Tech Lead / Engineering Manager

BlueCargo; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

BlueCargo in Los Angeles is seeking a Tech Lead / Engineering Manager to lead our engineering platform, guiding architecture and data initiatives while staying hands-on about half the time.

You will mentor a team spanning platform engineers, AI, data integrations, and customer support, partnering with Product and Data to align technical work with strategic goals.

Qualifications

• 5+ years in engineering management with platform/data engineering leadership.
• Proficiency in Python and AWS.
• Strong leadership and communication skills.
• Strategic technical decision making aligned with business goals.
• Problem-solving mindset and entrepreneurial mindset.

Responsibilities

• Lead core platform engineering, AI initiatives, customer support, and data integrations.
• Hands-on ~50% time in architecture, code, and delivery.
• Collaborate with Product and Data to translate business challenges into technical solutions.
• Drive agile processes, sprint planning, and KPI tracking.
• Own customer support SLAs and data integration workflows.

Skills

Python

AWS

Engineering leadership

Strategic thinking

Communication

Problem solving

Job description

About BlueCargo

BlueCargo is a fast-growing, VC-backed technology company transforming the logistics and supply chain industry. As the leader in container visibility and freight audit automation, our platform integrates fragmented data from terminals, carriers, and ports to deliver a single, intelligent interface that empowers shippers and logistics providers to make better, faster decisions. Our mission is to bring transparency, efficiency, and automation to global trade - one container at a time. Backed by Y Combinator (W18) and leading investors, we raised our Series A in 2022 and are entering an exciting growth stage. Our platform is already trusted by hundreds of active customers and is helping them eliminate millions in unnecessary freight costs each year. As we scale, we’re investing deeply in engineering leadership to evolve our architecture, expand product capabilities, and lead the industry in data-driven logistics.

Mission/Responsibilities

We're seeking an experienced Tech Lead / Engineering Manager to lead BlueCargo's engineering platform. In this role, you'll be hands-on roughly half the time and lead the team the other half - owning our core platform engineering, AI initiatives, customer support, and data integrations. You'll collaborate closely with Product, Data, and the broader Engineering organization to ensure our technical work directly supports BlueCargo's strategic vision.

Team Leadership & Growth

• Hire, mentor, and manage the full engineering team - platform engineers, AI engineering, customer support, and data integrations
• Foster a culture of innovation, continuous learning, and accountability
• Oversee onboarding, career development, and performance management

Technical Strategy & Execution

• Stay hands-on (~50% of your time): contribute directly to architecture, code, and delivery
• Provide technical guidance and leadership across platform, AI, and data projects, including architecture design and code quality
• Drive the implementation of robust, scalable systems that automate freight audit processes
• Ensure rigorous testing, code reviews, and adherence to best practices

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Work closely with Product and Data teams to translate business challenges into technical solutions
• Lead regular execution meetings and contribute to sprint planning to ensure project alignment and timely delivery
• Act as a key technical advisor in strategic discussions, helping shape our roadmap and priorities

Operational Excellence

• Own customer support: manage day-to-day ticket resolution and SLAs
• Own data integrations: manage ingestion and tracking of data from terminals, ocean carriers/steamship lines, and other third-party providers
• Define and track key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure team success and process efficiency
• Champion agile methodologies and continuous improvement practices within the team
• Manage technical debt and ensure our systems are sustainable and future-proof

Qualifications

In addition to the following technical skills, we are looking for PROBLEM SOLVERS with an entrepreneurial mindset.

• Experience: 5+ years in engineering management, with a strong background in platform/data engineering leadership. Experience with AI/ML is a nice-to-have, not required.
• Technical Skills: Proven expertise in scalable system architecture and data pipelines. Proficiency in Python and AWS required.
• Leadership: Demonstrated ability to build and lead high-performing teams. Excellent communication skills and a collaborative mindset are essential.
• Strategic Vision: A knack for balancing short-term execution with long-term innovation. You should be comfortable making strategic technical decisions and aligning them with business goals.
• Problem-Solving: A strong analytical mindset with a passion for tackling complex technical challenges and delivering impactful solutions.