Head of Platform Engineering - Descript

Our vision at Descript is to build the next-generation platform for fast and easy creation of audio and video content. We are trusted by some of the world's top podcasters and influencers, as well as businesses like BBC, ESPN, HubSpot, Shopify, and The Washington Post for communicating via video. We've raised $100M from leading investors such as the OpenAI Startup fund, Andreessen Horowitz, Redpoint Ventures, and Spark Capital.

About The Team

We are seeking a Head of Platform Engineering to lead and scale our Platform organization. This organization at Descript is central to empowering our engineering teams to build and deliver products efficiently and effectively. Operating as an internal product team, the Platform group focuses on providing tools, infrastructure, and services that enable our engineers to deliver exceptional products to our users.

You will be leading three teams (~15 engineers) across the three Platform teams, with expectations for continued growth in the next 6-12 months. The Platform organization encompasses three key teams:

• Server Platform Team: Builds and maintains our core backend and development infrastructure, ensuring scalability, reliability, and performance.
• Client Platform Team: Focuses on the foundations of our client applications, optimizing for a seamless user experience across desktop and web platforms.
• AI Platform Team: Develops and scales our AI/ML infrastructure to support cutting-edge research and integration of AI features into our products.

Key Challenges Ahead:

• Infrastructure Scaling: Building a scalable, reliable, and performant infrastructure to support the growth of our engineering, data, and research teams.
• Product Transition: Leading the transition of our features and infrastructure from a desktop app-heavy product to a web-first and cloud-based user experience.
• Developer Experience: Establishing the foundations for a world-class developer experience, enhancing productivity and satisfaction across a fast-growing, full-stack engineering organization.
• AI/ML Integration: Scaling our AI/ML platform to support innovative research rapid productization of AI features, and a product feedback cycle for model improvements.

This position reports directly to the VP of Engineering.

What You'll Do

• Strategic Leadership: Develop and execute a strategic vision and roadmap for the Platform organization, aligning with company goals and ensuring cross-team collaboration.
• Team Development: Recruit, mentor, and grow engineering managers and engineers, fostering a culture of continuous learning and development.
• Operational Excellence: Ensure execution across the Platform teams is predictable, reliable, and sustainable, implementing best practices in project management and engineering processes.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work closely with Product, Design, and other Engineering teams to ensure platform initiatives meet the needs of internal stakeholders.
• Innovation and Improvement: Drive innovation within the Platform organization, continually seeking ways to improve our infrastructure, tools, and processes.
• Culture Building: Help scale and evolve our company culture as we grow, promoting values of collaboration, inclusivity, and excellence.

What You Bring

• Leadership Experience: Has 5+ years of engineering management experience, including leading multiple teams or an engineering organization, preferably in platform or developer experience domain.
• Technical Expertise: Demonstrates a strong technical background with experience in cloud platforms (GCP preferably), scalable infrastructure, and AI/ML technologies.
• Strategic Thinker: Can develop and communicate a clear vision, aligning teams and resources to achieve strategic objectives.
• Team Builder: Excels at creating collaborative, empowering, and high-performing team environments.
• Effective Communicator: Communicates clearly and effectively, both in writing and verbally, across technical and non-technical audiences.
• Adaptable and Resilient: Thrives in fast-paced, rapidly changing environments, with the ability to navigate ambiguity and drive results.
• Educational Background: Holds a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field, or has equivalent professional experience.

Nice to Haves

• Startup Experience: Experience managing engineering teams at a startup or high-growth company where the rate of change is extremely high.
• AI/ML Background: Familiarity with AI/ML platforms, tools, and practices.
• Developer Tools Expertise: Background in building developer tools and enhancing developer experience.