The Company: Leta
Role Name: Engineering Manager
Location: Nairobi Kenya, Hybrid
Role specifics: Permanent position – subject to probation period
Why LETA?
At Leta, we are building the rails for logistics on the continent, driven by our mission to drive down the cost of logistics with technology. We have operations across 5 African countries, with headquarters in Kenya and offices in Nigeria, powering over 2.5 million deliveries since 2022.
At Leta, we use AI technology to digitize and optimize logistics operations, helping companies deliver goods cheaper and faster. We provide real-time reporting and analytics to continuously improve and optimize logistics for enterprises like Chandaria Industries, KFC and Simbisa Brands (behind Chicken Inn, Pizza Inn, and Galitos).
It’s not just good company, it’s a great team as well. We have a superstar team of smart people who previously worked at Delivery.com, Lori Systems, Deloitte, Kopo Kopo and have come together to solve logistics across Africa. And we’re growing!
Role summary:
The Engineering Manager will be responsible for the design, development and implementation of our engineering strategies and processes. The role will also be responsible for the management and development of Leta’s technology team ensuring that all members meet their objectives and address the team’s concerns.
Daily Responsibilities:
Tech Strategy & Processes
- Future Development Strategy: Design strategies for future development projects based on the company’s overall objectives and resources.
- Innovative Technologies: Implement and continuously seek out new and improved technologies.
- Software Development Oversight: Oversee all software development plans from ideation to execution.
- Best Practices: Demonstrate expertise in best practices, RESTful APIs, unit-testing, and design patterns.
- Data Processing Expertise: Demonstrate expertise in building and running large-scale data processing and analytics systems leveraging the open-source ecosystem across the development stack.
- Infrastructure Management: Ensure all internal systems operate securely and effectively.
- Integration Management: Coordinate with external stakeholders for new integrations and tools.
- System Monitoring: Monitor reliability and performance of all internal systems to suggest improvements.
- Security Compliance: Ensure compliance with security regulations, including aspects of Data Protection for both Leta and Leta’s clients.
- Policy Review: Review and update policies relevant to internal systems, equipment, and people.
Management and Development of Team
- Team Leadership: Oversee front-end and back-end development squads and their projects.
- Project Management: Manage software development projects by setting requirements, goals, and timelines.
- Budget Management: Prepare and manage the engineering department’s budget.
- Hiring and Mentorship: Hire, mentor, and coach engineers, identifying training needs and coordinating their development plans in liaison with the People & Culture team.
- Performance Management: Manage and coordinate all probation reviews and overall performance management of the engineers, including following up on performance improvement plans in liaison with the People & Culture team.
Requirements:
Technical Expertise:
- BSc/MSc in Engineering, Computer Science, or a relevant field with 7+ years of working experience.
- Extensive experience as both an individual contributor engineer and as an engineering manager.
- Experience with cloud technologies and modern human-computer interfaces.
- Hands-on experience in back-end and front-end development.
- Good understanding of agile methodologies.
- Ability to translate user needs into technical requirements.
Leadership and Management:
- Work experience as a head of engineering or in a similar senior-level position at an engineering department.
- Independent, communicative, well-organized, and team-oriented.
- Confident managing teams while setting goals, budgets, and timelines for various projects.
- Experience managing distributed teams in different time zones and geographies is highly preferred.
- Leadership abilities with a strategic mind.
- Excellent project and time management skills.
Entrepreneurial Drive:
- Entrepreneurial spirit and relentless drive to see a job done well.
- Experienced in bringing new products and technologies to the mass market.
- Skilled in designing and building reliable, scalable software.
- Experienced in managing complex tech projects and building products and features from scratch.