Engineering Manager, UX

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Engineering Manager, UX

Company: Replit

Location: Foster City, California, USA

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: Engineering Management / UX

Date Posted: 2026-02-22

Experience Level: Mid-Senior Level (4+ years management experience)

Remote Status: Hybrid (3 days in office)

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead and grow a team of frontend engineers focused on delivering exceptional user experiences for Replit's AI-powered software creation platform.

• Define and execute the technical vision for UI frameworks and patterns, ensuring high-quality, performant, and accessible user interfaces across devices.

• Drive innovation in AI user interfaces, bridging the gap between design, product, and engineering to translate ambitious visions into reality.

• Foster a culture of UI excellence, craft, and continuous improvement within the engineering team.

• Collaborate closely with Design and Product teams to ensure technical feasibility and efficient execution of user-centric features.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is crucial for Replit's mission to democratize software development through AI. The Engineering Manager, UX will not only manage a team but also set the technical direction for core user-facing elements, particularly those involving AI interactions. The emphasis on "agentic software creation" and "natural language" implies a need for innovative UI solutions that are intuitive and accessible to a broad user base, from beginners to experienced developers.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Build, mentor, and develop a high-performing team of frontend engineers, fostering a strong culture of UI excellence and technical craft.

• Establish and communicate the technical vision and strategy for developing and enhancing UI frameworks and patterns to accelerate the delivery of high-quality user experiences.

• Partner with Design and Product Engineering teams to deeply understand, prioritize, and triage requirements for user interfaces and AI interactions.

• Articulate an ambitious vision for the future of AI-driven user interfaces and guide the team in sequencing development steps to achieve this vision.

• Collaborate with the Design team to refine visual designs, considering technical constraints, timelines, and available resources to ensure feasible and impactful implementations.

• Leverage deep expertise in technology, product, and UI to enhance the quality, performance, and adoption of Replit's critical user-facing surfaces.

• Drive the development of core user interfaces specifically designed for interacting with AI capabilities within the Replit platform.

• Oversee the implementation of production-ready frameworks and patterns that enable consistent, high-quality in-product experiences.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a dual focus on people management and technical leadership. The role requires not only guiding a team but also shaping the technical direction of UI development, especially concerning AI integration. This involves strategic planning, cross-functional collaboration, and a keen eye for user experience quality and technical feasibility.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is listed, a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Design, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience, is typically expected for this level of management.

Experience:

• 4+ years of dedicated engineering management experience, with a proven history of building and scaling high-performing engineering teams.

• Demonstrated success in delivering ambitious, complex projects that required significant coordination across multiple teams and departments.

Required Skills:

• Leadership & Management:

  • Proven ability to build, mentor, and grow engineering teams.
  • Expertise in performance management and career development for engineers.
  • Strong recruiting experience with a focus on building talent-dense teams.
  • Excellent communication skills, balancing technical leadership with people management.

• Technical Expertise:

  • Deep technical experience with modern frontend technologies, including:
    • React
    • CSS and CSS frameworks
    • Mobile web development
  • Familiarity with design tools such as Figma.

• User Experience Focus:

  • An obsessive focus on and passion for user experience.
  • Ability to translate user needs and design concepts into technical solutions.

• Adaptability: Preferred Skills:

• Active user of the Replit platform.

• Experience building products that leverage Artificial Intelligence (AI).

• Background or experience in Design, providing a strong understanding of design principles and workflows.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "4+ years of engineering management" suggests a need for candidates who have moved beyond individual contributor roles and have a solid foundation in leading teams and projects. The required technical skills point towards a hands-on manager who can guide technical decisions, particularly in React and CSS, and understand the nuances of mobile web and design integration.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Team Growth & Performance: Evidence of successfully building, mentoring, and scaling engineering teams, showcasing improvements in team performance, retention, and skill development.

• Technical Strategy & Vision: Examples of defining and executing technical roadmaps for UI frameworks, demonstrating strategic thinking and long-term planning.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Case studies illustrating effective collaboration with Design, Product, and other engineering teams to deliver complex features.

• UI/UX Impact: Demonstrations of how your leadership has directly improved user experience, interface quality, or product performance.

• Recruiting Success: Examples of your approach to talent acquisition and building high-caliber engineering teams.

Process Documentation:

• Team Management Processes: Documented approaches to performance reviews, career development planning, and feedback mechanisms within engineering teams.

• Technical Decision-Making Frameworks: Processes for evaluating and adopting new technologies, defining architectural standards, and managing technical debt for UI development.

• Agile Development Workflows: Experience with agile methodologies (e.g., Scrum, Kanban) for managing sprint cycles, backlog grooming, and release planning for frontend projects.

• Cross-Functional Alignment Processes: Methods for ensuring seamless communication and alignment between Engineering, Design, and Product teams throughout the development lifecycle.

📝 Enhancement Note: While a formal "portfolio" isn't explicitly requested, candidates are expected to demonstrate their management and technical leadership capabilities through their experience. This could manifest in discussions during interviews, case studies presented, or examples provided from past projects. The focus should be on quantifiable impact and strategic execution in team building and technical direction.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $200,000 - $300,000 USD per year.

Benefits:

• Competitive Salary and Equity

• 401(k) Program with a 4% match

• Comprehensive Health, Dental, and Vision Insurance

• Life Insurance

• Short-Term and Long-Term Disability Insurance

• Paid Parental, Medical, and Caregiver Leave

• Commuter Benefits

• Monthly Wellness Stipend

• Autonomous Work Environment

• In-Office Setup Reimbursement

• Flexible Time Off (FTO)

• Paid Holidays

• Quarterly Team Gatherings

• In-Office Amenities

Working Hours: Standard full-time hours, likely around 40 hours per week, with flexibility. The role requires 3 days in the Foster City, CA office.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range provided ($200k-$300k USD) is competitive for an Engineering Manager role in the Foster City, California area, especially within the tech industry. This range typically reflects significant experience in both technical leadership and people management. The benefits package is robust and comprehensive, typical of well-established tech companies, offering strong support for employee well-being and work-life balance.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Software Development Tools & Platforms, AI, Education Technology. Replit operates at the intersection of developer tools, AI, and accessible education, aiming to make software creation universally available.

Company Size: Replit is a growing company, indicated by its active hiring and product development. While not explicitly stated, its user base of millions suggests a significant operational scale.

Founded: Replit was founded in 2016. This indicates a company that has moved past its startup phase and is now focused on scaling operations, product, and team.

Team Structure:

• The Engineering Manager, UX will lead a team of frontend engineers.

• This team likely collaborates closely with dedicated Design and Product Management teams.

• The role reports into a higher level of engineering leadership (e.g., Director of Engineering, VP of Engineering).

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Development: Replit emphasizes understanding user behavior and product performance to inform development decisions.

• Agile & Iterative: The company likely employs agile methodologies to facilitate rapid iteration and adaptation in a fast-paced environment.

• User-Centric Design: A strong focus on user experience is paramount, driving the development of intuitive and accessible interfaces.

• AI Integration: Replit is actively embedding AI into its platform, requiring engineers to adapt to and build with AI technologies.

Company Website: https://replit.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: Replit is positioned as a leader in democratizing software development through AI. The company culture is likely fast-paced, innovative, and user-focused, with a strong emphasis on empowering individuals to create. The "agentic software creation platform" concept suggests a forward-thinking approach to development tools.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a mid-to-senior level management role. The Engineering Manager, UX is responsible for a team's technical output, strategic direction, and individual growth. It sits between an individual contributor (Senior Engineer, Staff Engineer) and senior leadership (Director of Engineering).

Reporting Structure: The role involves managing a team of frontend engineers and collaborating with peers in Product Management, Design, and other engineering disciplines. The manager will report to a higher-level engineering leader.

Operations Impact: The impact of this role is significant, directly influencing the user experience of Replit's platform, especially for AI-driven features. By leading the UI engineering team, this manager will play a critical role in making software creation more accessible and intuitive for millions of users globally. This contributes directly to Replit's mission and business growth.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership Advancement: Potential to grow into a Senior Engineering Manager, Director of Engineering, or lead larger/multiple teams.

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in AI user interfaces, frontend architecture, or specific areas of product development.

• Technical Influence: Take on broader technical strategy responsibilities for Replit's frontend.

• Mentorship: Develop strong leadership and people management skills, becoming a key mentor within the engineering organization.

📝 Enhancement Note: For operations professionals transitioning into this role, the key is to highlight experience in managing technical teams, driving strategic initiatives, and delivering impactful user-facing products. The "UX" aspect means a strong understanding of design thinking and user-centric development is crucial, even for those coming from a more traditional engineering management background.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Replit has a hybrid work model. The Foster City office serves as a hub for collaboration, with an in-office requirement of Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. This suggests an environment that values in-person interaction for key activities like brainstorming, team building, and focused collaborative work.

Office Location(s): Foster City, California, USA. This location is in the heart of the San Francisco Bay Area, a major hub for technology companies, offering access to talent and industry networks.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Spaces: The hybrid model indicates dedicated office spaces designed for team collaboration, meetings, and focused work.

• Technology-Enabled: Expect access to modern development tools, software, and potentially in-office setup reimbursement for home offices on remote days.

• Team Interaction: Opportunities for direct interaction with team members, design partners, and product managers, fostering a dynamic and interactive work environment.

Work Schedule: Full-time with a hybrid arrangement. While core hours will likely exist for collaboration, the emphasis on "Autonomous Work Environment" and "Flexible Time Off" suggests a degree of autonomy in managing one's schedule, provided team and project needs are met.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid model is typical for tech companies aiming to balance flexibility with the benefits of in-person collaboration. For operations professionals, understanding how to manage distributed and hybrid teams, optimize communication channels, and ensure productivity across different work settings is key.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A recruiter or hiring manager will assess your resume and experience for alignment with the role's core requirements.

• Hiring Manager Interview: A discussion focused on your engineering management experience, leadership philosophy, team-building strategies, and technical background. Be prepared to discuss your approach to mentoring, performance management, and conflict resolution.

• Technical Deep Dive / Team Interview: This may involve discussions about your technical expertise in React, CSS, and UI development, as well as your approach to technical strategy and problem-solving. You might discuss past technical challenges and how you guided your team through them.

• Cross-Functional Interview: An interview with a peer (e.g., Product Manager, Design Lead) to assess your collaboration skills, ability to understand and prioritize requirements, and your approach to working with non-engineering teams.

• Executive Interview: A final interview with senior leadership to assess cultural fit, strategic thinking, and alignment with Replit's mission and values.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Focus on Impact: Prepare specific examples of projects where your leadership led to measurable improvements in user experience, team performance, or product delivery speed. Quantify your achievements whenever possible (e.g., "reduced bug rate by X%", "improved team velocity by Y%").

• Showcase Team Building: Highlight instances of successfully hiring, mentoring, and developing engineers. Discuss your approach to fostering a positive and productive team culture.

• Technical Strategy Examples: Be ready to discuss your process for defining technical roadmaps, making architectural decisions, and managing technical debt in frontend development.

• Collaboration Case Studies: Prepare examples of how you effectively partnered with Design and Product teams to translate user needs into successful features.

• AI/UX Focus: Since this role is specific to AI UX, be prepared to discuss your thoughts on the future of AI interfaces and how you would approach building them.

Challenge Preparation:

• Leadership Scenarios: Practice answering questions about how you would handle common management challenges (e.g., underperforming team members, conflicting priorities, difficult stakeholders).

• Technical Problem Solving: Be ready to discuss how you would approach common UI/UX challenges or architectural decisions in a React environment.

• Strategic Thinking: Prepare to articulate your vision for a team focused on AI user interfaces and how you would align that with Replit's broader goals.

📝 Enhancement Note: Candidates should prepare to discuss concrete examples of their management style, technical contributions, and impact. The interview process will likely probe into both people management skills and technical acumen, with a strong emphasis on user experience and collaboration.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Frontend Framework: React (highly emphasized)

• Styling: CSS, CSS Frameworks (specific frameworks not mentioned, but experience with them is required)

• Design Collaboration: Figma (required for interacting with the design team)

• Web Development: Mobile Web development expertise is crucial.

• Platform: Replit's own development platform.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not explicitly stated, expect tools for tracking user behavior, UI performance, and A/B testing. This could include tools like Google Analytics, Amplitude, Mixpanel, or internal Replit analytics solutions.

CRM & Automation:

• Not directly relevant to this UX Engineering Manager role, but Replit as a company likely uses CRM and automation tools for its business operations.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in React, CSS, and Figma is non-negotiable. The role implies a need for engineers who understand how to build performant, scalable, and maintainable frontend applications. Experience with mobile web development suggests a focus on responsive design and cross-device compatibility.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• UI Excellence & Craft: A deep commitment to high-quality, well-executed user interfaces.

• User Obsession: Prioritizing the user experience above all else.

• Collaboration: Working effectively with Design, Product, and other engineering teams.

• Innovation: Pushing the boundaries of what's possible, especially in AI user interfaces.

• Ownership & Accountability: Taking responsibility for team performance and project outcomes.

• Continuous Improvement: A mindset of constantly seeking ways to improve processes, code, and user experiences.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Partnership: Close working relationships with Design and Product Management are essential for defining and delivering features.

• Open Communication: Encouraging transparency and direct feedback within the team and across departments.

• Mentorship & Knowledge Sharing: A culture where team members support each other's growth and share best practices.

• Agile & Iterative: Working in sprints, iterating based on feedback, and adapting to changing priorities.

📝 Enhancement Note: Replit's "Operating Principles" likely guide their culture. Candidates should research these principles to understand how they translate into daily work, decision-making, and team interactions. The emphasis on "UI excellence" and "craft" suggests a team that values attention to detail and high standards in their work.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Scaling AI Interfaces: Developing intuitive and accessible user interfaces for complex AI interactions is a novel challenge.

• Balancing Innovation and Execution: Driving cutting-edge AI UI development while ensuring timely delivery of production-ready features.

• Cross-Functional Alignment: Effectively bridging the gap between technical constraints, design visions, and product goals across multiple teams.

• Talent Acquisition & Retention: Attracting and retaining top-tier frontend engineering talent in a competitive market.

• Rapidly Evolving Technology: Staying ahead of advancements in AI, web technologies, and UI/UX best practices.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• AI-UX Expertise: Becoming a leader in the rapidly growing field of AI-powered user interfaces.

• Technical Leadership: Developing skills in setting technical direction, architectural design, and managing complex engineering projects.

• People Management: Honing skills in mentoring, coaching, and team building, with opportunities to lead larger or more specialized teams.

• Industry Engagement: Attending conferences, workshops, and engaging with the broader developer community to stay current.

• Product Strategy: Gaining deeper insights into product strategy and business objectives through close collaboration with Product Management.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges and growth opportunities are tightly linked to Replit's ambitious mission. This role offers a chance to be at the forefront of AI-driven product development and to grow significantly as a leader in a high-impact environment.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• Leadership Philosophy: "Describe your approach to managing and mentoring frontend engineers. How do you foster a culture of UI excellence and craft within your team?"

• Technical Vision: "How would you define and execute the technical vision for UI frameworks at Replit, especially for AI interfaces? What are the key considerations for building scalable and performant UI?"

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: "Describe a time you successfully collaborated with Design and Product teams to deliver a complex user-facing feature. What were the challenges, and how did you overcome them?"

• AI & UX Forward-Thinking: "What excites you about the future of AI user interfaces? How do you see AI impacting software creation, and what role would your team play in that evolution?"

• Problem Solving: "Walk me through a challenging technical problem your team faced related to UI performance or cross-browser compatibility. How did you guide them to a solution?"

Company & Culture Questions:

• Replit's Mission: "What interests you about Replit's mission to democratize software development, and how does your management style align with that?"

• Operating Principles: "How do Replit's operating principles (e.g., User Obsession, Craft) translate into your day-to-day management and team guidance?"

• Hybrid Work: "What are your strategies for ensuring team cohesion and productivity in a hybrid work environment?"

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Impact-Focused Storytelling: Structure your examples around the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result), emphasizing the quantifiable impact of your leadership on team performance, user experience, and product delivery.

• Demonstrate Technical Depth: Be ready to discuss the technical details of projects, your decision-making process, and how you guided your team's technical choices.

• Highlight Team Growth: Showcase your ability to mentor, develop, and retain talent, using specific examples of engineers you've helped grow.

• Visual Aids (if applicable): If discussing specific UI frameworks or design systems, consider how you might visually represent them to illustrate your points.

• Focus on AI & UX: Frame your experience and insights through the lens of AI and user experience, demonstrating your understanding of this specific domain.

📝 Enhancement Note: Candidates should thoroughly research Replit's mission, products, and any publicly available information on their operating principles. Demonstrating a genuine passion for Replit's goals and a clear understanding of how UI engineering contributes to those goals will be crucial.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Engineering Manager, UX position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on Ashby.

• Resume Optimization: Tailor your resume to highlight your 4+ years of engineering management experience, specific achievements in building and scaling teams, and your deep technical expertise in React, CSS, and mobile web development. Emphasize any experience with AI-related products or UI/UX innovation.

• Portfolio Preparation: Prepare to discuss specific projects and initiatives that demonstrate your leadership in UI excellence, team development, and cross-functional collaboration. Focus on quantifiable results and your strategic approach to technical challenges.

• Interview Practice: Rehearse answers to common engineering management and technical questions, focusing on leadership philosophy, team building, technical strategy, and user experience. Be ready to articulate your vision for AI user interfaces.

• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with Replit's platform, mission, and any stated operating principles. Understand how the Engineering Manager, UX role contributes to Replit's overall success.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.