solid understanding of its communication features and user experience.

Skills & tools

• Proficient in Elixir
• Experienced in Python
• Knowledgeable in Kubernetes
• Familiar with pubsub/streaming pipelines

Practical notes

• The compensation package includes a competitive base salary, equity options, and a comprehensive benefits plan.
• Discord is committed to fostering an inclusive environment and provides reasonable accommodations during the interview process upon request. This commitment ensures that all candidates have the opportunity to showcase their skills and fit for the role.
• The position is based in the vibrant San Francisco Bay Area, a hub for technology and innovation, offering a dynamic work environment.
• As part of the Growth team, you will be at the forefront of enhancing user engagement and retention through innovative notification strategies.
• Join us in shaping the future of communication on Discord, where your contributions will directly impact millions of users worldwide.

About the company

Discord is used by over 200 million people every month for many different reasons, but there's one thing that nearly everyone does on our platform: play video games. Over 90% of our users play games, spending a combined 1.5 billion hours playing thousands of unique titles on Discord each month.