Engineering Manager, Search
In 2026 our ambition is to be a high‑performing, delivery‑focused organisation and the best engineering organisation for those who value meaningful career growth.
We are looking for a UK based Engineering Manager to help run our Search Retrieval squad, a key team responsible for improving the relevance of search at Depop. You will be responsible for building features and experiments on the search engine that will improve key search purchasing metrics, guiding your team while delivering a contribution to its impact and strategic roadmap, and shaping our engineering culture of high performance and high compassion.
As an Engineering Manager at Depop, you will be responsible for the success, wellbeing and effectiveness of the team. You will work alongside a Product Manager and Product Designer as part of our wider Discover initiative to create an intuitive discovery & shopping experience.
Responsibilities
- Deliver Value and Drive Results: Ensure your team delivers high‑quality solutions that meet business needs while maintaining a strong focus on delivery and measurable value.
- Lead and Support Your Team: Manage a cross‑functional team of 3‑6 engineers, ensuring they are happy, motivated, and set up for success.
- Foster Growth and Feedback: Provide regular feedback, guidance and coaching through 1:1s and continuous support.
- Collaborate Across Functions: Partner closely with marketing, analytics, engineering, product to agree on priorities and ensure smooth cross‑functional collaboration.
- Build an Inclusive Culture: Advocate for team health, inclusion, and diversity, fostering a respectful and empowering environment.
Qualifications
- A proven track record as an Engineering Manager of growing and building high‑performing engineers, teams, and processes.
- Experience as an individual contributor or leader in the Search Domain.
- Worked closely with Machine Learning and Data Science colleagues.
- Worked closely with Design and Product, as either a Product Engineer or Engineering Manager, to build rich user experiences.
- Hands‑on technical expertise across full‑stack, providing connective tissue between BE and FE to uphold high engineering standards.
- Strong sense of ownership and a track record of delivery, tackling complex and ambitious problems.
- Strong decision‑making skills, based on data and a preference toward simplicity.
- Strong stakeholder management skills, collaborating with cross‑disciplinary stakeholders to achieve results.
- Ability to drive positive interactions and change within the team.
- Alignment with our “Depop DNA” – showing up for the community, having each other’s backs, acting with purpose, and sustainability and cost consideration.
Bonus Points If
- Familiar with search engine technology such as OpenSearch, ElasticSearch, Vespa.
- Familiar with observability, tracking and data pipeline tools and methodologies.
Additional Information
Health + Mental Wellbeing
- PMI and cash plan healthcare access with Bupa.
- Subsidised counselling and coaching with Self Space.
- Cycle to Work scheme with options from Evans or the Green Commute Initiative.
- Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) for 24/7 confidential support.
- Mental Health First Aiders across the business for support and signposting.
Work/Life Balance
- 25 days of annual leave with the option to carry over up to 5 days.
- Impact hours: up to 2 days of additional paid leave per year for volunteering.
- Fully paid 4‑week sabbatical after 5 years of consecutive service.
- Flexible Working: MyMode hybrid‑working model with Flex, Office‑Based, and Remote options (role‑dependent).
- All offices are dog‑friendly.
Family Life
- Paid parental leave: 20 weeks for birth parent, 12 weeks for non‑birth parent.
- IVF leave, shared parental leave, and paid emergency parent/carer leave.
Learn + Grow
- Twice‑yearly development chats and yearly performance reviews.
- Learning budget.
- Company‑wide training workshops, materials and resources.
Your Future
- Life Insurance (financial compensation of 3× your salary).
- Pension matching up to 6% of full base salary with Aviva.
Depop Extras
- In‑office Depop Shop (free) and a packing station with free delivery.Special milestones are celebrated with gifts and rewards.
We’re proud to be an equal‑opportunity employer, providing employment opportunities without regard to age, ethnicity, religion or belief, gender identity, sex, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy or maternity, marriage and civil partnership, or any other protected status. We continuously evolve our recruitment processes to ensure fairness and accommodate any needs you might have.
AI Disclosure: We use AI tools (Google Gemini) to help our team source and review applications for roles with a high volume of applications. These tools assist our recruiters in identifying great talent but do not replace human decision‑making. At Depop, every hiring decision is made by a human.
If, due to a disability, you need adjustments to complete the application, please let us know by sending an email with your name, the role to which you would like to apply, and the type of support you need to complete the application to adjustments@depop.com.
#J-18808-Ljbffr…