Software Engineering Manager

Why This Role Matters

We build the technology that keeps banking and payments in Malaysia running every day. As a Software Engineering Manager at Finexus, you will lead engineering teams to deliver critical backend systems, driving both technical and business outcomes while developing high-performing teams across products.

About the Role

You will lead backend engineering teams to deliver reliable, scalable, and secure systems that directly support business objectives and product success. By owning architecture, design standards, and team growth, you will increase system stability, accelerate feature delivery, improve operational efficiency, and foster measurable improvements in team performance. You will also contribute hands-on to complex technical challenges to ensure timely delivery of high-impact initiatives.

Mission / Expected Outcomes

Deliver backend systems that meet product KPIs for reliability, performance, and compliance.
Drive architectural excellence, technical quality, and adoption of best practices across teams.
Mentor, develop, and retain top engineering talent to improve team productivity and engagement.
Lead resolution of critical incidents to minimize downtime and maintain service quality.
Ensure engineering initiatives are aligned with company objectives and product roadmaps.
Drive end-to-end feature planning and delivery aligned with product timelines, while maintaining a strong balance between engineering quality, technical health, and business priorities.

Key Responsibilities

1. Team Leadership & Development

Lead, mentor, and grow software engineering teams, fostering collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement.
Conduct performance reviews, 1:1s, and career development planning.
Promote a culture of accountability, high performance, and engagement.

2. Software Development, System Design & Architecture

Oversee design, development, testing, and deployment of backend services across products.
Lead the design and ownership of system architecture, ensuring backend services are scalable, reliable, and maintainable, with integrated monitoring and observability to proactively detect, diagnose, and resolve operational issues.
Contribute hands-on to design or implementation for critical systems, high-complexity features, or production issues when needed.
Drive continuous improvement in code quality, system performance, and operational reliability.

3. Cross-Functional Collaboration & Project Oversight

Work closely with Product Managers, Project Managers, Business Analysts, and stakeholders to define requirements and priorities.
Manage project timelines, dependencies, and risks across products.
Communicate progress, challenges, and technical insights effectively to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.

4. Compliance & Security

Ensure backend systems comply with relevant regulatory standards and data privacy requirements, including BNM RMiT, PCI-DSS, PDPA, and other applicable frameworks.
Implement and maintain robust security practices to protect sensitive financial and customer data.

5. Incident Management & Operational Excellence

Act as Incident Commander during critical incidents, coordinating cross-functional teams for swift resolution.
Continuously improve incident response processes, documentation, and system reliability.

Technical Scope

Backend technologies: Java (preferred), Python, Golang, Spring Boot, Airflow, Spark.
Containerized platforms: Kubernetes, ArgoCD, Docker.
Databases: SQL/NoSQL, ORMs.
Cloud platforms: AWS, Azure, or equivalent.
(Plus point) On-premise & system infrastructure (plus points): Linux, virtual machines (VMs), hardware security modules (HSM), monitoring / observability stacks.
(Plus point) Domain knowledge (plus points): Fintech, payments, or ERP integrations.
(Plus point) Regulatory familiarity (advantageous): LHDN, BNM RMiT, PCI-DSS.

Qualifications

Education & Experience

Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or related field
Minimum 7 years of software engineering experience, with at least 2 years in a leadership role
Proven ability to lead engineering teams, own system architecture, and contribute hands-on when needed
Strong problem-solving, decision-making, and strategic thinking skills

Technical Expertise

Hands-on experience in backend development using Java, Python, Golang, Spring Boot, Airflow, or Spark
Experience with containerized environments: Kubernetes, Docker, ArgoCD
Database expertise: SQL/NoSQL, ORMs
Cloud platforms: AWS, Azure, or equivalent
Exposure to on-premise systems, Linux, VMs, HSMs, and monitoring/observability stacks
Knowledge of regulatory and compliance standards (LHDN, BNM RMiT, PCI-DSS)

Leadership & Collaboration

Mentor and grow engineering talent, fostering a high-performing and collaborative culture
Communicate technical decisions and trade-offs clearly to both technical and non-technical stakeholders
Take ownership of system architecture, feature delivery, and operational reliability
Identify risks, propose solutions, and make architecture/design decisions that improve system reliability, scalability, and maintainability

Preferred / Good-to-Have

Exposure to multiple tech stacks or full software lifecycle
Experience in fintech, payments, ERP, or other regulated systems
Familiarity with DevOps/SRE practices (monitoring, SLIs/SLOs, incident response)
Experience optimizing cost, performance, or infrastructure efficiency