Manager I, Applied AI: Distilled Models

Impactribe Ltd; Paris; Hybrid; EUR 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Datadog in Paris is seeking a Manager I in Applied AI to lead a team of engineers and applied scientists focused on cost-efficient AI models and security capabilities. You will define technical direction, oversee end-to-end delivery from research to production, and collaborate with product managers, research teams, and cross-functional partners.

The role emphasizes coaching, structured decision-making, and driving measurable impact in a hybrid work environment that supports work-life harmony.

Qualifications

• A people-focused manager with experience leading and mentoring engineers, able to develop strong engineering talent in a fast-moving domain.
• A technical leader with deep expertise in one or more areas of AI or machine learning: large language models, retrieval-augmented generation (RAG), semantic search, agentic systems, deep learning, or NLP
• Well-versed in evaluation methodologies for AI systems, both offline benchmarks and online metrics
• A strong product instinct: anchor early-stage work in concrete customer problems, define success criteria, and contribute to shaping product direction
• Experience taking AI products from 0 to 1: structure early-stage work with hypotheses, move toward signal, and decide what to pursue or pivot

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop a team of engineers and applied scientists focused on cost-efficient specialized models and AI security capabilities
• Shape the team's bets from framing through broader adoption with clear success criteria
• Own end-to-end delivery of high-quality AI systems, from research to production with high reliability and quality
• Manage shipping AI-powered products balancing quality, latency, cost and safety; define evaluation pipelines to measure quality and detect drift
• Foster cross-team collaboration and knowledge sharing across the AI organization
• Support career growth through coaching, feedback, and hiring as the organization grows

Skills

People leadership

AI/ML expertise

Evaluation methodologies

Product instinct

Strategy & decision making

Education

BS/MS/PhD in ML/CS/Engineering or equivalent

Job description

Datadog in Paris is seeking a Manager I in Applied AI to lead a team of engineers and applied scientists focused on cost-efficient AI models and security capabilities. You will define technical direction, oversee end-to-end delivery from research to production, and collaborate with product managers, research teams, and cross-functional partners.

The role emphasizes coaching, structured decision-making, and driving measurable impact in a hybrid work environment that supports work-life harmony.