Software Engineering Manager

About Halter

Halter is dedicated to empowering farmers and graziers to manage their operations more productively and sustainably. Our innovative technology enables cattle to move calmly and autonomously without the need for traditional tools like quad bikes, dogs, or fences, fundamentally transforming grazing practices. We are solving complex challenges with a talented, high-performing team focused on real-world impact. Supported by notable investors such as Founders Fund and Bessemer Venture Partners, Halter is committed to making meaningful change in agriculture.

Role Overview

We seek a Software Engineering Manager responsible for both people leadership and technical excellence. This role involves hands-on coding, steering technical solutions, collaborating with design and product teams, and guiding engineers toward delivering impactful, high-quality work on challenging problems. You will own technical direction, foster growth, and help clarify ambiguous problems to achieve clear, actionable outcomes.

Key Problems You Will Address

• Aggregating data from thousands of collars and billions of sensor events into actionable insights for farmers.
• Modeling real-world elements such as animals, pasture, and terrain accurately for real-time decision-making.
• Developing mobile and web applications reliable in tough conditions, like early mornings and adverse weather on farms.
• Designing scalable platforms and data pipelines to support rapid growth seamlessly.
• Engineering under hardware constraints, unstable rural connectivity, and real-world complexities while maintaining fast delivery.

Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor a diverse team of frontend and backend engineers, fostering their professional development and performance.
• Own the technical direction, ensuring solutions are reliable, maintainable, and deliver value aligning with user needs.
• Engage deeply with system design, data, and service architecture to influence technical strategy.
• Promote engineering-led innovation, including the exploration of AI tools to accelerate development and unlock novel workflows.
• Collaborate closely with product and design teams to clarify fuzzy requirements and shape impactful solutions.
• Gain and apply deep domain understanding by visiting farms and engaging with real-world systems.
• Contribute significantly to the company’s engineering culture and practices, fostering a great workplace environment.

Candidate Profile

• Experienced in direct leadership of engineers, including mentoring, hiring, and conducting performance reviews.
• Product-focused engineering mindset with a strong sense of user experience, performance, and polish.
• Skilled at balancing speed and quality, structuring work effectively without being overly rigid.
• Calm under pressure, humble, and able to inspire and unify teams during complex projects.
• Proven ability working in fast-paced startup environments, handling ambiguity and rapid growth.
• Bonus: Experience with hardware integration, real-world system constraints, mobile development (React Native), and building resilient applications in demanding physical environments.

Benefits

• Complimentary snacks and beverages for daily energy.
• Health and wellbeing support via partnership with Southern Cross Health Insurance.
• Generous parental leave: 6 months fully paid for primary caregivers, 4 weeks for secondary caregivers, plus additional family support.
• $1000 annual personal development budget to support your growth.
• Unlimited paid annual leave alongside wellness leave to recharge effectively.
• Competitive salary package that includes employee stock ownership plan.

Work Culture and Approach

Halter embraces an office-first philosophy to foster strong, trust-based relationships that enhance collaboration, feedback, and impactful work. While primarily in-office, flexible remote work is supported under a high-trust culture. Our energetic office environment is widely valued for promoting growth, learning, and inspiring teamwork.

Diversity and Inclusion

We encourage candidates from all backgrounds to apply, welcoming those who may not meet every qualification but share enthusiasm for the role. Our inclusive environment strives to bring out the best in every team member.

How to Apply

Please submit your cover letter explaining your motivation for joining Halter along with your CV for consideration.

Why Work Here

• Engage in meaningful work that positively transforms agriculture and supports sustainable farming livelihoods.
• Collaborate with talented, driven colleagues passionate about solving tough, impactful problems.
• Enjoy the freedom to learn, develop mastery, and advance your career with substantial personal growth resources.
• Thrive in a challenging, fast-paced environment that values bold innovation and teamwork.