Manager, Software Engineering - Data Platform

Figma
San Francisco +1 more
Hybrid

Who this role is best for

A natural match if you have experience managing data platform teams in a production environment.

Best fit for

  • Candidates with team leadership experience in data infrastructure and a background in scaling systems in production environments
    — “3+ years managing engineers, including senior ICs or tech leads, with a track record of building and scaling high-performing teams
  • Individuals who can balance near-term execution with long-term platform investment and provide hands-on technical leadership
    — “Keep delivery predictable while balancing near-term execution with long-term platform investment
  • Candidates with a strong partnership mentality and experience working with cross-functional stakeholders like Data Science and Engineering
    — “Strong partnership mentality and the ability to manage multiple cross-functional stakeholder groups such as Data Science, Product, Finance, and Engineering

Things to consider

  • This role requires strong communication skills and the ability to set technical direction in ambiguous situations
    — “Ability to set technical direction, drive alignment, and prioritize clearly under ambiguity, paired with strong written communication
  • The role demands a balance between team growth and platform scalability, which could be resource-intensive
    — “Drive the reliability, scalability, and forward strategy of the platform as adoption grows across the engineering and product organization

How to stand out

  • Highlight your experience in leading teams through scaling challenges in data infrastructure
    — “Demonstrated experience building and scaling data platform or data infrastructure systems in a production, online environment
  • Emphasize your ability to provide hands-on technical leadership when needed, not just managerial oversight
    — “Set the roadmap and technical strategy for your sub area, and provide hands on technical leadership where the team needs it
  • Showcase your track record in growing teams and improving team health through coaching and hiring
    — “Hire, grow, and coach engineers and tech leads, raising the bar and building a healthy, inclusive, high-performing team
Pace · SteadyCollaboration · HighAutonomy · HighDecision Impact · CompanyLevel · Manager

Derived from job-description analysis by Serendipath's career intelligence engine.

What success looks like

  • lead and grow a team of engineers
  • set the roadmap and technical strategy
  • drive reliability and scalability
  • hire, grow, and coach engineers
  • partner with Data Science, Product, Finance, and Engineering
Typical background
3+ years managing engineersdemonstrated experience building and scaling data platform or data infrastructure systems

Skills & requirements

Required

Managing EngineersData PlatformTechnical DirectionTeam HealthData InfrastructureSoftware EngineeringCross-functional Stakeholder ManagementTechnical Direction SettingPrioritization Under Ambiguity

Preferred

Large-scale Data Processing SystemsExperimentation Or Feature Flagging PlatformsVendor Relationship ManagementTech Lead DevelopmentScaling Hiring

Stack & domain

Data PlatformData Infrastructure SystemsData Processing SystemsAI And ML WorkloadsExperimentation Or Feature Flagging PlatformsPartnership MentalityAbility To Set Technical DirectionDrive AlignmentPrioritize Clearly Under AmbiguityStrong Written CommunicationSoftware Engineering

About the role

Original posting from Figma via Greenhouse

Figma is growing our team of passionate creatives and builders on a mission to make design accessible to all. Figma’s platform helps teams bring ideas to life—whether you're brainstorming, creating a prototype, translating designs into code, or iterating with AI. From idea to product, Figma empowers teams to streamline workflows, move faster, and work together in real time from anywhere in the world. If you're excited to shape the future of design and collaboration, join us!

Figma is a data-driven organization, and Data Platform builds the foundation that makes that possible. The platform powers everything from core business metrics and product analytics to the applied AI and experimentation systems that teams across the company rely on to build and make decisions. In this role, you'll lead engineers across Data Platform through their next phase of scale, setting technical direction, growing the team, and partnering broadly across the company.

This is a full time role that can be held from one of our US hubs or remotely in the United States.

What you’ll do at Figma:

Lead and grow a team of engineers building and operating Figma's data platform, owning delivery, technical direction, and team health

Set the roadmap and technical strategy for your sub area, and provide hands on technical leadership where the team needs it

Drive the reliability, scalability, and forward strategy of the platform as adoption grows across the engineering and product organization

Hire, grow, and coach engineers and tech leads, raising the bar and building a healthy, inclusive, high-performing team

Partner with Data Science, Product, Finance, and Engineering to identify the highest-leverage priorities and drive alignment

Make sound build versus buy decisions, including evaluating and managing platform vendors where it makes sense

Keep delivery predictable while balancing near-term execution with long-term platform investment

We'd love to hear from you if you have:

3+ years managing engineers, including senior ICs or tech leads, with a track record of building and scaling high-performing teams

Demonstrated experience building and scaling data platform or data infrastructure systems in a production, online environment

A strong software engineering background with senior or staff-level technical depth before moving into management, and enough current depth to set direct technical direction

Strong partnership mentality and the ability to manage multiple cross-functional stakeholder groups such as Data Science, Product, Finance, and Engineering

Ability to set technical direction, drive alignment, and prioritize clearly under ambiguity, paired with strong written communication

While it's not required, it's an added plus if you also have:

Expertise in large-scale data processing systems, including batch, streaming, or applied AI and ML workloads

Familiarity with experimentation or feature flagging platforms

A track record of evaluating and managing vendor relationships

A demonstrated ability to develop tech leads and scale hiring at pace

At Figma, one of our values is Grow as you go. We believe in hiring smart, curious people who are excited to learn and develop their skills. If you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with the points outlined in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyways. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.

Pay Transparency Disclosure

Job level and actual compensation will be decided based on factors including, but not limited to, individual qualifications objectively assessed during the interview process (including skills and prior relevant experience, potential impact, and scope of role), market demands, and specific work location. 

Figma offers equity to employees, as well as a competitive package of additional benefits, including health, dental, and vision coverage; retirement benefits with company contributions; parental leave and reproductive or family planning support; mental health and wellness benefits; and paid time off. Figma provides paid sick leave, holidays, and other leave benefits in compliance with applicable federal, state, and local laws, including the requirements of the Washington Minimum Wage Act and related regulations. Exempt employees are eligible for employer‑provided paid flexible PTO in addition to flexible paid sick leave. PTO is subject to manager approval. Additional benefits may include company recharge days, cell phone and home internet reimbursements, and a number of lifestyle spending accounts. Figma also offers sales incentive compensation for most sales roles and an annual bonus plan for eligible non-sales roles. All compensation and benefits are subject to applicable plan terms and may be modified by Figma at any time, consistent with applicable law.

Annual Base Salary Range:$258,000—$376,000 USDAt Figma we celebrate and support our differences. We know employing a team rich in diverse thoughts, experiences, and opinions allows our employees, our product and our community to flourish. Figma is an equal opportunity workplace - we are dedicated to equal employment opportunities regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity/expression, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements.

We will work to ensure individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to apply for a role, participate in the interview process, perform essential job functions, and receive other benefits and privileges of employment. If you require accommodation, please reach out to accommodations-ext@figma.com. These modifications enable an individual with a disability to have an equal opportunity not only to get a job, but successfully perform their job tasks to the same extent as people without disabilities. 

Examples of accommodations include but are not limited to: 

Holding interviews in an accessible location

Enabling closed captioning on video conferencing

Ensuring all written communication be compatible with screen readers

Changing the mode or format of interviews 

To ensure the integrity of our hiring process and facilitate a more personal connection, we require all candidates keep their cameras on during video interviews. Additionally, if hired you will be required to attend in person onboarding.

By applying for this job, the candidate acknowledges and agrees that any personal data contained in their application or supporting materials will be processed in accordance with Figma's Candidate Privacy Notice.

Source: Figma careers (Greenhouse)

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