Senior Engineering Manager - Java Backend

Nielseniq India; Chennai District; Hybrid; INR 4,000,000 - 6,000,000; Full time

Job summary

NielsenIQ India is seeking a Senior Engineering Manager within the NIQ Activate R&D organization to lead a high-performing software engineering team and drive development of innovative product solutions for a growing customer base.

This hands-on leadership role allocates about 50% to engineering leadership activities—planning, reviews, talent development—and 50% to hands-on software engineering, including architecture, coding, reviews, and problem solving for scalable microservices.

Qualifications

• 12+ years as backend developer with leadership experience.
• At least 4+ years in team management.
• Experience with Java, Spring Boot, SQL, and AI tools.
• Experience with large-scale SQL/NoSQL databases (SingleStore, Postgres).
• Fluent with relational databases.
• Nice to have Docker, Kubernetes, and cloud environments.
• Experience working in Agile methodologies and sprint planning.
• B.Sc. in computer science or equivalent.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and deliver scalable microservices from architecture through deployment.
• Lead backend system design and implementation with robust, secure solutions.
• Leverage GitHub Copilot and AI-assisted development tools to accelerate delivery.
• Own development, testing strategy, design discussions, and operations for the team.
• Participate in all aspects of agile software development including design, implementation, and deployment.
• Responsible for end-to-end lifecycle of new features/components.
• Ensure performance, uptime, and scalable architecture with high code quality.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to drive growth and evolve the product.
• Continuously learn new tools, languages, and workflows to grow.
• Research and suggest new technologies to boost the product.
• Influence system architecture and development practices.

Skills

Backend development

Team leadership

Java

Spring Boot

SQL

NoSQL

PostgreSQL

SingleStore

Docker

Kubernetes

Cloud platforms

Agile

Education

B.Sc. in Computer Science

Tools

GitHub Copilot

AI-assisted development tools

Job description

The Senior Engineering Manager within the NIQ Activate R&D organization will report to the Director, Activate R&D and be responsible for leading a high-performing team of software engineers while driving the development of innovative product solutions for our rapidly expanding customer base. This role operates in an open, collaborative, and innovation-driven environment, leveraging modern client and server-side technologies to deliver scalable and impactful solutions.

This is a hands-on leadership role requiring a balanced allocation of responsibilities, with approximately 50% focused on engineering leadership activities such as technical reviews, planning, stakeholder management, talent development, and delivery oversight, and 50% dedicated to hands-on software engineering, including architecture, coding, design reviews, and technical problem solving.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and deliver scalable microservices from architecture through production deployment.
• Lead backend system design and implementation, ensuring robust, secure, and maintainable solutions.
• Leverage GitHub Copilot and AI-assisted development tools to accelerate software delivery, improve code quality, and enhance engineering productivity.
• Take ownership of development, maintenance, testing strategy, design discussions, and operations of the team, with containerized API services
• Participate in all aspects of agile software development including design, implementation, and deployment.
• Responsible for the end-to-end lifecycle of new product features/components
• Ensuring application performance, uptime, and scale, maintaining high standards of code quality and thoughtful application design
• Work with a small, cross-functional team on products and features to drive growth.
• Learning new tools, languages, workflows, and philosophies to grow
• Research and suggest new technologies for boosting the product.
• Have an impact on product development by making important technical decisions, influencing the system architecture, development practices and more.

Qualifications

• 12+ years as a Backend developer with at least 4+ years of experience in team management.
• Experience and knowledge of server-side technologies: Java, Springboot, SQL, Agentic AI
• Experience with large scale SQL / NoSQL databases (SingleStore, Postgres)
• Fluent with Relational databases.
• Good problem-solving and analysis abilities
• Good to have experience with Docker containers, Kubernetes, and Cloud environments
• Experience working in agile methodologies and sprint planning
• Must have a B.Sc. in computer science or equivalent.