Key skills
Software DevelopmentComputer Science FundamentalsDistributed SystemsModular ServicesAPI-first DesignSchema-first DevelopmentOpenAPISwaggerContract TestingInterface-driven DevelopmentRelational DatabasesNoSQL DatabasesMessage QueuesDistributed System Design PatternsSystem DesignSoftware Development Life Cycle (SDLC)Continuous GrowthJavaScriptRubyNoSQLLookerBIReactVueAngularRuby on RailsRailsAWSBigTableSDLCCommunication
About this role
Kin Insurance is a remote-first company that aims to simplify and improve homeowners insurance. They are seeking an Engineering Manager to lead a full-stack team in building distributed, API-first systems on AWS, focusing on scalable architecture and high-performing engineering execution.
Responsibilities:
- Lead and develop a high-performing full-stack engineering team, fostering ownership, accountability, and continuous growth
- Serve as a hands-on player-coach, contributing meaningful production code while setting technical direction
- Drive delivery of roadmap initiatives from concept through production with predictable, high-quality execution
- Champion API-first design and schema-first development practices (OpenAPI/Swagger, contract testing, interface-driven development)
- Guide the decomposition of monolithic systems into modular, distributed services with clear ownership boundaries
- Establish best practices for observability, resilience, and distributed communication (tracing, retries, idempotency, error handling)
- Lead architectural discussions to ensure long-term maintainability, reliability, and performance
- Partner cross-functionally with Product, PMO, and other engineering teams to align technical strategy with business priorities
- Participate in recruiting, interviewing, and hiring to strengthen the engineering organization
Requirements:
- Minimum 8 years of hands-on software development experience with strong computer science fundamentals
- Proven experience managing or leading a team of engineers in a fast-paced environment
- Demonstrated success acting as a player-coach who contributes meaningfully to the codebase
- Experience building distributed systems and decomposing monoliths into modular services
- Hands-on experience with API-first and schema-first workflows (OpenAPI/Swagger, contract testing, interface-driven development)
- Experience with relational and NoSQL databases, message queues/brokers, and distributed system design patterns
- Ability to design systems with clear service ownership, reliability, and modularity
- Excellent command of the full SDLC: analysis, design, development, testing, deployment, and support
- Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to convey complex technical concepts clearly
- Experience with modern JavaScript frameworks (React, Angular, or Vue)
- Familiarity with BI or big-data technologies such as Looker or BigTable
- Experience with Ruby on Rails or similar backend frameworks
- Exposure to regulated industries such as insurance or financial services