Senior Software Engineering Manager: Backend

The Senior Software Engineering Manager: Backend is responsible for leading the design, 

development, and optimization of backend systems and services that power the organization’s digital 

and enterprise platforms. This role ensures that backend engineering capabilities are secure, scalable, 

resilient, and aligned with enterprise architecture. It combines deep technical expertise with 

leadership, governance, and delivery responsibilities.

Key Responsibilities

1. Backend Strategy & Leadership

• Define and execute the backend engineering roadmap, ensuring alignment with enterprise 

and digital strategies.

• Champion modernization initiatives such as cloud-native services, microservices, event-driven 

architecture, and API-first development.

• Provide technical leadership on backend standards, frameworks, and integration patterns 

across the enterprise.

2. Backend Platform Delivery

• Oversee the design, build, and deployment of APIs, services, databases, and middleware that 

support front-end and mobile platforms.

• Ensure backend systems are resilient, high-performing, and optimized for scale.

• Drive adoption of CI/CD, containerization, orchestration (Kubernetes), and infrastructure-ascode practices.

• Govern API lifecycle management, versioning, and developer portal usage.

3. Governance, Risk & Compliance

• Ensure backend services comply with security, privacy, and regulatory standards.

• Establish observability frameworks (logging, monitoring, tracing) for all backend systems.

• Align backend engineering with enterprise governance, risk, and compliance frameworks.

4. Leadership & Team Development

• Lead and mentor backend engineering managers, architects, and developers.

• Foster a culture of engineering excellence, continuous learning, and accountability.

• Build strong career pathways for backend engineers, ensuring expertise in modern backend 

technologies.

• Encourage collaboration between mobile, digital channels, and enterprise engineering teams.

5. Stakeholder & Vendor Management

• Partner with enterprise architecture, infrastructure, and product teams to deliver shared 

services.

• Manage relationships with strategic vendors, API providers, and middleware partners.

• Represent backend engineering in architecture boards, delivery forums, and executive 

updates.

Educational Qualifications

1. Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Information Systems, or related technical discipline (mandatory).
2. Postgraduate qualification (MSc in Engineering/IT, MBA) – advantageous.
3. Professional Certifications (preferred):

• Cloud certifications (AWS Certified Developer/Architect, Azure Solutions Architect, GCP Professional Engineer).
• API & Integration certifications (MuleSoft, Apigee, Kafka, or equivalent).
• Agile / SAFe certifications (Scrum Master, SAFe Practitioner).
• DevOps certifications (Docker, Kubernetes, CI/CD tools).

Relevant Experience

• 10–12 years’ experience in backend/software engineering, with at least 5 years in leadership 

roles.

• Proven experience designing and managing large-scale backend systems and distributed 

architectures.

• Hands-on expertise with databases (SQL, NoSQL), microservices, message queues, and API 

frameworks.

• Track record of implementing cloud-native and event-driven architectures.

• Strong background in backend observability, performance optimization, and security 

engineering.

• Experience managing budgets, delivery pipelines, and vendor relationships.

Core Skills & Competencies

• Deep technical expertise in backend frameworks, APIs, microservices, and integration.

• Strong understanding of enterprise-scale security, scalability, and compliance requirements.

• Excellent leadership and people management skills, with experience growing backend 

engineering talent.

• Strong communication and stakeholder engagement, bridging technical and business 

priorities.

• Ability to balance innovation with reliability and enterprise governance