[Hiring] Engineering Manager @Pliant GmbH

ABOUT US

Pliant is a European fintech specialising in B2B payment solutions. Our modular, API-first platform helps businesses streamline spending, improve cash flow, and integrate payments into their financial workflows. Designed for industries with complex payment needs, such as travel and fleet, Pliant enables greater efficiency, control, and profitability.

We serve two primary customer segments:

• Companies looking to optimise operational processes through intuitive apps and APIs, gaining control, automation, and financial flexibility through extended credit lines.
• Businesses such as financial software platforms, ERP providers, and banks that want to launch or enhance their credit card offerings using Pliant’s embedded finance and white-label solutions.

Founded in 2020 and headquartered in Berlin, Pliant supports over 4,000 businesses and more than 20 partners globally. As a licensed e-money institution (EMI), we issue Visa-powered credit cards in 11 currencies across more than 30 countries, helping companies streamline and simplify payments.

Learn more at
www.getpliant.com

About the Role

We're seeking an Engineering Manager (m/f/d) remote to lead the newly established Banking Infrastructure engineering team. This is a unique opportunity arising from our successful growth.

The Banking Infrastructure team owns the systems that connect our platform to external banking institutions and payment networks. Operating at the core of money movement, the team builds and maintains integrations with partner banks and banking-as-a-service providers, ensuring secure and accurate execution of payments across multiple rails (including SEPA, ACH, SWIFT, FPS, and others) and markets.

The team consists of 5 backend engineers and a dedicated Product Manager.

Initially, you will split your time between hands-on engineering and people leadership. Over time, your focus will shift more toward enabling the team, setting technical direction, and driving delivery through others rather than direct implementation. You are expected to be accountable for technical quality, execution, and team health.

You will work closely with Engineering Managers, Product Managers, Designers, and Engineers across Pliant to shape roadmaps and align on priorities.

What You'll Do

• Contribute as a hands-on Engineer: Actively contribute to the codebase in the early phase of the role, helping the team deliver high-quality solutions while setting a strong example for engineering standards and practices.
• Lead and Develop the Team: Own the delivery, health, and effectiveness of your engineering team. Provide clear direction, foster psychological safety, and support individual growth through regular feedback, performance reviews, and coaching.
• Mentor and Grow Talent: Foster open communication, career development, and engineering excellence by championing best practices like test-driven bug fixing, automated testing, continuous integration and daily deployments to production.
• Collaborate with Stakeholders: Work closely with product managers, backend and frontend engineers, and non-technical teams to align on business goals, deliver high-quality features, and manage changes, bug fixes, and new initiatives.
• Drive Technical Direction: Guide the team in technical discussions to find innovative solutions, steer timelines for releases, and ensure automation and operational excellence are front and center in scaling the Pliant platform for rapid growth.
• Manage OKRs and Continuous Improvement: Set and track quarterly team OKRs together with the product manager. Promote innovation, knowledge sharing, and ongoing enhancements to maintain a culture of excellence.
• Champion Pliant Values: Embrace and live Pliant’s core values - Push It, Own It, Open Up, Be Kind, Have Fun, Be Pliant - while collaborating with peers on company-wide initiatives and fostering a positive team and department culture.

What You'll Bring

• 7+ years of software development experience with Java/Kotlin and Spring Boot, including 2+ years in leadership/management.
• Strong background in distributed, testable, and maintainable backend systems.
• Deep understanding of REST APIs, relational databases (PostgreSQL), and microservices.
• Experience mentoring engineers, and driving best practices.
• Passion for people management and developing engineering teams.
• Strong problem-solving skills and ability to drive projects from concept to completion by leveraging your team’s skills.

WHAT WE OFFER

• The opportunity to work in a growing team with big responsibilities that thrives on a strong exchange of knowledge and excellence
• Attractive remuneration
• Your choice of preferred OS, Windows or Mac
• Flat hierarchy and transparent communication in a relaxed, professional atmosphere
• Opportunity to develop your talent in a dynamic team with ambitious goals
• Flexibility and possibility to work remotely
• Company card with a monthly allowance for lunches, coffee, etc. with co-workers