Engineering Manager - Frontend

We're hiring an Engineering Manager to lead our frontend engineering organization - two development teams and a frontend QA team, totalling ~16 engineers. This is a people-first leadership role for someone with deep technical credibility: you'll spend approximately 60% of your time on people management (coaching, development, team building) and 40% on technical oversight (architecture, code reviews, technical strategy).

You don't need to write production code daily, but you should be comfortable diving into technical discussions, reviewing complex pull requests, making informed architectural decisions, and debugging critical issues when needed. Hands-on coding ability is a strong plus.

You'll own the evolution of our frontend platforms (React-based Rhino Play and Next.js-based Rhino Next) while building a culture of quality, velocity, and continuous improvement across all brands.

Work Arrangement:
Candidates based in Malta or Bitola will work in a hybrid arrangement. Remote candidates from other European locations are welcome and expected to work aligned with Central European Time (CET)

 

YOU WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR

People Leadership & Development (60%)

• Lead, mentor, and develop ~12 frontend engineers and 4 frontend QA engineers across distributed locations (Malta, Bitola, and remote)
• Conduct regular 1:1s, provide actionable feedback, and create personalized career development plans that help engineers reach their potential
• Build a high-trust, high-performance culture where engineers feel challenged, supported, and excited to grow
• Manage the frontend QA team, focusing on their professional development, test strategy, automation, and integration with development workflows
• Own recruitment, onboarding, and retention for frontend and QA roles
• Foster a culture aligned with Rhino's values: Community, Curiosity, and Achievers
• Support diverse, dynamic teams and ensure fairness in career development opportunities

Technical Strategy & Oversight (40%)

• Shape the future of Rhino's frontend architecture in partnership with Product, Design, and Backend leadership
• Make informed technical decisions on Next.js architecture, Server/Client Components, SSR strategies, and performance optimization
• Review complex technical designs and pull requests; provide technical guidance and unblock challenging problems
• Champion modern practices and tools: component libraries, Storybook, Redux Toolkit, Jest, service workers, CI/CD pipeline enhancements, performance monitoring
• Ensure consistent approaches to authentication/authorization, session handling, and secure SSR patterns across brands
• Guide decisions around build systems (Webpack, Turbopack, Turborepo) and monorepo architecture
• Stay technically credible enough to earn respect from senior engineers and guide technical direction effectively
• Debug complex frontend and server-side issues when your expertise is needed

Delivery & Quality

• Drive predictable delivery through clear goals, effective processes, and team rituals
• Elevate code quality through strong review culture (acting as a gatekeeper when needed), testing standards, and automation
• Partner with frontend QA team to strengthen test coverage (Jest, integration testing), reduce regressions, and increase release confidence
• Oversee and optimize the release process to ensure smooth product deployments across all brands
• Establish and track metrics that matter: team health, velocity trends, quality indicators, deployment frequency, and player-facing performance
• Proactively identify patterns in production errors and drive systematic improvements

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Translate product priorities into clear, achievable technical plans
• Facilitate smooth collaboration between frontend, backend, design, product, and QA teams
• Communicate technical tradeoffs, progress, and risks to both technical and non-technical stakeholders
• Act as the voice of frontend engineering in leadership discussions
• Bridge gaps and resolve blockers across teams

 

WHAT YOU'LL BRING

Experience:

• 7+ years building modern frontend applications with deep expertise in React and TypeScript
• Strong understanding of Next.js, including Server vs Client Components, SSR caching strategies (static, dynamic, ISR, edge), and performance optimization
• 3+ years leading engineering teams. You've hired, mentored, managed performance, and scaled teams through growth
• Experience managing QA teams or working closely with QA leadership to build quality practices
• Track record of managing multiple teams or workstreams simultaneously in agile environments

How you Lead:

• You believe great engineering starts with great people.
• You're energised by helping engineers achieve their potential, not just shipping features
• You lead with empathy and accountability, balancing when to coach, step in, or delegate - always with a growth mindset and creative problem-solving spirit.

Technical Foundation:

• Strong grasp of frontend architecture, Redux Toolkit, testing (Jest), and performance optimization.
• Deep understanding of HTTP, debugging, and client/server communication.
• Skilled with tools like Webpack, Turbopack, Turborepo, and Storybook.
• Experience with secure authentication, SSR, and architectural decision-making.
• Able to guide engineers and review designs confidently, hands-on coding when it matters.

How You Work:

• Clear, outcome-driven communicator who bridges tech and business.
• Experienced in leading distributed teams (CET-aligned).
• Collaborative, curious, and always focused on learning and improvement.

Bonus Points:

• Experience in iGaming, betting, or high-traffic apps.
• Node.js, multi-brand/tenant systems, or advanced performance tuning.
• Familiarity with service workers, Zod, or edge computing.

 

Success in Your First Year

First 3 Months:

• Build trust with your teams; understand current challenges, workflows, team dynamics, and technical landscape across both Rhino Play and Rhino Next
• Establish your leadership rhythm: 1:1s, team rituals, communication cadences, and success metrics
• Identify 2-3 quick wins for quality, process, or team morale
• Understand the unique characteristics and technical challenges of each brand

By 6 Months:

• Measurably improved code review culture and delivery predictability
• Launched at least one significant process, tooling, or quality improvement (e.g., enhanced CI/CD, improved testing practices, performance optimization)
• Clear development plans in place for each team member, with at least one person showing visible growth
• Strengthened collaboration between development and frontend QA teams
• Established consistent patterns for complex features like authentication, SSR optimization, and component architecture

By 12 Months:

• Teams consistently hit delivery commitments with high quality and predictable velocity
• Reduced production incidents through better testing, QA collaboration, and proactive error monitoring
• Multiple engineers showing clear career progression; strong retention and team satisfaction across teams
• You've contributed meaningfully to Rhino's long-term frontend strategy and technical roadmap
• Improved frontend QA capabilities through better processes, automation, and team development
• Increased release confidence and deployment frequency across all brands
• Frontend architecture is more consistent, performant, and maintainable across the platform

 

WHAT WE OFFER

What we offer:

• Competitive salary based on your knowledge & experience
• Quarterly performance bonus split on personal objectives and company performance
• €500 Yearly Wellness & Mindfulness allowance to support an active lifestyle
• Flexibility & a work-life blend through our Hybrid Working environment
• Work from anywhere with our 30 days “overseas working”
• Diverse, dynamic, fun environment with happy and helpful colleagues
• Learning & Development opportunities to invest in your personal development
• Fresh fruit, healthy snacks & food are available at the office everyday - and of course, good tea & coffee
• Free parking, table tennis, lounge area, plenty of meeting rooms and sea views at our ergonomic office 
• Regular social events to strengthen long lasting relationships
• Enjoy a “Me Day” on your birthday
• Paid time off, including extra days for special life events
• AXA Private Hospital & Dental Insurance Coverage
• Form an active part of our talent acquisition, with our Referral Bonus 
• And to top it off, a great culture!