Engineering Team Lead, NZ

About Partly

Partly is building a worldwide platform that brings replacement parts together in one place, beginning with the automotive parts market. The company’s long-term aim is to help create a more sustainable future by reducing waste and making replacement parts easy to find, access, and use for everyone.

Originally founded by former Rocket Lab engineers, Partly applies advanced technology to solve difficult, high-impact problems in a massive $1.9 trillion industry. Over the last year, the team has grown to more than triple its size and is expected to expand again significantly in the next 12 months. The business operates globally across Europe and Australasia and supports some of the world’s biggest companies as well as fast-moving startups with digital infrastructure for managing and cataloguing parts online.

The company is backed by well-known investors including Blackbird Ventures, Square Peg, Octopus Ventures, Hillfarrance, Icehouse, Peter Beck, Akshay Kothari, and Dylan Field. Partly is focused on building a strong, high-performing culture where people can do exceptional work.

Partly’s headquarters are in the UK, with product and engineering operations based in Christchurch and an early presence in San Francisco. Candidates are preferred to be based in Christchurch or Auckland. If relocation is required, the company will cover those costs. Exceptional candidates located elsewhere are also welcome to apply.

Role overview

In this position, you will collaborate with the engineering team to solve complex problems and ship high-quality software that powers the company’s core platform.

What you will do

• Work on essential systems that support the core SaaS and API platform.
• Build features that are dependable, scalable, and accurate under real-world demand.
• Help deliver a strong experience for businesses using the platform.
• Share engineering standards and practical best practices with the wider team.
• Deepen your knowledge of the highly specialized and underserved automotive parts domain.

Experience and skills

• At least 5 years of experience building complex software applications.
• Strong grounding in computer science and engineering concepts such as data structures, concurrency, architecture, APIs, testing, and design patterns.
• Clear written and verbal communication, along with strong collaboration skills.
• Solid understanding of databases and data modelling, including both relational and NoSQL systems.
• Experience designing and operating reliable distributed systems.
• Exposure to automotive parts is a plus.
• Node.js experience is a bonus.
• Rust experience is an added advantage.

Who should apply

Partly encourages applications from candidates who may not meet every listed requirement but believe they can make a strong contribution. The company especially welcomes applicants from underrepresented or marginalised backgrounds and invites them to share why they would excel in the role.

Benefits

• Fresh, healthy lunches are provided every workday in Auckland, Christchurch, London, and San Francisco offices, along with snacks and drinks.
• An annual wellness allowance of $1,500, or the local equivalent, is provided on a Partly-branded card for wellness and health-related expenses such as gym memberships, rock climbing, physio, massage, GP visits, and prescriptions for you or your family.
• Primary caregivers receive 3 months of fully paid parental leave, plus a flexible return-to-work arrangement of four days on full pay for the first three months back.
• Employees who commute to a Partly office or co-working space can choose either a paid 24/7 car park or a commute allowance.
• The company offers newly designed offices that support collaboration and creativity, with quality coffee, social spaces, and nearby cafes.
• Partly follows an office-first approach in Christchurch, Auckland, London, and San Francisco, while still maintaining a high-trust environment that allows flexibility around personal schedules.
• The team connects regularly through weekly happy hours, monthly lunches, quarterly season openers, and an annual global offsite.

Additional information

Partly’s preference is for the role to be based in Christchurch or Auckland. Office-first working applies in cities where the company has an office, with daily attendance expected. At the same time, the organisation supports flexibility so team members can adapt their schedules to do their best work. Relocation support is available for candidates moving to a preferred office location.