Engineering Director

Remote, based in Spain on CET time-zone TROOP is a group meeting planning and travel management platform that helps companies bring teams together for in-person meetings. The experience starts with TROOP's award-winning Intelligent Destination Recommendations, which use advanced algorithms to help meeting planners pinpoint the perfect meeting destination, considering travel time, climate impact, budget, lodging availability, and safety factors for all attendees. Using TROOP, companies have saved millions in travel costs, employee time, and carbon emissions, making it possible for people to meet and build stronger relationships with their colleagues, clients, and partners, even in times of tightening budgets and travel restrictions.Why TROOP?TROOP believes in the power of shared experiences and the unifying impact of in-person meetings. We are on a mission to bring people together by transforming the meeting planning process. At TROOP, we have ambitious goals to be the leading provider of end-to-end meeting planning tools. We started by inventing a completely new way for people to decide where to meet, but for us, the destination is just the beginning. We're developing more innovative solutions that make it easier than ever to organize and host successful group meeting experiences.TROOP's Culture?TROOP is an international, remote-first company. Our colleagues are spread across the globe, with entities in Spain, South Africa, and the United States. Our culture is rooted in an African philosophy called "Ubuntu," which means "I am because we are." It refers to an environment of interdependence through trust. We call ourselves TROOPers, and we are people who seek adventure, challenge the status quo, enjoy innovating, and want to be part of something special. We are doers who roll up our sleeves and get into the details; we own the problem and only stop once it is solved.We're hiring for an Engineering Director - a hands-on leadership role responsible for driving product-market fit and execution through exceptional engineering delivery. Within a critical 0-12 month strategic window, this role will ensure seamless alignment between product and engineering while building the organizational capabilities needed for the next phase of growth. The ideal candidate combines strategic vision with tactical execution, leading by example to establish engineering excellence and enable rapid iteration and scalable product development.What you'll be doing:Scope of Influence:Lead multiple squads to deliver quality software and compelling user experiences on timeDirectly involved in code and technical decision-making, aligning architecture with product strategy, and mentoring Engineering Managers to succeedDelivers technical direction across the engineering organization that impact multiple squadsSets engineering-wide standards and practices that elevate excellence across both Product and EngineeringPeople Leadership:Builds high-performing teams through effective hiring and developmentCreates advancement opportunities for team membersManages engineering managers through 1:1s, career and leadership developmentDevelops leadership capabilities in managers and senior engineersAddresses complex people management challengesBuild hiring strategy and optimize team structuresOrganization & CultureRolling up your sleeves to drive impact, regardless of titleFosters a culture of ownership, quality, excellence and organizational impactInstill a customer-first mindset with a focus on intuitive, high-quality UXChampion end-to-end ownership across technical and product domainsStrategic Product-Engineering AlignmentPartner with Product leadership to translate product vision into technical executionCoordinate engineering efforts across product squads for cohesive deliveryEnsure engineering capacity aligns with product and technology roadmapServe as architectural voice in strategic planningBalance technical debt with product delivery needsSuccess MetricsPredictability product delivery and engineering-product alignmentSystem security, reliability, performance, scalability, monitoring and reporting responsibilitiesTeam satisfaction, retention, and leadership developmentProduct/Technology roadmap execution and cost management/optimizationLead by example and mentor Engineering Managers to develop strong leadership capabilitiesDrive engineering standards and developer experience improvementsRequirementsExhibit clear experience of proven engineering and product operational models that drive high velocity and throughput while delivering increased innovation both on an organizational and individual levelProven track record of success in fast-paced, high-growth environments, such as startups or scale-ups (Series A/B/C stage)Proven experience leading engineering teams to build at scale while delivering compelling applications through naturally thinking user experience firstDeep expertise in modern software architecture, cloud infrastructure, and scalable system designHands-on experience integrating AI/ML technologies, with a strong passion for leveraging data-driven insights to enhance product and user experiencesDemonstrated success in partnering cross-functionally with Product, Design, and GTM teams to deliver impactful software solutionsDemonstrated success in guiding products from concept to market launch (0→1), driving innovation and delivering tangible business impactExperience leading, mentoring, and developing Engineering Managers, fostering high-performing teams and cultivating a strong engineering cultureExcellent communication, influencing, and stakeholder management skills, particularly in remote-first or globally distributed teamsTech-stack: GraphQL Federation and Microservices architecture, Modern Frameworks (Vue.js, Node.js, TypeScript), Cloud Platforms (GCP, Kubernetes, infrastructure as code) and Codegen, Multi Agent Dev Assistance (Cursor, Claude Code, Factory)Leadership:10+ years software engineering, 5+ years engineering leadershipTrack record leading 25+ engineer organizationsExperience managing engineering managersProven product-engineering partnership successBenefits💻 Remote-first within our hubs: TROOP operates remotely with frequent in-person engagements, focusing on scaling within our legal entities in Spain, South Africa and the US.🚀Join the Pioneering Team: As part of the initial team at TROOP, you'll be at the forefront of an extraordinary adventure. Picture yourself shaping the future of a fast-growing technology company where your ideas and contributions truly make a difference.🎨 Discover an Incredible, Supportive Team and Diverse Culture: Prepare to be amazed by the exceptional individuals who form TROOP's team. Collaborate with brilliant, multicultural minds, where diverse backgrounds unite for unparalleled collaboration.📈 Supported by Top Investors: TROOP's remarkable journey is backed by prestigious investors, such as the Madrona Group. Join forces with a company that has garnered the trust and support of the best in the industry. Read more about TROOP's Executive Chairman Steve Singh (Co-founder of Concur).⏰ Paid Time Off: We provide 23 days per year, allowing you ample opportunity to relax, recharge, and have some well-deserved fun.🩺 Comprehensive Health Insurance / Medical Aid Coverage. 💚 Mental Health Budget: Yearly budget assistance for mental health support for all our employees.☀️Unforgettable Adventures: At TROOP, we cherish the bonds we create and the time we spend together. Each year, we embark on an incredible offsite to a surprise location, courtesy of TROOP. You'll have the opportunity to explore new cultures, create lasting memories, and bond with your colleagues in a unique and exciting way