Interview with Bitpanda’s Head of Engineering

Could you tell us about your start at Bitpanda?

While it was scary to make this change at first, I felt good about the decision. I started in November 2019, not long before the pandemic hit in Europe, and happily joined a team way smaller than it is today to take part in our growth journey. At the time, I jumped in a boat of 4 Engineers. Today, I am working with 2 different teams of more than 20 people.

You’re looking for “Engineering Managers” to join the team. How do you describe this role to other people?

As an Engineering Manager, you’ll be responsible for managing, mentoring and coaching cross-functional teams. Your top priority is ensuring engineers have what they need to succeed in delivering high-quality working software. You will be responsible for people engagement and growth, overseeing project goals, contributing to overall product strategy and collaborating with other cross-functional teams. 

A typical day consists of several meetings, which can involve helping to unblock your team on their daily tasks, holding one-on-ones with your reports where you discuss current work or career paths and keeping track of all the projects and their priorities to make sure that the most important tasks are moving forward.

Why did you choose Bitpanda?

I saw this opportunity as a way to contribute to an exciting, fast-paced company and industry. Everything felt like a match from the beginning, from the people I met during the interview process, to the challenges they presented to me before joining. All in all, I am super happy that I decided to join.

What do you think is required to be a good Engineering manager?

• Build trust. Once both parties have trust in each other, everything else will fall into place; 

• Putting people first. Ensuring that your direct reports feel valuable, happy, and productive is a top priority;

• Have fun! Bringing a sense of humour and team spirit allows for good relationships and communication to flourish. Make sure to promote your team internally and externally by celebrating their victories.

How do you think Bitpanda contributed to your personal & professional development?

Working in Bitpanda really embodied parts of personal and organisational growth that I always sought in my career. Exposure to a wide variety of engineering organisations helped me adapt to the fast-paced culture at Bitpanda, and gave me a good perspective on how to be a good team player. Knowing how to work well with others is important for my personal growth. Over the past 2 years, it helped me grow self-discipline, self-responsibility, and persistence in overcoming challenges. Adding in the pressures of social isolation, I've learned how to stay motivated and then to coach others in self-motivation.

What have been your biggest yet most rewarding challenges at Bitpanda?

Managing technical teams has given me a different way to enjoy building software and applications. I’ve found the technical strategy and growing individuals more rewarding than I could have imagined.

What are three words that describe Vienna?

Safe, diverse, well-positioned. 

If you’re someone who thinks big, moves fast and wants to make an impact right from day one, check out our Engineering Manager role and apply now! We’d love to have you onboard for an amazing journey ahead. Let’s go!