Engineering Manager, Main Backend Service at WhatNot

San Francisco, California, United States

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$270,000 – $305,000Compensation

Senior (5 to 8 years), Expert & Leadership (9+ years)Experience Level

Full TimeJob Type

UnknownVisa

E-commerce, Live Shopping, MarketplaceIndustries

Requirements

10+ years of experience in platform engineering or infrastructure engineering leadership roles, with at least 5 years of experience managing teams
Experience in building and scaling backend systems, real-time services, and storage infrastructure
Strong experience with software engineering best practices, focusing on maintaining high code quality, reducing technical debt, and improving performance at scale
Proven experience in guiding teams to deliver complex, large-scale systems with an emphasis on reliability and scalability
A focus on developer velocity and ergonomics, improving engineering practices to increase speed and quality of delivery while managing technical debt
Exceptional leadership and communication skills, with the ability to influence and collaborate across multiple teams
Strong technical background, with the ability to make informed decisions on architecture and technology choices
A passion for building and improving technology platforms that scale efficiently
Must live within commuting distance of San Francisco, CA, Los Angeles, CA, New York, NY, or Seattle, WA hubs

Responsibilities

Lead and mentor a team of highly skilled engineers, guiding them through complex technical challenges and helping them achieve personal and professional growth
Develop and implement strategic roadmaps for platform engineering that align with company objectives, ensuring scalability and supporting developer velocity
Focus on ensuring engineers can work effectively and quickly, building within and leveraging our platform services
Collaborate with cross-functional teams to influence product decisions and ensure engineering solutions meet both business and technical needs
Drive best practices in software engineering, with a focus on reducing technical debt, improving code quality, and continuously evolving engineering practices to enable faster delivery
Own the architecture and development of critical infrastructure initiatives, including backend services, real-time systems, and storage infrastructure
Foster a culture of innovation and continuous learning, encouraging experimentation and the adoption of new technologies
Monitor industry trends, ensuring that Whatnot remains at the cutting edge of platform and infrastructure technology
Scale the team through hiring, mentorship, and leadership development initiatives

Skills

Key technologies and capabilities for this role

Platform EngineeringScalabilityLeadershipMentoringRoadmap DevelopmentCross-functional CollaborationSystem ReliabilityDeveloper VelocityInfrastructure

Questions & Answers

Common questions about this position

What is the salary range for the Engineering Manager position?

The salary range is $270K - $305K.

Is this role remote, and what are the location requirements?

The role offers flexibility to work from home or from global office hubs, but team members must live within commuting distance of our San Francisco, CA, Los Angeles, CA, New York, NY, or Seattle, WA hubs. The team is described as a remote co-located team that values in-person time for planning, problem-solving, and connection.

What are the key responsibilities and skills needed for this role?

Key responsibilities include leading and mentoring engineers, developing strategic roadmaps, owning architecture for backend services and infrastructure, and driving best practices in software engineering. Candidates should have experience in platform engineering, scalability, real-time systems, and cross-functional collaboration.

What is the company culture like at Whatnot?

Whatnot fosters a culture of innovation, continuous learning, experimentation, and adoption of new technologies, while being inspired by innovation and anchored in values. They emphasize community, bold problem-solving, and bringing people together through commerce.

What makes a strong candidate for this Engineering Manager role?

Strong candidates embody Whatnot's cultural principles, have experience leading platform engineering teams, scaling infrastructure, and mentoring engineers, and can drive strategic roadmaps while collaborating cross-functionally.

WhatNot

Online marketplace for authentic collectibles

About WhatNot

Whatnot.com operates as an online marketplace dedicated to collectibles, particularly focusing on items like Funkos and FiGPiNs. The platform ensures that every collectible listed is 100% authentic through a rigorous verification process that includes hand authentication, providing trust and security for both buyers and sellers. It caters to collectors and enthusiasts who seek a reliable space to buy and sell rare and exclusive items from popular franchises such as Marvel Comics and Star Wars. Whatnot.com distinguishes itself from competitors by charging low fees on sales and offering seller protection, which guarantees prompt and secure payments. The company's goal is to create a trusted environment for the growing community of collectible enthusiasts, facilitating safe and easy transactions for unique items.

Marina del Rey, CaliforniaHeadquarters

2019Year Founded

$728.7MTotal Funding

SERIES_ECompany Stage

Consumer Software, Consumer GoodsIndustries

501-1,000Employees

Benefits

Competitive base salary and stock options

Unlimited Vacation Policy and No Meeting Holidays

Health Insurance options including Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Short term disability & Long term Disability

Work From Home Support

Up to $500 monthly to spend within Whatnot App

Care benefits

Risks

Increased competition from TikTok Shop may impact Whatnot's market share.

The collectibles market's volatility could affect Whatnot's sales and inventory.

Expansion into new categories may dilute Whatnot's specialized brand identity.

Differentiation

Whatnot offers a unique marketplace for 100% authenticated collectible items.

The platform integrates live shopping with entertainment, enhancing user engagement.

Whatnot's partnerships with major franchises like Marvel boost its market appeal.

Upsides

Whatnot's $265M funding round supports expansion and new product categories.

The platform's collaboration with PSA enhances trust through integrated authentication services.

Rising interest in live shopping among younger demographics drives Whatnot's growth.

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