Director of Engineering, Renter

At Apartment List, we’re on a mission to find every renter a home they love at the value they deserve. Finding the right place to live is one of the most important, time-consuming and expensive decisions that all of us make. Getting it right matters. We’ve helped millions of families find a home they love, and we’re just getting started.

Reporting to the VP Engineering, you will primarily be responsible for charting the path for the Renter Pillar, the next generation ILS and premier rental matchmaker for city dwellers ready to move. As the Director of Engineering, you will play a pivotal role in executing the product strategy for the Renter Pillar, setting an engineering vision, roadmap and delivery for our renter products, Apartmentlist.com and Sunny.com.  Our ideal next leader brings extensive expertise in spearheading engineering advancement and harnessing AI and ML innovations, complemented by a deep grasp of user experience. This role calls for both a strong operator who is comfortable getting into the weeds, as well as strategic leader who champions both our internal team and external marketplace customers.

In order to be successful in this role, you will need to be comfortable working in a fast-paced and agile environment and with a team of dynamic people across the globe. Not only do you embrace the beautiful mess, but you thrive in the gray zone - it’s where you win! You excel in problem-solving and are able to lead with clarity, especially fostering stability amidst ambiguity and change.

Here’s what you’ll do as part of the team:

• Drive the strategic vision and tactical execution of the Renter Pillar
• Bring technical expertise and guidance to team planning efforts, and be involved in helping shape our overall product strategy
• Be a player and coach as you guide a team of engineers to build and extend our web application for renters to find their next home
• Hire great people and mentor engineers to build a high-performing engineering team
• Partner with key stakeholders (Product, Design, Data Science, Analysts, Business Owners) across the organization to build accurate estimates, plans, specs, and backlog priorities
• Guide broader strategy of front-end systems, design language and accessibility
• Drive the development of a scalable system architecture that leverages datasets using machine learning techniques to enhance the user experience in close collaboration with data platform and data science
• Regularly communicate progress and accomplishments to the broader Apartment List community
• Improve and iterate on processes to make the team efficient and effective
• Be responsible for the quality of the team’s work
• Evaluate and select 3rd party tools, services, and libraries

Here are the skills and experience you’ll need to be successful:

• BA in Computer Science, Information Security, Information Systems, Engineering or related field recommended but not required
• 7+ years of experience building backend/fullstack apps 
• 5+ years of experience successfully managing teams of 5+ engineers
• Experience managing other managers
• Experience growing and developing your team
• Strong experience in building and maintaining scalable backend systems, data platforms and user-centric web applications
• A strong understanding of agile methodologies
• Track record of managing and iterating on team processes to keep the team focused and efficient
• Experience working directly with Product Managers, Designers, and Analysts

And here is what’s in it for you:

• Impact and visibility: You’ll be working on a core pillar of the company’s initiatives to be the number one product in the rental space. You’re in charge of making our product the one-stop-shop for all the information they need to decide which places go on their short list.
• Career development: We’re always growing, and will expect your scope & responsibilities to grow alongside your impact.
• Encouragement to explore new technologies and to adopt them in our product development. 
• Empowerment to participate in the whole development cycle, and drive important product decisions. 
• Meaningful impact: Homes are core to all of us - they’re not just a big financial responsibility; homes are a place of safety and shelter, as well as a place where renters can hope to launch their hopes and dreams. Finding a home is a daunting, emotional process, and your work will make a real difference in renters’ lives.

Here's the Pay Range:

At Apartment List, we carefully consider a variety of factors to determine compensation for each position, including the role, level, and work. The Canadian base salary range (in CAD) for this position is:

• Zone 1: $185,000 - $225,000 + bonus + equity
• Zone 2: $166,000 - $202,000 + bonus + equity

This reflects the compensation target for new hire salaries for the position across all Canadian locations. Please note, the compensation details provided do not include benefits and perks that we offer. 

We also rely on market indicators along with considering your work location, job related skills, experience and relevant education and training, to determine compensation that is fair and competitive for you. Apartment List will consider paying compensation near the higher of the range in exceptional circumstances, where candidates have the experience, credentials or expertise that would warrant such consideration. It is always our goal to hire exceptional talent and we would be happy to share more about compensation during the hiring process.

Applicants must be legally entitled to work in Canada at the time of application. Sponsorship for employment visa status is not available for this position. Canadian benefits details can be outlined upon request. 

Here's what's in it for you (full-time US based employees only; does not apply to contract roles): 

• Competitive Compensation: Including annual salary, pre-IPO stock options, and other financial compensation (if applicable)
• Medical, Dental, and Vision Coverage: 100% of premiums covered for you AND all of your dependents
• Unlimited Flexible Time Off: Unlimited FTO in addition to 12 company holidays per year, quarterly “recharge” days, and a week-long holiday break
• Home Office Reimbursement: To cover home office furniture and supplies, monthly home internet, and monthly cell phone (if applicable)
• Health & Wellness Reimbursement: To cover monthly gym membership or other qualifying expenses
• Parental Support: Generous parental and family leave, fertility benefits, and employer-sponsored stipends towards family forming services
• 401k Plan: To support you in your individual retirement goals
• Team Events: Frequent team-building events, fun team off-sites, and bi-annual company meetups
• Commitment to DEI: To prioritize Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion within our workplace and to stay true to our values and mission
• Mentorship and Training: To get you onboard quickly, learn new professional skills, and invest in your career development
• Impact and Visibility: To expose you to and provide the opportunity to work on highly strategic initiatives that will transform the business
• Encouragement and Empowerment: To explore and adopt new technologies and drive meaningful decisions and outcomes

At Apartment List we believe that everyone deserves a home they love AND a career they love. We strive to build a diverse team that is a reflection of the people we serve; this is made possible through our commitment to fostering a culture of diversity, inclusion, equity, and connectedness. 

As a proud equal opportunity employer, we celebrate the collection of individual differences, life experiences, ideas, perspectives, knowledge, and talent. We hire candidates of any race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, marital or family status, disability, Veteran status, and any other status.

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