> Markdown version of [/jobs/ext/1250702-software-engineering-manager-launch-scale-platform](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/jobs/ext/1250702-software-engineering-manager-launch-scale-platform). Every page supports `.md` or `Accept: text/markdown`. Links point to the HTML versions so they work for humans too. Agent guide: [/agents.md](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/agents.md). --- # Software Engineering Manager, Launch & Scale Platform - **Company:** Zipline - **Location:** San Francisco, CA, United States - **Experience:** Experienced - **Salary:** $190,000.0 - $275,000.0 - **Contract:** Permanent contract - **Skills:** Geographic Information Systems, Document Management Systems, Operational Data Store, Software Construction, Software Engineering, Systems Integration, Workflow Management Systems, Backend, Event Driven Architecture, Operational Systems, Restful APIs - **Published:** July 12, 2026 - **Apply:** https://www.careerjet.com/job/usb9a4468310abc23ad0de97dbd07dbe43/eaa ## About the Role * Experience: 6+ years building software products with 2+ years managing engineers (or equivalent leadership experience). Proven ownership of projects that model real-world operational workflows or enterprise systems. * Must-have technical skills: systems design for distributed services, workflow orchestration, event-driven architectures, robust APIs, integrations with ERP/GIS/document systems, and scalable backend services. * Systems thinking: experience modeling long-running workflows, external dependencies (vendors, governments), physical assets, and complex state transitions with clear auditability. * Measurable-outcomes orientation: track record of defining and delivering metrics (e.g., reduced manual steps, shortened time-to-launch, improved predictability) and using them to prioritize roadmaps. * Operating intensity & safety awareness: comfortable owning software that directly impacts field operations and infrastructure deployment; understands failure modes and designs for visibility, mitigation, and recoverability. * Logistics: This role can be based in South San Francisco or remote within the U.S. Regular travel is expected to collaborate closely with stakeholders, understand operational challenges firsthand, and build software grounded in real-world workflows. Travel may include visits to our headquarters, operating sites, and new market launches. For remote team members, expect more frequent travel, typically a few days at a time, potentially a couple of times per month. * Behavioral must-haves: clear technical judgment under ambiguity, decisive prioritization, experience influencing senior stakeholders, and a bias toward durable platform solutions rather than one-off tools. ## Description This is a greenfield product and engineering leadership role. You will establish the product roadmap, technical vision, and engineering foundations for a platform intended to scale Zipline from tens of sites to hundreds or thousands. You will partner closely with Real Estate, Launch Operations, Construction, Hardware, Flight Operations, Commercial, and Manufacturing to replace fragmented manual workflows with a single, auditable, automated operational system that raises launch velocity, predictability, and safety. What You'll Do * Own end-to-end strategy, delivery, and operational reliability for the Launch & Scale Platform (site acquisition pipeline, permitting, infrastructure design, construction execution, deployment tracking, and launch readiness). * Define and prioritize the product and technical roadmap with stakeholders, driving decisions by measurable business impact (launch velocity, mean time-to-launch, deployment predictability, and reduction in manual coordination). * Deliver owner-level outcomes: reduce manual coordination across launch workflows by a measurable percent, improve predictability of launch dates, shorten average site launch timelines, and increase launch execution visibility for cross-functional leaders. * Translate complex, cross-functional operational processes into durable systems: long-running workflows, vendor and government interfaces, asset tracking, document and permit lifecycle, and risk/exceptions handling. * Design and operate production services for business-critical launch systems: set SLOs, incident processes, and on-call expectations; ensure operational data is accurate, auditable, and actionable. * Build integrations across ERP, GIS, document management, permitting systems, construction/project-management tools, asset management, and internal operational systems to create a unified operational source of truth. * Be hands-on: ship code, lead architecture reviews, review critical PRs, and directly troubleshoot production incidents while mentoring engineers and growing the team. * Hire, coach, and scale the engineering organization for this platform; own hiring priorities, org shape, and technical standards as the capability grows. * Operate cross-functionally: work daily with Launch Operations, Construction, Hardware, Real Estate, Flight Ops, and Commercial to drive alignment, remove blockers, and validate outcomes against real-world operational constraints., * Level fit: Engineering Manager with demonstrated ownership of complex backend or full-stack operational platforms and experience leading small engineering teams while remaining technically hands-on. ## Related Videos - [Rest API Antipatterns](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/100208-rest-api-antipatterns) - [Developing the Backend with Stefan Lingler, CTO at Shpock](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/100360-developing-the-backend-with-stefan-lingler-cto-at-shpock) - [AI Agents & Agentic AI](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/2017-ai-agents-agentic-ai) - [Empowering Thousands of Developers: Our Journey to an Internal Developer Platform](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/1519-empowering-thousands-of-developers-our-journey-to-an-internal-developer-platform) - [Nest.js - TypeScript in the backend can also be clean](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/1033-nest-js-typescript-in-the-backend-can-also-be-clean) - [Remote Driving on Plant Grounds with State-of-the-Art Cloud Technologies](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/251-remote-driving-on-plant-grounds-with-state-of-the-art-cloud-technologies) ## Related Articles - [Fully Remote Software Engineer Jobs](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/447-fully-remote-software-engineer-jobs) - [Highest Paying Tech Companies for Developers](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/220-highest-paying-tech-companies-for-developers) - [What is Software Engineering?](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/289-what-is-software-engineering) - [Is Software Engineering Over-Saturated?](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/418-is-software-engineering-over-saturated) - [The 12 Best Jobs for Software Engineers](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/401-the-12-best-jobs-for-software-engineers) - [Where To Find Software Engineering Jobs](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/396-where-to-find-software-engineering-jobs)