Mgr, Software Engineering
Overview
The Engineering Lead provides technical leadership and delivery oversight for a product or platform team within Deckers Digital & Data (Japan). This role combines hands-on engineering leadership with people management responsibilities to deliver secure, scalable, and reliable technology solutions aligned with Deckers standards.
The Engineering Lead is responsible for setting technical direction, driving solution design, and strengthening engineering practices across CI/CD, testing, observability, and operational readiness. Working closely with Business, Program Management, Architecture, Security, and Operations teams, this role ensures predictable delivery and stable production operations across Japan's digital platforms.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Key Responsibilities
- Technical Leadership & Solution Design (30%)
Lead solution design from discovery through delivery for Japan digital initiatives. Translate business requirements into technical solutions, define architecture and integration patterns, and ensure designs meet security, performance, scalability, and maintainability standards.
- Quality & Engineering Practices (25%)
Establish and coach engineering best practices including code quality, CI/CD, testing, code reviews, and observability. Drive shift-left quality initiatives, ensure production readiness, and reduce defects through automation and continuous improvement.
- Delivery & Execution Excellence (20%)
Own technical delivery execution by planning deliverable increments, managing dependencies, and maintaining predictable delivery while balancing technical debt. Collaborate with Business Analysts and Program Managers on planning, tracking, reporting, and release readiness.
- People Leadership & Capability Building (15%)
Lead, coach, and develop engineers through mentoring, feedback, and career development. Support hiring and onboarding activities while building team capabilities in core technologies and delivery practices. Manage external and outsourced resources when applicable.
- Stakeholder & Cross-Functional Collaboration (10%)
Represent Engineering in stakeholder discussions and workshops. Communicate technical concepts clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences while partnering with Product, Operations, Architecture, Security, and shared technology teams.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Qualifications
- Education & Certifications
Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Information Technology, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.
Professional certifications in Cloud, Security, Agile Delivery, or Project/Program Management (e.g., AWS, Azure, Scrum, PMP) are highly desirable.
- Experience
8-10 years of professional software engineering experience, including hands-on delivery of complex, enterprise-scale solutions.
3+ years of experience in an engineering leadership role such as Engineering Lead, Technical Lead, or equivalent, with responsibility for technical direction, engineering quality, and delivery outcomes.
Proven experience leading engineering teams across the full Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC) within Agile environments.
Demonstrated ability to influence architecture decisions, engineering standards, and delivery practices beyond an individual team.
Experience delivering solutions for integration platforms, retail technology, omni-channel environments, or consumer-facing digital platforms.
Experience working within global and multi-region delivery models.
- Technical Skills & Competencies
Strong experience with modern software and application architectures, including APIs, microservices, and cloud-based systems.
Hands-on proficiency in one or more technology stacks relevant to the team, such as Java, .NET, JavaScript, and cloud platforms.
Solid understanding of CI/CD pipelines, software testing strategies, release management, and production operations.
Experience with DevOps, Site Reliability Engineering (SRE), or platform engineering practices.
Strong stakeholder management and communication skills, with the ability to influence both technical and non-technical audiences.
Experience working with Agile methodologies and delivery tools such as Jira and Monday.com.
Fluent English communication skills, both written and verbal.
- Leadership & Personal Attributes
Collaborative and proactive team player with a strong sense of ownership.
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with a structured and detail-oriented approach.
Ability to operate effectively in multicultural and global environments while balancing local business needs.
Resilient, adaptable, and comfortable working in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.
Outcome-oriented with a focus on delivering measurable business value.
Demonstrates a growth mindset and passion for continuous learning and improvement.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Work Environment
Deckers offers a flexible hybrid work environment that supports both collaboration and individual productivity.
Employees are expected to work from the Deckers Japan office at least two days per week in accordance with company policy, with flexibility to work remotely on other days based on business needs.
Occasional domestic and international business travel within APAC and globally may be required.
Office noise levels are generally low to moderate.