Job Openings / Job Offers
Synchronica continuously searches for talented people with experience in the mobile industry and a strong entrepreneurial spirit. Synchronica can offer a flexible work environment, exciting technology, and a management that understands and values the relevance of architecture and design. We are currently expanding our team with the following positions:
Technical Projects and Customer Relationship Manager (Project Manager)
Job Description
To further strengthen our Operations Team, we seek to employ a Technical Project Manager with excellent customer relationship skills. Reporting to the Chief Operations Officer, you will be required to liaise between sales, development and management in order to ascertain and plan priorities, deliver high quality professional services based around our core products. Our professional services offering includes ddeployments, integration services, customization, bespoke Feature Development and Training. Ideally you will have come from a development background in Java on a Unix or Sun platform and have throughout your career achieved a natural progression into customer facing project management. Experience with mobile applications and mobile operator customers is essential. The suitable candidate will possess excellent communication skills, the ability to liaise with both, technical and sales-/marketing-oriented departments, willingness and ability to work as part of team, and lead project teams, as well as being able to manage multiple projects to our customers' satisfaction.
Key Responsibilities / Duties
- Accurately plan and manage the end-to-end delivery of mobile application projects to mobile operators in emerging markets
- Concurrently manage multiple professional service projects based on our standard mobile email and synchronization products
- Define the detailed scope and specify requirements of customer projects, and internal projects
- Liaise with Sales, Marketing, Product Management, Operations and Technical Development to ensure delivery of the defined project development to agreed time, quality and financial constraints
- Ensure implementation and management plan in place
- Identify and actively manage project risks and issues
- Identify, monitor and manage dependencies with other projects
- Proactive reporting to the Chief Operations Manager any issues, risks or dependencies which may cause changes to the cost, time and quality aspects of the project
- Ensure that project documentation and reporting is kept up to date
- Chair and organize project meetings and provide weekly
- Align all functions of the business alongside each other to ensure development and customer harmony
- Apply standards as set by the Projects Office on quality, project management, and all other areas of responsibility
Personal Specification
- Ideally prior experience in software development specifically in Java
- Proven track record of delivering projects (ideally within the mobile industry with an ISV)
- Proven natural progression from software engineer to project management with at least 3 years development and 3 years project management
- Strong project planning and estimating skills
- Experience in delivering New Product Development type projects
- MS Office & MS Project user skills (advantageous: Experience using Microsoft SharePoint Portal Server)
- Previous telecommunications experience, including, SMS, MMS, SMSC MMSC, JAVA, Windows Mobile, Symbian, UIQ, Palm, Solaris, Sun Application Server, JBoss, Sun JES
- Excellent communication and facilitation skills
- Self motivated with a desire to deliver and unblock issues
- Able to work on own initiative
- Demonstrable experience in customer and supplier management
- Commercial understanding of VAS offerings within a mobile oeprator
Desirable Requirements
- Qualified practitioner of project management methodologies (PRINCE 2 e.g.) and ability to demonstrate effective use of methodologies
- Any ITIL experience
Base Location
Tunbridge Wells, England
Product Manager Mobile Devices
Job Description
This position has full responsibility and accountability for the lifecycle support of mobile devices and messaging applications. Working with cross-functional teams, this function performs product planning, product UI design and usability of mobile software clients. The candidate monitors and reports on in market performance, manages trials, and manages delivery of product packaged messaging solutions. In addition this position is responsible for development and distribution of product briefs and training materials.
Key Responsibilities / Duties
- Ensure the device product strategy is aligned with and supported by cross-functional teams during its lifecycle.
- Provide leadership and guidance to cross-functional teams during all phases of lifecycle: UI design, usability, planning, development, introduction, roadmap planning.
- Strong expertise developing mobile software clients.
- Facilitate the organization's ability to manage its entire collection of projects as a portfolio and serve as the primary source of information on project activity.
- Develop and implement communication plans for the strategic direction of the product, the progress of enhancement, cost reduction, and process improvement projects, and key milestones.
- Introduce, define and execute long-range product plans in support of strategic product objectives.
- Drive cross-product enhancement and linkage opportunities with the other product teams.
Personal Specification:
- You will ideally have knowledge of mobile email and synchronization solutions.
- Experience defining solution and product strategies.
- Experience bringing products to market and bringing businesses to life. He/she should have experience bringing the whole product to market (product definition through launch through end of life) as well as experience managing multiple product lines.
- 5+ years of mobile product management
- Excellent communicator, both verbally and written, with an ability to select the right approach.
- Experience in managing relationships with external customers and software development suppliers.
- Must be a credible team player who can work closely with the Management Team to move the Company Business forward.
- Project management experience with proven instances of balancing multiple projects and a high workload.
- Superior negotiating, market research, writing and organizational skills.
- Ability to negotiate roadmaps with software development organizations and Executive team.
Junior Marketing Manager
Job Description
The purpose of this role is to drive sales of mobile software products by conducting and contributing to tactical marketing activity. The junior marketing manager supports the mobile product organization's business goals and delivers according to the stated marketing plan.
Key Responsibilities / Duties
This position will be responsible for all product marketing for Synchronica's software portfolio, across all phases of market adoption and full product life cycle. This key position will include, but is not limited to:
- Branding and awareness efforts - including public relations, media and analyst relations, advertising, and key value proposition and message development for targeted vertical markets
- Writing marketing collaterals for all products
- Writing press releases
- Running with all text updates on the web site
The Junior Marketing Manager will also work cooperatively to support product management in creation of market requirements for product features and pricing, packaging, and positioning strategies. This position will also gather competitive marketing information, build, execute, and communicate competitive positioning strategies to Synchronica and partner sales teams, and generally communicate competitive intelligence within the company to maximize competitive readiness.
Personal Specification
- Three or more years of successful technology product marketing experience
- Excellent writing skills (essential!)
- Must be highly motivated
- Strong customer / market focus, with a clear ability to understand the relationship between technology and improved business operations
- Effective use of internet technologies to support lead generation and communication programs
- Technical proficiency including the ability to clearly understand and promote sophisticated products
- Strong background in marketing, market segmentation, and market analysis for wireless products
- Experience in start-up companies
- Experience in creating successful positioning and promotions in support of vertical market sales growth
- Background in promoting and positioning software product portfolios
Base Location
Tunbridge Wells, England
Technical
Writer
Job Description
The technical writer will join a growing marketing team that produces high quality technical and customer documentation for all Synchronica products. The role is in a high profile, rapidly expanding division that provides products to a global customer base.
The role requires someone who can exhibit outstanding experience in comprehending complex wireless software systems and can demonstrate the ability to communicate this information to a technical and marketing audience. A knowledge of Java and C++ is essential. A background in technical writing will be a distinct advantage.
Key Responsibilities / Duties
- Write and update detailed user guides for users in enterprises and operators
- Write and update detailed reference manuals, help files, and quick start guides
- Maintain database information via an internal web site that is used by all staff in the division and has areas specifically for clients
- Take ownership of projects to ensure documentation is delivered when software is released. This involves working closely with product managers regarding functionality and time scales
- Create new documentation, and maintain existing documents. In both cases, the main task is to reflect the latest release of the software in the documentation; this involves the twin abilities of assessing time scales accurately and then working to the agreed deadlines. Content for the documentation is sourced from developers, product managers and testers
- Create whitepapers describing the vision of our products in the mobile industry
The Candidate - Required Education Level and Skills
The ideal candidate will have a good first degree, and may have studied technical authorship / communication at a post-graduate level. However, just as important as the education level is that the candidate should have significant experience (three to five years) communicating technical issues to a sophisticated audience. If this experiences includes working within the mobile industry this will be a significant advantage for the candidate.
In addition to this background, the ideal candidate will be able to demonstrate excellent interpersonal skills. The role requires the ability to get on with people from all levels within the company - directors, product managers, support staff, developers, administrators and test staff.
The ideal candidate will be self-motivated, confident of their own abilities but happy to combine these qualities with the role of a supportive team player.
Product Knowledge
- Microsoft Office products, particluarly advanced use of Word (essential)
- Microsoft Sharepoint Portal Server (advantageous)
- Knowledge of HTML (advantageous)
- Adobe Acrobat (essential)
- Photoshop / Paint Shop Pro (advantageous)
Base Location
Tunbridge Wells, England, or Berlin
Customer Support Engineer
Job Description
The Customer Support Engineer works as a member of our customer support / helpdesk organization. An integral part of this role is the provision of 2nd and 3rd level support to our customers. This role will involve support for our standard products, as well as supporting professional service extensions to our products.
Key Responsibilities / Duties
- Fluency in English and German
- Minimum of three years support experience in the mobile and telecommunications industry
- Quick learner with excellent communication skills (both written and verbal, mostly telephone and email)
- Calm, stress-resistant, open and friendly personality
- Structured and conscientious
- Motivated team player
- The ability to hit the ground running
Essential Skills
- Windows Server, Linux / UNIX, Sun Solaris
- Microsoft Exchange, Sun Java Communications Suite, IBM Lotus Domino
- J2EE, XML, JDBC, SQL, JBoss
Advantageous Skills
- Knowledge of SyncML, OMA DS and OMA DM
- Supporting mobile server applications (platform technologies and middleware)
- Experience using issue (case / ticket-based) tracking systems
What We Offer
- A competitive package
- Excellent working conditions in an enthusiastic, highly motivated and international team environment
- An opportunity to participate in a growth market
- A creative and relaxed atmosphere
Base Location
Berlin, Germany
Java Enterprise Developer
Essential Skills
- Motivated team player
- Quick learner with good communication skills
- Ability to hit the ground running
- Good command of the English language
The position is available from today, and is as member of a small team dedicated to the development of server products in the telecommunications industry and will involve to a small degree the participation in client projects.
Technical Skills
Good knowledge of J2EE, JUnit, web services, XML, JDBC, SQL, JBoss and CVS
Advantageous Skills
Eclipse, MySQL, Solaris, SyncML, OMA DS
What We Offer
- Excellent working conditions in an enthusiastic, highly motivated and international team environment
- An opportunity to participate in a growth market
- A creative and relaxed atmosphere
- Highly qualified international co-workers
Base Location
Berlin, Germany
Pease send your complete application including cover letter, CV, references, and testimonies (all in PDF) to careers-berlin@synchronica.com
Senior Java Enterprise Developer
To further strengthen our team, we aim to employ an experienced Java Developer with a proven track record of a minimum of three to five years ideally within the mobile and telecommunications industries. Knowledge of and experience in the development of JAVA-based middleware / server / platform products is essential, ideally paired with experience in SyncML and OMA standards.
Your role will involve taking architecture decision, consulting on the ongoing design and integration of new features, as well as implementing the ongoing optimization and extension of our Mobile Manager (Device Management Server) product within the goals formulated in the product roadmap.
Essential Skills
- Excellent analytical skills to assist the product manager in achieving roadmap success
- Excellent understanding of software development methodologies and processes
- Excellent knowledge of testing procedures (mainly unit testing)
- Structured and motivated team player
- Quick learner with good communication skills
- Ability to hit the ground running
- Good command of the English language both verbal and written
- Minimum of three years commercial industry experience
Technical Skills
Very good knowledge of J2EE, JUnit, web services, XML, JDBC, SQL, JBoss and CVS, unit testing, development methodologies and planning
Advantageous Skills
Eclipse, MySQL, Solaris, SyncML, OMA DM
What We Offer
- Excellent working conditions in an enthusiastic, highly motivated and international team environment
- An opportunity to participate in a growth market within an emerging company
- A creative and relaxed atmosphere
- Highly qualified international co-workers
Base Location
Berlin, Germany
Pease send your complete application including cover letter, CV, references, and testimonies (all in PDF) to careers-berlin@synchronica.com
Test Manager
Job Description
Working for Synchronica an opportunity has arisen for an ambitious tester who now wishes to move into team leading. Responsible for a team of test analysts abroad as well as functional responsibilities aligned with improving product quality. Work with the testing team to assist with the preparation of test plans and the testing of software to company guidelines and standards.
Key Responsibilities / Duties
- Familiar with industry standards (OMA, IMAP4, ITEL)
- Drives efforts to increase quality of products
- Performance reviews
- Evaluates, maintains, and improves testing roles and responsibilities within the product development life-cycle
- Responsible for functional duties assigned by direct manager
- Facilitates the development, implementation, and adherence of testing department standards in partnership with other test team leadership
- Evaluates and implements training and development needs for team
- Manages team compliance with existing measures for reporting testing efforts
- Co-ordinate all testing tasks within team
- Responsible for all test, test tools development, and configuration management activities
Skills / Attributes Required
- Strong QA, testing and mobile industry knowledge
- In depth software quality assurance experience including proven management, supervisory, or leadership experience
- The ability to work to agreed deadlines
- Experience of coordinating people to complete tasks
- Experience working within a matrix-style structure
Salary / Benefits Package
tbd
Junior Research Analyst
Salary: £17 - £19k DOE
Location: Tunbridge Wells, U.K.
Due to company growth, we require a Junior Research Analyst to work on research and analysis projects related to the worldwide mobile handset and software markets.
This position is an ideal opportunity for ambitious and talented recent graduates, and provides fantastic scope for career progression within a dynamic work environment, working for a recognized global market leader in synchronization, mobile email and mobile device management.
No previous experience in research is necessary, as full training will be given to the successful candidate.
Key Responsibilities / Duties
Working within the marketing department, you will be a key member of the team, working closely with colleagues to enhance the company's knowledge base and understanding of our customers, competitors and the market and related technology as a whole.
Principle responsibilities will include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Investigating the mobile handset market to track adoption of industry standards by device manufacturers on their products. Compile device lists to show which devices support which standards, and check compatibility with Synchronica's product suite
- Undertaking primary research and analysis of technical and business orientated information through all available means including by telephone, traditional media and technology-focused information sources
- Conducting regular desk research, consisting of investigation and compilation of research and analytical information
- Writing research, analytical and statistical reports in a clear, concise manner, which are easily understandable to the both technical and non-technical individuals.
- Presenting research findings internally to colleagues and to external clients, in both a written and verbal format as client and business needs require.
The Candidate - Required Education and Skills
The ideal candidate will be educated to degree level (2:2 minimum). The degree will ideally be in a technical discipline, as this role will necessitate a high level of technical aptitude.
Strong attention to detail and a well organized approach to work, as well as excellent analytical and numerical proficiency, will be essential to perform this role effectively. Superb written and verbal communication skills are also vital, and the successful candidate must be able to write clearly and concisely in English.
To apply for this position, candidates must be eligible to live and work in the U.K.
API Documenter / Technical Writer
Salary: Competitive
Location: Tunbridge Wells, U.K. or Berlin
The API Documenter will join a growing marketing team that produces high quality technical and customer documentation for all Synchronica market-leading products. The role is in a high profile, rapidly expanding division that provides products to a global customer base.
The role requires someone who can exhibit outstanding experience in comprehending complex wireless software systems and can demonstrate the ability to communicate this information to a technical and marketing audience. Knowledge of Java is essential. A background in technical writing and programming will be a distinct advantage.
Key Responsibilities / Duties
- Create new API documentation, and maintain existing documents. In both cases, the main task is to reflect the latest release of the software in the documentation; this involves the twin abilities of assessing time scales accurately and then working to the agreed deadlines. Content for the documentation is sourced from developers, product managers and testers
- Assist the technical writing team with writing and updating detailed user guides, reference manuals, help files, and quick start guides when necessary
- Maintain database information via an internal web site that is used by all staff in the division and has areas specifically for clients
- Take ownership of projects to ensure relevant documentation is delivered when software is released. This involves working closely with product managers regarding functionality and time scales
The Candidate - Required Education Level and Skills
The ideal candidate should have significant experience communicating technical issues to a sophisticated audience, in addition to a programming background. If this experience includes working within the mobile industry, this will be a significant advantage for the candidate.
In addition to this background, the ideal candidate will be able to demonstrate excellent interpersonal skills. The role requires the ability to get on with people from all levels within the company - directors, product managers, support staff, developers, administrators and test staff.
The candidate must be self-motivated and confident in their own abilities, but happy to combine these qualities with the role of a supportive team player.
An in-depth and demonstrable understanding of APIs is obviously essential to this role.
Although not necessary, a good first degree would be beneficial, as would additional post-graduate studies in technical authorship / communication.
Product Knowledge
- Microsoft Office products, particularly advanced use of Word (essential)
- Microsoft SharePoint Portal Server (advantageous)
- Knowledge of HTML (advantageous)
- Adobe Acrobat (essential)
- Photoshop / Paint Shop Pro (advantageous)
If you are interested in joining the Synchronica team for the jobs listed above or other positions you might consider, please send your resume to the following email address: info@synchronica.com
