Your Role

Head of Engineering – Build, Lead, Ship

We're at an inflection point. The home-building industry is being transformed by AI, and we're positioned to lead that change. As Head of Engineering, you'll drive how we leverage these new tools and technologies—not just in our product, but in how your team builds software. LLMs, AI-assisted development, automated testing, new paradigms—you'll decide what matters and what's hype, then bring meaningful change to our engineering organization.

But here's what makes it different: This isn't a pure management role. You'll write code, review PRs, debug production issues, and architect systems—while leading a team of senior engineers who expect you to stay technical. If you've been itching to get back into the code while still shaping technical direction, this role bridges both worlds.

We're past the MVP phase but still moving fast. You'll inherit working Django/Python applications, a revenue-generating product, and a team that ships weekly. Your job is to scale what works, fix what doesn't, and push the boundaries of what's possible—both in what we build and how we build it.

WHAT YOU'LL ACTUALLY DO

Code & Architecture (40-50% of your time)

• Write Python/Django backend code regularly—this isn't symbolic; it's expected
• Lead by example in code reviews, setting standards for quality, performance, and maintainability
• Make architectural decisions with production trade-offs in mind: when to refactor, when to ship fast, when to pay down tech debt
• Debug gnarly production issues alongside the team when things break

Technical Leadership & Innovation (30-40%)

• Own the technical roadmap—translating business goals into concrete engineering initiatives
• Drive AI transformation across two dimensions: (1) AI/ML features that create real product value, and (2) how AI changes how we build software (dev tooling, workflows, automation)
• Make build-vs-buy decisions on infrastructure, tools, and third-party integrations
• Lead the charge on modern development practices—from AI-assisted coding to automated testing—and bring meaningful tooling changes to the engineering org
• Drive security, scalability, and performance improvements as the user base grows

People & Team (20-30%)

• Lead a senior engineering team (Frontend, Backend, Data, QA) who value autonomy and clarity over micromanagement
• Mentor engineers through code, architecture discussions, and career development—including helping them adapt to new AI-powered workflows
• Own hiring, compensation decisions, promotions, and performance management—you'll shape not just the team's future but their growth
• Build lightweight processes that enable speed, not bureaucracy
• Partner cross-functionally with Product, Business, and Operations teams

What You'll Need

Technical Depth (Non-Negotiable)

• 8+ years building production web applications, with significant hands-on Python experience
• Deep Django/DRF expertise preferred—you should be comfortable jumping into our codebase on day one
• Strong system design skills: APIs, PostgreSQL, caching, scalability patterns, performance optimization
• Production mindset: monitoring, logging, incident response, security best practices
• Solid grasp of GDPR, authentication/authorization, and secure coding practices

Leadership Experience

• 3+ years leading engineering teams, ideally in high-growth or startup environments
• Track record of mentoring senior engineers and shipping high-impact products
• Proven ability to make technical trade-offs that balance speed with sustainability
• Comfortable making decisions with incomplete information and adapting as you learn

Startup DNA

• You thrive in environments where priorities shift, resources are lean, and shipping matters
• You're equally comfortable debugging CSS, optimizing database queries, or discussing business strategy
• You default to action over analysis paralysis
• You've worked in scale-up environments (Series A to C) and know the difference between startup chaos and productive iteration

Communication & Collaboration

• You can explain technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders without dumbing things down
• You translate business requirements into technical solutions and technical constraints into business opportunities
• You're comfortable saying "no" when needed, but always with context and alternatives

What We Promise

The Work

• Real technical challenges at scale—hundreds of thousands of users, significant traffic, complex integrations
• A mature codebase with room for meaningful improvement, not a rewrite-from-scratch situation
• Autonomy to make technical decisions that matter, with support from leadership
• Direct impact on product direction and company strategy
• Shape the next generation of development practices – how we build, ship and evolve software with AI

The Team

• Work with smart, senior engineers who care about craft and don't need hand-holding
• A culture that values high standards, data-driven decisions, and mutual respect
• Genuine collaboration—engineering has a seat at the table in product and business discussions
• A team that genuinely enjoys working together, with a great sense of humor and a strong foundation of trust

The Growth

• Join at a pivotal moment where your decisions shape the next 3-5 years of technical architecture
• Clear ownership and accountability—your wins and losses are visible
• Mentorship from experienced peers and leadership who've scaled products before

The Perks

• Competitive compensation matching responsibility and impact
• Urban Sports Club membership or Deutschlandticket—your choice
• Weekly team lunch, regular offsites, and team events
• Modern office in Berlin-Kreuzberg by the Landwehrkanal—great for focus work and occasional walks
• Work-life balance that actually means something

Everyone is Welcome

We are an equal-opportunity employer

At Neuraum, differences are celebrated. No matter your background, what you look like, where you come from or where you're going, we're delighted if you stop by. We're proud to have built a place where everyone is welcome, so please don't let anything hold you back. If you see a role that piques your interest, apply and we'll take it from there together.

How to Apply

Apply with your CV or LinkedIn Profile. If you have questions, contact our recruiter Vicki at vicki.schilling-kormesch@neuraum.com or visit.