Director, Engineering

Our vision is to build the next-generation platform for fast and easy creation of audio and video content. In November 2022, we took a huge leap forward by launching Storyboard, the video editing foundation that we’re excited to build atop AI capabilities like Overdub, Studio Sound, and other generative AI capabilities in the near future. We're used by some of the world's top podcasters and influencers as well as businesses such as BBC, ESPN, Hubspot, Shopify and Washington Post for communicating via video. We've raised $100M from some of the world's best investors like Andreessen Horowitz, OpenAI Startup fund, Redpoint Ventures and Spark Capital.

To justify our ambitious vision and serve our rapidly growing customer base, we’re planning to accelerate growth of the engineering team and are looking for a senior engineering leader who can lead and scale with the rapid growth of the company. You’ll oversee multiple product engineering teams, and this role reports directly into the VP of Engineering.

Learn more about how we're building Descript from one of our Engineers.

This role can be remote in the US or based in the SF Bay Area.

What You'll Do

  • Develop a roadmap in partnership with the Engineering Managers and technical leads and ensure execution is predictable, reliable and sustainable
  • Recruit, grow and coach Managers and ICs ensuring they receive regular feedback and opportunities to make rapid progress on their personal and professional goals
  • Shape the broader engineering organization’s operating model by spearheading technical practices, recruiting, onboarding strategy, planning and prioritization process and more
  • Provide product visions that align with company ideals and manage end to end technology execution performed by your team of engineers and cross-functional partners
  • Communicate clearly and efficiently with the leadership team regarding the statuses and results of current projects
  • Identify, recommend, and implement new technologies and systems to improve corporate processes and decision-making
  • Help scale our culture as we grow

What You Bring

  • 5+ years of management experience managing teams of Software Engineers and track record of shipping high quality products
  • 3+ years of experience managing Engineering Managers
  • Creates team environments that are collaborative, creative, empowering, supportive, and challenging —ones where engineers do their best work
  • Experience building web apps (ideally with React/TS) and/or native desktop apps
  • Effectively collaborates with a diverse set of functions technical and non-technical
  • Clear and succinct communicator (written and verbal)
  • Direct and emphatic while giving and receiving feedback
  • Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering or related field, or equivalent training, fellowship, or work experience

Nice to Haves:

  • Managed engineering teams at a startup before where the rate of change is extremely high
  • AI experience or a research background
The base salary range for this role is $224,000- $296,000/year. Final offer amounts will carefully consider multiple factors, including prior experience, expertise, location, and may vary from the amount above.

About Descript

Descript is building a simple, intuitive, fully-powered editing tool for video and audio — an editing tool built for the age of AI. We are a team of 150 — with a proven CEO and the backing of some of the world's greatest investors (OpenAI, Andreessen HorowitzRedpoint Ventures, Spark Capital). 

Descript is the special company that's in possession of both product market fit and the raw materials (passionate user community, great product, large market) for growth, but is still early enough that each new employee has a measurable influence on the direction of the company.

Benefits include a generous healthcare package, catered lunches, and flexible vacation time. Our headquarters are located in the Mission District of San Francisco, CA. We're looking to hire people who are local and able to join us at the office when needed. We're flexible, and you're an adult—we don't expect or mandate that you're in the office every day. But we do believe there are valuable and serendipitous moments of discovery and collaboration that come from working together in person. 

Descript 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, or Veteran status. We believe in actively building a team rich in diverse backgrounds, experiences, and opinions to better allow our employees, products, and community to thrive. 

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logo Descript Engineering Full-time Flexible 📍 San Francisco, CA | Remote Apply Now
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