R&D Team Lead

Full Time
Sofia, Bulgaria
1 day ago

If you're into online shopping (who isn't these days?), chances are you've crossed paths with Yotpo. We're all about eCommerce retention—helping brands of every size turn one-time shoppers into lifelong customers. 

Think loyalty programs and reviews—it's what we do best. Plus, we've got more tricks up our sleeve.

With teams spread across the globe—from the US and Canada to the UK, Israel, Bulgaria, and Australia—we're growing fast. Our main mission? Delivering cutting-edge technology that sets new standards in the industry.

Sounds exciting? Then read on, because we’re looking for curious professional talents to be a part of building the future of the e-commerce industry.

As we build Yotpo’s next generation platform, we’re also exploring how AI can power smarter, more personalized eCommerce experiences. If you’re excited about leveraging AI technologies alongside modern engineering practices, this role is a great opportunity to make an impact.

We’re looking for an experienced Engineering Team Lead who is passionate about both people leadership and hands-on engineering. You will lead a new Sofia-based team of full-stack developers.You will collaborate closely with cross-functional peers, driving the development of robust, high-scale services and ensuring smooth integration within Yotpo’s broader ecosystem.

What you’ll do:

  • Lead and own the full development lifecycle of critical platform services—from architecture and coding to testing, deployment, and production monitoring.
  • Build and mentor a strong engineering team, fostering professional growth, collaboration, and a culture of accountability.
  • Champion technical excellence and promote best practices in software design, development, and DevOps.
  • Work closely with product managers and other stakeholders to define priorities and deliver impactful, end-to-end solutions.
  • Drive efficient team processes, ensuring clarity, alignment, and continuous improvement.
  • Partner with recruiting to attract, interview, and hire top talent.
  • Balance short-term delivery needs with long-term technical investments.
  • Collaborate globally with other R&D teams to maintain consistency, share knowledge, and align on strategic objectives.

What you bring to the table:

  • Senior-level experience — ideally in your second or third team lead position.
  • Proven leadership experience managing and mentoring engineering teams.
  • Strong communication skills for management reporting and global collaboration.
  • Excellent interpersonal and soft skills for team leadership and motivation.
  • Experience working in a web application environment with an emphasis on scalability and performance.
  • Strong experience with Ruby and/or Java, with a willingness to learn the other.
  • Knowledge of modern frameworks such as React, including best practices (preferred but not mandatory).
  • Working knowledge of Kubernetes and Docker.
  • Experience with SQL and relational databases (MySQL preferred), plus familiarity with Redis.
  • Experience with queuing middleware such as Kafka, RabbitMQ, or AWS SQS.
  • Familiarity with tools like Jenkins or GitHub Actions.
  • Experience working with AWS environments.
  • Strong understanding of event-driven and microservices architectures.

 

Nice to have:

  • Experience with AI-driven development tools or a strong interest in leveraging AI for engineering productivity.
  • Familiarity with modern frontend ecosystems and UI performance optimization.
  • Prior experience in building and scaling teams within a distributed/global R&D organization.

 

What we offer:

  • Track to success – work in a dynamic organization with ambient and laid-back office atmosphere
  • Individualized career development, rewards, and recognition.
  • Work-life balance – 25 days paid vacation with add-ons for loyalty, regular team buildings and celebrations in and outside the country
  • Additional health insurance package
  • Internal mobility program and refer-a-friend program
  • Managing a fixed monthly budget for social benefits thru Re:Benefit – a flexible online benefits solution
  • Food vouchers
  • E-learning portals and knowledge sharing sessions.
  • Company backed Hackathons, Tech conferences, workshops events, etc
  • Stocked kitchen and bar.
  • Equity in options.
  • Flexible hybrid capacity

If you don’t meet 100% of the qualifications outlined above, that’s okay! We believe in hiring people, not just skills. If you have a passion to learn and are excited about eCommerce and technology, then we want to hear from you.

Help us be the best version of Yotpo by building something great together!

#LI-Hybrid