Manager, Software Engineering

About the role

Figma is on the lookout for its inaugural engineering manager to spearhead the Growth Platform team, with an initial emphasis on enhancing communications infrastructure. This role will involve crafting the technical vision, recruiting the foundational team, and developing product features that enable teams to conduct experiments seamlessly, free from engineering constraints.

Key facts

What you'll do

• Lead the recruitment process for the first engineers on the Growth Platform team, fostering a strong team culture, setting operational standards, and implementing mentorship initiatives.
• Create product features that facilitate personalized messaging, enable self-service publishing, and support integrations across various systems.
• Incorporate AI-driven technologies to ensure brand consistency, automate copy generation, and manage experiment governance, thus enhancing productivity without the need for extensive manual oversight.
• Oversee the technical aspects of system architecture, conduct design reviews, and make informed decisions regarding whether to build or integrate solutions.
• Work closely with marketing, product, and data teams to ensure that growth messaging is consistent and enhances the overall user experience.
• Establish a long-term roadmap for the platform while ensuring that incremental value is delivered with each development sprint.
• Foster collaboration across teams to align engineering efforts with business objectives and user needs.
• Monitor industry trends and emerging technologies to inform strategic decisions and maintain a competitive edge.

Requirements

• A minimum of 3 years of experience in engineering management, particularly in developing and launching application platforms.
• At least 7 years of experience in software engineering, specifically at the product or application level.
• Demonstrated success in driving substantial growth through impactful, small-scale changes and the ability to replicate these successes.
• Experience navigating ambiguous situations while balancing immediate deliverables with a long-term platform vision.
• Proven ability to prioritize tasks based on their potential impact and to think at the platform level to scale solutions effectively.
• Experience collaborating across diverse teams, including design, product, marketing, and data analytics.

Nice to have

• Experience in a product-led growth organization during a period of expansion across multiple products.
• Background in developing platforms that empower non-engineering teams to independently publish content or conduct experiments.
• Familiarity with systems that support personalization, recommendation engines, or machine learning-driven content selection.
• Experience with integrating marketing automation tools, customer data platforms, or developing user attribute services.
• Knowledge of AI applications for quality assurance or content governance at scale.
• Experience with internationalization (i18n) and localization (l10n) frameworks.

Skills & tools

• Proficiency in software development methodologies and best practices.
• Strong understanding of system architecture and design principles.
• Familiarity with AI and machine learning technologies, particularly in relation to content and user experience.
• Experience with various programming languages and frameworks relevant to application development.
• Knowledge of tools and platforms that facilitate cross-functional collaboration and project management.

Practical notes

• Figma offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes equity options, health, dental, and vision insurance, retirement contributions, parental leave, mental health support, and flexible paid time off.
• Additional perks include reimbursements for home internet and cell phone expenses, lifestyle spending accounts, and designated company recharge days.
• Candidates are required to keep their cameras on during video interviews to foster engagement.
• In-person onboarding is mandatory for all new hires to ensure a smooth transition into the company.
• Figma is committed to being an equal opportunity employer and provides reasonable accommodations for applicants with disabilities. Interested candidates can reach out via accommodations-ext@figma.com for assistance.

About the company

Figma is a collaborative design platform used by teams to create, prototype, and ship products. Founded by Dylan Field and Evan Wallace in 2012, Figma pioneered browser-based design tools. Adobe attempted to acquire Figma for $20 billion in 2022 but the deal was terminated in December 2023 due to regulatory concerns.