Open to the right role
Lead Software Engineer at Zalando. Berlin based.
10 years building software. Previously Shopify. Permanent resident of Germany, no sponsorship needed in the EU.
What I am open to
Full-time
Nothing below Staff on the IC track, and nothing below Engineering Manager on the leadership track.
- Leadership track
- Engineering Manager, Senior Engineering Manager, Head of Engineering
- Individual contributor track
- Staff Engineer, Principal Engineer
- Location
- Berlin, hybrid or remote. Open to temporary relocation.
Part-time contract
The rate depends on the scope. Tell me what the work is and we settle it on a short call.
- Commitment
- 10 to 20 hours a week
- Location
- Fully remote only
- Work
- Architecture, platform, AI integration, technical leadership
Location and relocation
Based in Berlin. Open to temporary relocation for the right role.
- London
- Poland
- Switzerland
- Italy
- Spain
- Paris
- New York
- California
- San Francisco Bay Area
US roles: open to relocation with visa sponsorship. EU and UK: no sponsorship needed for the EU, happy to discuss the UK.
Stack
Strongest in Python and TypeScript, comfortable across the rest. I still write code every week.
What I have actually shipped
- Built the Digital Media AdTech platform at Zalando, shipping to 27 markets, and interviewed for the team's hires.
- Migrated the AdTech provider and cut 32% of the annual cost.
- Raised ad-generation automation from 15% to 90%, around 200,000 euro a year.
- Built a YouTube bulk uploader with Google. 700+ videos a month, 90% less launch time.
- Shipped Shopify Balance and Editions Winter 2023, deploys from 4 to 10+ a week.
- Removed 100 flaky tests and raised backend coverage from 60% to 70%.
- Hired 10+ engineers and ran over 100 technical interviews.
What I am not considering
- 5 days a week in an office. Not under any conditions.
- Individual contributor roles below Staff.
- Leadership roles below Engineering Manager.
- Unpaid take-home assignments.
This list saves us both time. If it rules you out, we would have found out on the call anyway.
Have a role that fits?
Send the level, the location policy and the compensation band. I answer every message that includes those 3.
Before you write
Questions recruiters ask first
What do you do at Zalando?
Lead Software Engineer in Digital Media AdTech: I build the ad automation that ships to 27 markets, and I interview for the engineering roles around it.
I write code every week. Titles differ between companies, so ask for the scope behind one.
Are you open to relocation?
Temporarily, for the right role. Berlin is home. I have said yes to London, Poland, Switzerland, Italy, Spain, Paris, New York and the Bay Area.
Fully remote works too. Five days a week in an office does not, under any conditions.
Do you need visa sponsorship?
Not in the EU. I am a permanent resident of Germany. A US role would need sponsorship and I am open to that. For the UK, happy to discuss what it takes.
Put the location policy in your first message and I can answer in one reply.
What roles are you not considering?
Individual contributor roles below Staff, and leadership roles below Engineering Manager. No unpaid take-home assignments. No fully onsite role at 5 days a week.
The list is public so neither of us spends an email finding out.