Engineering Manager: New Initiative
Role summary
Kikoff is seeking an Engineering Manager to lead a new, high-visibility product initiative. This player-coach role involves leading and growing a team of 4-8 engineers, defining technical direction, and partnering with product and design. The ideal candidate has 5+ years of software engineering experience and 2+ years of management experience, with a strong backend or full-stack foundation. Responsibilities include hiring, coaching, code review, architecture decisions, and driving product outcomes. Experience in consumer fintech is a plus. The role offers significant autonomy and impact within a fast-growing company.
Kikoff: The Fintech Powering Financial Security at ScaleKikoff is a profitable, pre-IPO fintech company on a mission to empower everyone to achieve financial security. With record revenue growth in 2025 and a unicorn valuation, we've built a suite of products that help millions of people build credit, access liquidity, and save money.We're scaling fast. Join us if you want to build something meaningful and help millions of people move forward financially.
Why Kikoff:
This is a consumer fintech startup, and you will be working with serial entrepreneurs who have built strong consumer brands and innovative products. We value extreme ownership, clear communication, a strong sense of craftsmanship, and the desire to create lasting work and work relationships. Yes, you can build an exciting business AND have real-life real-customer impact.
About the Role
Kikoff is one of the fastest-growing consumer fintech apps in the US, already serving millions of Americans. This role leads a dedicated team working on one of Kikoff's most important product initiatives with real autonomy, high visibility, and a direct line to the company's long-term growth story.
As Engineering Manager, you will start with a team of 4 engineers and grow it to ~8 by end of year. You will set the technical direction, hire and develop the team, and partner closely with product and design to take this initiative from early stages to full scale.
This is a player-coach role at the start. You will be close to the code, close to product decisions, and close to the people. As the team grows, you will shift toward leading through others — but the technical foundation you set early will matter.
If you want a role where your decisions shape a product from day one, where your team's work reaches millions of users, and where strong execution today shapes a company that millions of people depend on - this is it.
In This Role, You Will
Lead and Grow the Team
Own the Technical Direction
Drive Product Outcomes
You Have
Nice to Have
What We're Like
Scrappy. We move fast and build what we need, not what sounds impressive. We don't cut corners when they matter, and we don't over-engineer when they don't.
Risk-oriented. We make tradeoffs deliberately. A mature team knows the difference between a bet worth taking and one that isn't.
Data-obsessed. We all look at data, pull it, and believe that understanding the mechanics yields real insight. You will be surrounded by people who think this way.
Humble. We know this journey has required timing, circumstance, and the right people showing up. We are grateful, and we don't take it for granted.
Equal Employment Opportunity Statement
Kikoff Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to complying with all federal, state, and local laws providing equal employment opportunities and considers qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, marital status, pregnancy, sex, gender expression or identity, sexual orientation, citizenship, or any other legally protected class.
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