Engineering Manager - Authentication & Authorisation *remote* (m/f/d)

About Us Pliant is a European fintech specializing in B2B payment solutions. Our modular, API-first platform helps businesses streamline spending, improve cash flow, and integrate payments into their financial workflows. Designed for industries with complex payment needs, such as travel and fleet, Pliant enables greater efficiency, control, and profitability. We serve two primary customer segments: - Companies looking to optimize operational processes through intuitive apps and APIs, gaining control, automation, and financial flexibility through extended credit lines. - Businesses such as financial software platforms, ERP providers, and banks that want to launch or enhance their credit card offerings using Pliant’s embedded finance and white-label solutions Founded in 2020 and headquartered in Berlin, Pliant supports over 4,000 businesses and more than 20 partners globally. As a licensed e-money institution (EMI), we issue credit cards in 11 currencies across more than 30 countries, helping companies streamline and simplify payments. About the Role We're seeking an Engineering Manager - Authentication & Authorisation EU/UK remote (m/f/d) to build and lead one engineering team. The team is focused on the authentication and authorization architecture for the Pliant platform. This is a unique opportunity arising from our successful growth. You'll start with a small team of existing and new backend/frontend engineers, a Product Manager, and partial Design support. Initially, you'll be about 40-50% hands-on, gradually transitioning to a more leadership-focused role. You'll architect scalable, maintainable, and secure solutions while mentoring and developing your team. You'll collaborate with other (Senior) Engineering Managers, Product Managers, Designers, and Engineers to define roadmaps, drive execution, and uphold best practices. You'll contribute to the codebase and guide your team in developing innovative solutions for our customers. About the Team The current team focuses on key areas including authentication, authorization, member management, and white labeling. This team will be a spin-off from a larger existing team, necessitating a new Engineering Manager. The team's composition will include both new and experienced Pliant engineers, fostering continuous knowledge sharing and transfer. What You'll Do - Lead and Develop the Team: Manage a high-performing, interdisciplinary engineering team, while supporting the team with up to 50% hands-on development in the beginning. Support engineers in a psychologically safe environment through regular performance reviews and candid feedback. - Mentor and Grow Talent: Foster open communication, career development, and engineering excellence by championing best practices like test-driven bug fixing, automated testing, continuous integration and daily deployments to production. - Collaborate with Stakeholders: Work closely with product managers, backend and frontend engineers, and non-technical teams to align on business goals, deliver high-quality features, and manage changes, bug fixes, and new initiatives. - Drive Technical Direction: Guide the team in technical discussions to find innovative solutions, steer timelines for releases, and ensure automation and operational excellence are front and center in scaling the Pliant platform for rapid growth. - Manage OKRs and Continuous Improvement: Set and track quarterly team OKRs together with the product manager. Promote innovation, knowledge sharing, and ongoing enhancements to maintain a culture of excellence. - Champion Pliant Values: Embrace and live Pliant’s core values - Push It, Own It, Open Up, Be Kind, Have Fun, Be Pliant - while collaborating with peers on company-wide initiatives and fostering a positive team and department culture. What You'll Bring - 7+ years of software development experience with Java/Kotlin and Spring Boot, including 2+ years in leadership/management. - Strong background in distributed, testable, and mainta