Sr Director, Technical Product Management (Platform)

Upwork; United States; On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a forward-thinking company as the Senior Director of Technical Product Management, where you will revolutionize data infrastructure and strategy. In this pivotal role, you will lead the vision for an innovative data platform that empowers teams and fuels AI/ML advancements. Collaborating with engineering and analytics leaders, you will create scalable systems that enhance decision-making and drive business growth. This role offers the chance to shape the future of work for a global workforce, with a culture built on trust, excellence, and personal growth. Embrace the opportunity to make a significant impact while enjoying a comprehensive benefits package.

Benefits

Comprehensive medical coverage

Unlimited PTO

401(k) plan with matching

12 weeks of paid parental leave

Employee Stock Purchase Plan

Development programs

Mentorship opportunities

Belonging Communities

Qualifications

• 10+ years in product management with experience in data platform roles.
• Deep understanding of modern data technologies and infrastructure.

Responsibilities

• Define strategic vision for Upwork’s internal data platform.
• Lead and mentor a high-performing team of product managers.
• Drive innovation and continuous improvement in data systems.

Skills

Product Management

Data Platform

Technical Leadership

Data Technologies

AI/ML Collaboration

Stakeholder Alignment

Education

Bachelor's Degree in a related field

Master's Degree preferred

Tools

Data Lakes

Event Streaming Tools

Observability Tools

Job description

Sr Director, Technical Product Management, Data

Remote

Upwork ($UPWK) is the world’s largest work marketplace, connecting businesses with highly skilled professionals worldwide. From entrepreneurs to Fortune 100 enterprises, companies trust Upwork’s platform to access expert talent, leverage AI-powered work solutions, and drive meaningful business outcomes.

Join us in revolutionizing data infrastructure and product strategy at Upwork and significantly impacting our platform and users. As the Senior Director of Technical Product Management (Data Platform), you’ll set the strategic vision and lead execution for Upwork’s open data ecosystem. You’ll drive critical infrastructure investments that empower hundreds of internal data consumers and fuel AI/ML innovation across the company. In this highly visible and cross-functional role, you’ll collaborate with engineering, analytics, and data science leaders to build scalable, trustworthy systems that enable experimentation, decision-making, and business growth.

Responsibilities

• Define and drive the strategic vision for Upwork’s internal data platform, aligning with company-wide priorities and influencing executive stakeholders.
• Lead, mentor, and scale a high-performing team of product managers, setting direction across data infrastructure, governance, and internal tooling.
• Partner with engineering, analytics, and AI/ML leaders to deliver reliable, secure, and scalable data systems — including event streaming, data lake architecture, and observability tools.
• Champion a customer-first culture within the data platform team, surfacing and solving challenges that impact data reliability and access across business functions.
• Establish and track clear product goals and outcomes, aligning product investments with organizational impact and long-term scalability.
• Drive innovation and continuous improvement by fostering a culture of experimentation, psychological safety, and bold, future-focused thinking.
• Communicate vision and progress with clarity, influencing cross-functional stakeholders and enabling efficient, async collaboration at scale.

What it takes to catch our eye

• 10+ years in product management with 4+ years leading technical product teams, ideally in data platform or infrastructure roles.
• Deep understanding of modern data technologies, including data lakes, batch/real-time pipelines, event streaming, and observability tooling.
• Proven track record of building and scaling internal platforms that serve cross-functional teams and drive measurable business impact.
• Experience partnering with AI/ML and data science teams to support experimentation, model development, and data reliability.
• A strategic, outcome-oriented mindset with strong leadership, communication, and stakeholder alignment skills.

Come change how the world works.

At Upwork, you’ll shape the future of work for a global, remote-first workforce, creating economic opportunities for professionals worldwide. While we have a physical office in Palo Alto, we currently hire full-time employees in 21 U.S. states, making it easier than ever to join our mission from wherever you call home.

Our culture is built on trust, risk-taking, customer focus, and excellence, all in service of our core mission: to create economic opportunities so people have better lives. We embrace authenticity and inclusion, encouraging everyone to bring their whole selves to work. Personal and professional growth is a priority here, supported through development programs, mentorship, and our Upwork Belonging Communities.

We’re proud to offer benefits that go beyond the basics, including comprehensive medical coverage for you and your family, unlimited PTO, a 401(k) plan with matching, 12 weeks of paid parental leave, and an Employee Stock Purchase Plan. Visit our Life at Upwork page to learn more about our values, working principles, and the overall employee experience.

The annual base salary range for this position is displayed below. The range displayed reflects the minimum and maximum salary for this position, and individual base pay will depend on your skills, qualifications, experience, and location. Additionally, this position is eligible for the annual bonus plan or sales incentive plan and eligibility to participate in our long term equity incentive program.