Engineering Manager - Ubuntu Package Management

About the Role

We represent a partner organization seeking a seasoned Engineering Manager specializing in Ubuntu Package Management based in Saudi Arabia. This role entails leading a team that manages key technologies associated with software lifecycle and management within the Ubuntu ecosystem.

As the Engineering Manager, you will combine high-level technical guidance with people leadership to shape both engineering direction and support team growth. Your responsibilities will cover package management, software delivery, firmware and driver management, system updates and upgrades, and release workflows.

Your influence will span the architectural vision, roadmap development, quality assurance, reliability, security, and maintainability of vital platform technologies. Collaboration with globally dispersed teams and stakeholders such as product management, security, desktop and server engineering, and release operations will be fundamental.

Key Responsibilities

• Set the technical vision and roadmap for package management and system lifecycle platforms, ensuring alignment with overall platform strategies.
• Engage in architecture design reviews and guide crucial technical choices impacting software management, updates, drivers, firmware, and associated infrastructure.
• Champion engineering excellence, focusing on performance, security, reliability, compatibility, maintainability, and software quality.
• Lead and mentor an experienced engineering team fostering ownership, collaboration, continuous learning, and high technical standards.
• Coach engineers to enhance their leadership, ownership, and organizational influence through mentoring and performance management.
• Oversee the delivery of improvements over multiple release cycles, balancing innovation with system stability and long-term sustainability.
• Enhance test automation, release quality, engineering workflows, and operational dependability across the team's technology areas.
• Collaborate extensively with cross-functional teams including desktop, server, security, product, OEM, release engineering, and other groups.
• Engage with upstream open source projects like Debian and the broader community to support technology evolution and collaboration.
• Identify and implement strategic improvements to roadmap clarity, execution, test coverage, product quality, and reliability.

Qualifications and Experience

• Outstanding academic record from high school through university in Computer Science, STEM fields, or equivalent professional experience.
• Demonstrated strong background in software engineering, complex system design, and large-scale technology platform development.
• Proven record of leading engineering teams, including managing, coaching, mentoring, and driving performance.
• Expertise in Linux-based distribution systems, package management, and software distribution infrastructure.
• Deep understanding of systems software and operating system architecture.
• Familiarity with package repositories, archives, lifecycle tools, and release engineering processes.
• Experience contributing to open source projects such as Debian or Ubuntu is advantageous.
• Background in performance, reliability, or security engineering is a plus.
• Exceptional communication skills, able to clearly articulate complex technical matters and collaborate across teams.
• Adept at working within globally distributed teams and cultivating cross-regional relationships.
• Willingness to travel internationally twice a year for up to two weeks for corporate gatherings.

Benefits and Additional Information

• Opportunity to work remotely within a global organization supporting multiple time zones.
• In-person team collaborations and corporate events hosted approximately twice yearly in different locations.
• Annual personal learning and development budget of USD 2,000.
• Compensation based on geography, experience, and performance, including an annual performance bonus.
• Regular compensation reviews to reward top performance and maintain competitiveness.
• Recognition and rewards programs honoring employee contributions.
• Paid annual leave to support wellbeing.
• Parental leave for maternity and paternity.
• Access to Employee Assistance Program for support services.
• Global travel opportunities for new locations and face-to-face colleague engagement.
• Travel benefits including Priority Pass access and upgrades for qualifying long-haul events.
• Contribute to impactful open source Linux technologies and foundational system infrastructure.