Senior Engineering Manager

Reinventing Government Interactions for a Sustainable Future

AtSymbium, were on a mission to streamline how citizens interact with local government and cut through the red tape in permitting processes.Imagine a world where homeowners and contractors can effortlessly navigate complex regulations, instantly determine what projects are possible on their property, and secure approvals with the click of a button.Symbium is making that world a reality.By transforming dense rules into user-friendly software, we empower people to get work done without frustration and delay.

Symbiums proprietary computational law (Complaw) technology initially developed at Stanfords AI Lab performs permit compliance checks in real time, enablinginstant permit approvals. Symbium is currently partnered with 60 California cities and growing fast. Our platformaccelerates clean energy adoptionby simplifying approvals for installations of solar panels and EV chargers to heat pumps and beyond. This streamlined process helps communities transition more quickly todecarbonization and energy independence.

The Opportunity

Building an end-to-end, streamlined permitting experience requires translating building codes and local procedural requirements into computable regulations. It also requires establishing API integrations into local government workflow systems to submit permits, track their status, and gather essential property-related information.We are looking for a talented Senior Engineering Manager to help us in this transformative endeavor.If you love the idea of using technology to disrupt the status quo and make a positive impact on society, youll thrive in this role.

What youll do (Responsibilities)Strategic oversight and executive advising

• Report progress to leadershipregularly, providing early recommendations on pivots to mitigate risks and prevent delays.
• Advise the CTOon technical solutions, tools, and languages to support product initiatives and long-term goals, aligning strategies with business objectives and incorporating emerging technologies for scalable growth.
• Analyze and interpret performance metricsto provide actionable insights that guide strategic decisions at the executive level.
• Leveraging a strong hiring networkto build and onboard teams quickly and managing recruitment efforts.

Product development strategy

• Collaboratewith product managers and engineers to design, develop, and release new products and features.
• Identify and address work process challenges, scope and propose solutions, anddevelop strategic frameworks,while contributing to implementation efforts as needed.
• Align engineering effortswith key priorities, KPIs, milestones, and timelines to ensure smooth project execution.
• Communicate effectivelywith team members and stakeholders to ensure alignment and address concerns promptly.
• Reduce operational frictionby managing sprint planning, monitoring deliverables, and proactively resolving bottlenecks while leading retrospectives and performance reviews to promote continuous improvement and learning.
• Leverage innovative AI techniquesto analyze data and develop intelligent products, including the creation and deployment of machine learning and language models to enhance system scalability, effectiveness, and user experience.

Engineering leadership

• Lead and oversee engineers,fostering a culture of growth, constructive feedback, and performance tracking.
• Stay current with industry best practicesin coding, security, and operational excellence.
• Improve engineering practicesthrough continuous enhancements to tools, workflows, and methodologies.
• Design, manage, and continuously optimize AWS architectureto ensure scalability, security, reliability, and cost-effectiveness.
• Providecode reviewswith constructive feedback to uphold high standards for style, quality, and maintainability.
• Document processes and knowledgeto promote seamless collaboration and support onboarding efforts.
• Ensure developer accountabilityof roadmaps, projects, and solutions from start to finish.

Who were looking for (Qualifications)

We are looking for someone who meets the following requirements:

• Engineering Leadership:Over 5 years managing engineering teams of various sizes (ranging from 5 to 30+ members), including successfully scaling teams through different growth phases in startups and leading projects from conception to delivery, while fostering a culture of innovation and efficiency.
• Engineering Excellence:Proficiency in designing and optimizing cloud-based infrastructures (e.g., AWS), with a strong grasp of software best practices, including version control, CI/CD pipelines, and automated testing for high-quality code delivery.
• Technical Proficiency:Demonstrable expertise in backend and frontend development, including API development, JavaScript and related frameworks, and relational and graph databases, focusing on building and scaling applications efficiently.
• Machine Learning Deployment:Proven ability to develop and deploy machine learning models in production environments, collaborating with data scientists and engineers to integrate solutions seamlessly into scalable systems.
• Payment Systems Knowledge:Deep understanding of payment processing, including compliance with industry standards (e.g., PCI-DSS, PSD2) and experience building secure and reliable payment workflows.
• Project Management:Ability to manage multiple development initiatives under tight deadlines while maintaining high standards.
• Problem Solving and Scalability:Exceptional analytical skills with a talent for solving complex scalability challenges and simplifying them for others.
• Collaboration and Communication:Proven ability to work independently and cross-functionally, translating business needs into scalable technical solutions and effectively communicating with non-technical stakeholders.
• Entrepreneurial Spirit:Experience building major product components in previous roles, with a passion for delivering impactful solutions.
• Continuous Learning:Commitment to staying current with emerging technologies and applying a continuous improvement mindset to engineering practices.
• Empathy and Leadership:A team player who supports a collaborative environment, demonstrating empathy toward teammates, customers, and partners.
• High Standards:Sets ambitious goals for themselves and the team, fostering a culture of excellence.

Nice-to-Have Skills (Not required, but let us know if you have them)

• Experience managing multiple engineering teams simultaneously.
• Familiarity with logic programming languages or paradigms (e.g., Prolog).
• A Masters degree or higher in Computer Science or a related field.
• In this role, you will be required to wear many hats, including interacting with solar/electrification companies, communicating with government officials, and being a spokesperson for a company whose current focus is specific to permitting. Having knowledge of government, permitting, and electrification would allow you to contribute more significantly in this dynamic role.

Our Culture & Why Youll Love Symbium

• Mission with Impact:Your work will directlyaccelerate the adoption of clean energyand make government services more accessible. Every feature you build can help someone install solar panels, get an EV charger, or improve their home with less hassle. If youve wanted to do good with your coding skills, this is it.
• High-Ownership Environment:We believe inownership and accountability. On our team, everyone trusts each other to deliver results. Youll have the freedom to innovate, make decisions, and drive projects, with the support of experienced mentors when you need it.
• Tight-Knit & Hands-On:We work side by side every day C-level executives, engineers, and interns alike sharing ideas and tackling problems together. Youll find us walking to the Ferry Building for lunch, debating product decisions, and jumping in wherever needed to keep things moving. Everyone has a voice, and we focus on collaboration and execution over titles and hierarchy.
• Competitive Benefits:We offer a competitive startup package, including:
• Competitive salary.
• Stock optionsin a growing, venture-backed company.
• Attractive 401kand health benefits.
• Working alongside a highly mission-driven, small, supportive team of ambitious, smart creativesin an environment that fosters continuous learning and adaptive problem solving. We turn complex challenges into beautiful, impactful solutions.

How to Apply

If Symbiums mission and team resonate with you, wed love to hear from you!To apply, please send an email to careers@symbium.comwith your resume, LinkedIn information, and a brief note about why youre excited to join Symbium. If you have a portfolio or GitHub, feel free to include that as well.

Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis and be willing to relocate to California prior to the start of employment. Symbium does not provide visa sponsorships at this time.

Symbium is an equal opportunity employer.