Sr Director, Engineering

F5 Networks, Inc.; San Jose (CA); Hybrid; USD 319,000 - 478,000; Full time

Job summary

F5 Networks, Inc. in San Jose is seeking a Senior Director of Engineering to lead data path engineering for the Distributed Cloud. You will guide multiple cloud services, drive scalable, high-performance AI-enabled infrastructure, and shape the engineering strategy across global teams.

You will build and optimize processes, define KPIs, and partner with product, design, and engineering leaders to deliver on ambitious roadmaps while managing budgets and resources.

Qualifications

• 10+ years leading engineering teams in distributed, global organizations.
• Hands-on experience running and scaling a cloud service.
• Experience with AWS, Azure, or GCP and AI workflows.
• Deep understanding of cloud data planes for AI-powered applications.
• Strong strategic vision and execution capabilities.
• Proficient in data-driven decision making and metrics.
• Exceptional collaboration with product, design, and engineering leaders.
• Inspiring leadership that builds high-performance teams.

Responsibilities

• Champion Vision and Direction: Build and optimize the cloud data plane for AI traffic and modern, distributed applications, ensuring high availability, scalability, and state-of-the-art performance.
• Run Multiple Cloud Services: Take ownership of operating and scaling multiple cloud services, ensuring performance, security, and reliability at scale.
• Define the Strategic Framework: Develop an operational strategy aligned with business goals for the F5 Distributed Cloud and drive innovation.
• Revolutionize Processes: Identify bottlenecks and introduce automation and coordination improvements in a fast-growing, distributed team.
• Scale Engineering Excellence: Create a roadmap for scaling processes, infrastructure, and global teams while maintaining quality.
• Collaborate to Innovate: Work cross-functionally with product management, design, and engineering leaders to align roadmaps.
• Elevate Engineering Infrastructure: Oversee investments in CI/CD, project management tools, and collaboration platforms.
• Metrics That Matter: Set KPIs and drive improvements based on data-driven insights.

Skills

Leadership

Cloud service ops

Cloud architecture

AI workflows

Strategic planning

Data-driven decisions

Cross-functional collaboration

Team building

Job description

At F5, we strive to bring a better digital world to life. Our teams empower organizations across the globe to create, secure, and run applications that enhance how we experience our evolving digital world. We are passionate about cybersecurity, from protecting consumers from fraud to enabling companies to focus on innovation. Everything we do centers around people. That means we obsess over how to make the lives of our customers, and their customers, better. And it means we prioritize a diverse F5 community where each individual can thrive. Lead. Innovate. Transform. Are you ready to shape the future of engineering for the F5 Distributed Cloud product? We’re looking for an exceptional Senior Director of Engineering to drive engineering excellence, scale innovative teams, and make bold advancements in cloud technology. If you're inspired by the challenge of creating the next-generation cloud data plane designed to power AI traffic and modern applications, and overseeing multiple cloud services, this is your opportunity to make a global impact. As the Senior Director of Engineering, you’ll lead our data path engineering teams, guiding them in designing and delivering scalable solutions at the intersection of distributed cloud services, artificial intelligence, and high-performance applications. You will play a pivotal role in operating and optimizing multiple cloud services that serve our global user base.

What You’ll Do:

• Champion Vision and Direction: Build and optimize the cloud data plane for AI traffic and modern, distributed applications, ensuring high availability, scalability, and state-of-the-art performance.
• Run Multiple Cloud Services: Take ownership of operating and scaling multiple cloud services. This involves managing distributed systems and ensuring they meet robust performance, security, and reliability benchmarks.
• Define the Strategic Framework: Develop a comprehensive operational strategy that fosters sustainable engineering growth, aligned with business goals for the F5 Distributed Cloud. Drive innovation and empower teams to turn ambitious ideas into groundbreaking realities.
• Revolutionize Processes: Identify bottlenecks and inefficiencies within engineering workflows. Introduce tools and mechanisms for automation and seamless coordination in a high-growth, distributed team environment.
• Scale Engineering Excellence: Develop a roadmap for scaling engineering processes, infrastructure, and global team structures, focusing on efficiency and quality without compromising innovation.
• Collaborate to Innovate: Work cross-functionally with product management, design, and engineering leaders, ensuring seamless alignment of engineering direction with product delivery milestones.
• Elevate Engineering Infrastructure: Oversee investments in cutting-edge tools, including CI/CD pipelines, project management systems, and communication platforms, that propel engineering productivity to the next level.
• Metrics That Matter: Set KPIs and use data to inform strategic decisions. Drive improvements based on actionable insights and measurable outcomes.
• Talent Supercharger: Nurture leadership within the teams. Build a high-performance, collaborative culture that inspires engineers to stay ahead of the curve and excel continuously.
• Master Resource Management: Plan and deploy resources effectively to support ambitious operational goals and engineering demands while managing budgets with precision.

What You Bring:

• Leadership Mastery: 10+ years of experience scaling and leading engineering teams with hands-on success in distributed, global organizations.
• Proven Experience Running a Cloud Service: Hands-on experience operating, scaling, and managing a cloud service—including addressing performance, reliability, and security at scale—absolutely required.
• Cloud Expertise: Proven experience working with cloud services (AWS, Azure, GCP) and designing architectures that support cutting-edge AI traffic workflows and modern application demands.
• Trailblazer in Technology Innovation: A deep understanding of cloud data planes for delivering scalable, high-performance solutions to drive AI-powered applications.
• Strategic Visionary: You excel at translating vision into execution, driving operational excellence, even in fast-paced, high-growth technology organizations.
• Data-Driven Problem Solver: You thrive on using metrics and analytical insights to guide strategic decisions and engineering success.
• Cross-functional Connector: Exceptional collaboration and stakeholder management prowess make you a trusted and respected partner, aligning diverse teams behind common objectives.
• Inspiring Leader: Your ability to build trust, influence, and culture makes you a builder of teams that collaborate, innovate, and win.

Bonus Points:

• Expertise in creating distributed cloud data planes specifically for AI-driven traffic and intelligent applications.
• Experience scaling engineering organizations at technology companies with DevOps practices and agile methodologies at their core.
• Deep knowledge of cutting-edge tooling ecosystems, CI/CD pipelines, and cloud-native technologies.
• Demonstrated success in managing global teams across diverse geographies and time zones.

This isn’t just a job; it’s an opportunity to lead engineering at the intersection of AI, cloud infrastructure, and modern applications.

If you’re excited about scaling innovation, transforming engineering operations, and running world-class cloud services.

The Job Description is intended to be a general representation of the responsibilities and requirements of the job. However, the description may not be all-inclusive, and responsibilities and requirements are subject to change.

The annual base pay for this position is: $318,700.00 - $478,100.00. F5 maintains broad salary ranges for its roles in order to account for variations in knowledge, skills, experience, geographic locations, and market conditions, as well as to reflect F5’s differing products, industries, and lines of business. The pay range referenced is as of the time of the job posting and is subject to change. You may also be offered incentive compensation, bonus, restricted stock units, and benefits.

More details about F5’s benefits can be found at the following link: https://www.f5.com/company/careers/benefits.

F5 reserves the right to change or terminate any benefit plan without notice.

Please note that F5 only contacts candidates through F5 email address (ending with @f5.com) or auto email notification from Workday (ending with f5.com or @myworkday.com).

Equal Employment Opportunity It is the policy of F5 to provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and employment applicants without regard to unlawful considerations of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, sensory, physical, or mental disability, marital status, veteran or military status, genetic information, or any other classification protected by applicable local, state, or federal laws. This policy applies to all aspects of employment, including, but not limited to, hiring, job assignment, compensation, promotion, benefits, training, discipline, and termination. F5 offers a variety of reasonable accommodations for candidates. Requesting an accommodation is completely voluntary. F5 will assess the need for accommodations in the application process separately from those that may be needed to perform the job. Request by contacting [e-mail].

Hybrid: Employees within 30 commutable miles of an F5 office are required to work from the office a minimum of 30 business days per quarter.

Remote: Primarily work from designated home location but can come into an F5 office to work or travel to an offsite location as needed.

Together, we're building a better digital world.

Founded in 1996, F5 is a global leader in application delivery and security. Our premier platform helps customers secure and deliver every app, API, and piece of infrastructure across all environments.

Backed by over three decades of expertise and 553 patents, our solutions protect against threats while ensuring fast, reliable digital experiences.

With over 6,400 employees, we serve more than 23,000 customers in over 170 countries.

To continue this work, we need people like you—the best minds in the industry. We're committed to a unique, human-first culture that encourages authenticity, prioritizes diversity and inclusion, and fosters the growth and success of our employees.