Description

The Wikimedia Foundation (WMF) is seeking an experienced and collaborative Engineering Manager to lead two crucial teams: our Testing Services and Technical Documentation teams. This role is pivotal in fostering a culture where Software Quality and Documentation are integral responsibilities shared across all engineering teams.

You will lead a geographically distributed group of 5-10 Test Engineers and 3 Technical Writers who provide essential services that directly enhance the quality of our software. These teams actively engage with multiple WMF engineering teams on high-impact initiatives, delivering comprehensive technical documentation, robust automated test suites, and thorough manual testing for the software that powers Wikipedia and its sister projects.

We are deeply committed to making knowledge freely available to everyone, globally. This is a unique opportunity to contribute to this vital mission by empowering current and future generations of developers worldwide to build high-quality and well-documented software that scales effectively with our ambitious goals.

Our teams provide foundational services that enable our staff and global communities to realize our collective Vision: a world in which every single human being can freely share in the sum of all knowledge.

The Wikimedia Foundation deeply values diversity and recognizes that a wide range of perspectives among our employees is essential to creating a knowledge source that truly benefits everyone. We are firmly committed to inclusion, diversifying the tech industry, and advocating for diversity in our employees, their unique experiences, and the diverse communities we serve.

You will be responsible for

• Collaborating effectively with multiple engineering teams and cross-functional stakeholders to align on their diverse testing and documentation needs, while skillfully balancing project goals with technical requirements and individual team members' skill sets.
• Driving strong execution by ensuring Service Level Agreements (SLAs) are consistently met, key performance metrics are actively tracked and reported, and any impediments to team progress are proactively identified and resolved.
• Strategically expanding and refining automated processes and actively supporting engineering teams in adopting best practices that demonstrably improve both software quality and the effectiveness of technical documentation.
• Championing and promoting a strong mindset of quality and documentation-first practices across all Wikimedia engineering teams.
• Overseeing the comprehensive design, efficient implementation, and ongoing maintenance of robust automated test suites, effective manual testing practices, and high-quality technical documentation.
• Ensuring that both the Testing and Documentation teams are highly engaged and productive, with a clear understanding of the overarching goals of the various projects they contribute to and the significant impact of their efforts.
• Providing effective coaching and mentorship to your team members, conducting thorough and constructive performance reviews, offering valuable career guidance, and cultivating a professional and inclusive work culture that fosters growth and collaboration.

Requirements

• Several years of progressive engineering experience, with a significant portion in a technical management or team leadership role.
• Several years of hands-on experience in developing, designing, and reviewing software applications using languages such as Go, Python, PHP, or other object-oriented programming languages.
• A proven track record of successfully managing a team that provides critical centralized services (such as quality assurance, technical documentation, or technical program management) to a diverse range of product teams.
• Demonstrated experience in effectively managing the expectations of diverse teams with varying goals and priorities, ensuring that your service teams prioritize tasks strategically and deliver demonstrable value across the entire organization.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English, with a demonstrated ability to articulate complex technical topics and proposed solutions clearly and concisely to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• An established track record of success in working with a multicultural, remote, and geographically distributed high-performing team.

Qualities that are important to us

• Strong alignment with the Wikimedia Foundation's mission and core values.
• Experience with open-source development methodologies and active engagement within open-source communities.
• A solid technical background in either manual and automated software testing or technical documentation writing.
• A strong ability to identify, develop, and implement effective strategies that significantly improve testing and documentation practices, ensuring they scale effectively with the organization’s evolving needs.
• Excellent communication and proactive follow-up skills. You are actively engaged, and your team feels well-informed and involved in team progress and broader organizational updates.
• Demonstrated experience with the nuances of remote work and the level of engagement and communication required to build and maintain a functional and healthy geographically distributed team.
• Experience with large-scale, global developer ecosystems and platforms, including a strong understanding of managing the associated risks and opportunities.
• Resilience in the face of new and complex challenges, with a collaborative and open approach to problem-solving.
• A collaborative mindset focused on achieving tangible outcomes, with the adaptability to adjust course when necessary.
• A genuine passion for developing both people and platforms, with a strong focus on fostering a product-minded engineering culture.

Additionally, we would love it if you have

• Knowledge of documentation-as-code tools such as Markdown.
• Knowledge of testing automation tools for End-to-End (E2E) and Visual Regression testing.
• Experience in successfully transitioning Test Engineers from primarily manual testing roles towards automation.
• Personal experience editing Wikipedia or active involvement with the Wikipedia, Wikidata, or Wikimedia Commons communities, or other collaborative online enterprises.
• Familiarity with the MediaWiki software.

Note: If you feel strongly that you have what it takes for this role but don’t check 100% of the boxes—that’s okay—we encourage you to apply anyway and highlight what you can bring to the table.