Sr Director, Engineering

F5 Networks, Inc; San Jose (CA); On-site; USD 320,000 - 478,000; Full time

Job summary

F5 Networks, Inc is seeking a Senior Director of Engineering to shape the future of the Distributed Cloud product. You will lead data-path engineering across distributed cloud services, guiding teams to deliver scalable, AI-ready architectures for global users.

You will drive strategic execution, invest in cutting-edge tooling, CI/CD, and cloud-native platforms, and collaborate across product, design, and engineering leadership to meet ambitious milestones.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience leading distributed engineering teams.
• Hands-on experience running a cloud service at scale with performance, reliability and security.
• Proven experience with AWS, Azure, and GCP and AI traffic workflows.
• Ability to translate vision into executable plans in fast-paced environments.

Responsibilities

• Champion vision and direction for cloud data plane for AI traffic and modern distributed applications.
• Run and scale multiple cloud services with strong reliability and security focus.
• Define a strategic operational framework aligned with business goals.
• Identify bottlenecks and drive automation to improve engineering workflows.
• Scale engineering processes, infrastructure, and global team structures.

Skills

Leadership

Cloud service management

Cloud architecture

Strategic planning

Data-driven decisions

Cross-functional collaboration

Team building

Tools

CI/CD tooling

Cloud-native tooling

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.

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.

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].