Software Engineering Manager – Mandarin Required 8440

Join Akvelon — build products used by millions!

Akvelon is an IT company with 20+ years of experience and 1,200+ engineers across 15+ locations worldwide.
We work with both well-known global tech companies, including Microsoft, Facebook, Airbnb, Dropbox, and Pinterest, and with growing startups.
Our teams are involved in different types of engineering projects, from cloud solutions and AI/ML systems to big data, web, and mobile applications.
Since we are remote-first, our engineers work in distributed teams with flexible hours. We value ownership, clear communication, and the ability to take responsibility for your part of the work.

About the role
We are looking for a Software Engineering Manager with native Mandarin Chinese to help improve communication and collaboration with a China-based engineering team.
The role combines technical communication, coordination, and hands-on engineering knowledge. You will act as a bridge between distributed teams, helping clarify requirements, follow up on deliverables, review technical solutions, and identify potential issues in firmware/software integration.

This role is especially well suited for someone with experience in firmware or IoT development who can understand technical discussions, communicate them clearly between teams, and help keep development work aligned with agreed plans and engineering practices.


Requirements

• Native or fluent Mandarin Chinese and strong English communication skills
• Experience in software or firmware development, preferably with C/C++
• Experience with firmware for IoT or connected devices is highly desirable
• Understanding of interfaces and communication protocols between firmware and software, such as Protobuf, MQTT, DNS, or networking
• Good understanding of common software engineering practices, including Git, code reviews, OOP, and maintainable coding practices
• Ability to communicate technical requirements clearly and bridge communication gaps between engineering teams
• Experience coordinating technical work, following up on deliverables, or providing technical guidance to other engineers
• Strong problem-solving and communication skills

Nice to have

• Experience working with Chinese engineering or vendor teams
• Experience with Embedded C/C++
• Experience with CI/CD and automated development practices
• Familiarity with React, Node.js, or React Native
• Experience with IoT communication protocols and connected-device development
• Previous Lead, Technical Lead, or mentoring experience

Responsibilities

• Act as a technical bridge between the China-based firmware team and the wider engineering team
• Help clarify requirements, interfaces, and technical expectations between teams
• Follow up on agreed deliverables and help ensure work stays aligned with the plan
• Participate in code and solution reviews, providing practical technical feedback
• Help identify gaps, risks, and issues in firmware/software integration
• Support consistent engineering practices across teams, including Git, code reviews, and maintainable development approaches
• Participate in technical discussions around interfaces, protocols, and integration
• Provide technical guidance and constructive feedback when needed
• Contribute hands-on to software/firmware development and troubleshooting when appropriate

Availability expectations

• Working hours aligned with European time zones
• Daily collaboration with the China-based firmware team
• Flexibility to accommodate recurring meetings across multiple time zones
• Availability for scheduled meetings at approximately 8:00/9:00 AM PST