About Redpanda
Redpanda is the first runtime and control plane for agent-data interaction — a unified platform that combines streaming, SQL analytics, and intelligent connectivity with the governance layer enterprise AI agents need in production. Built on infrastructure already trusted by Fortune 500 companies and fast-growing startups, Redpanda enforces governance entirely outside the agent's data path, controlling what agents see, limiting what they do, and capturing a tamper-proof record of everything they touch.
About the Role
ADP is Redpanda's boldest bet: the governed runtime that lets enterprises safely connect AI agents to production data and systems. We are looking for an experienced Senior Engineering Manager, reporting to the VP/Head of Engineering, to lead ADP engineering end to end: own the roadmap, ship in-demand features and functionality at startup speed, and work cross-functionally with Product, Sales, and Customer Engineering. This role also carries a broader mandate: help set the culture and AI-first working model for how software engineering gets done at Redpanda.
Responsibilities
- Own the roadmap and execution for ADP: the AI gateway, MCP/tool governance, agent identity, policy enforcement, and the audit/observability layer.
- Move fast and ship in-demand features and functionality.
- Work cross-functionally with Product, Sales, Customer Engineering, and design-partner customers to operationalize how Redpanda wins in the agentic infrastructure market.
- Craft and execute the company's technology vision and strategy for ADP.
- Help set the culture and AI-first way of working for software engineering at Redpanda.
- Empower the team, motivate them, and foster a strong sense of ownership.
- Lead the recruiting and hiring process, conduct performance reviews, and mentor team members.
- Track progress, assess risks, and communicate contingency plans.
- Actively discuss strategic topics with peers and Directors.
Join Redpanda if you’d enjoy being part of a fast-moving, diverse, people-first organization with team members around the globe and a culture based on trust, transparency, communication, and kindness. You'll dive into a nimble, high-impact team with the latest AI tools — and the budget to actually use them.
Requirements
- 10+ years of experience in software development and delivery.
- 5+ years of experience managing software developers.
- Experience leading or managing highly technical engineering teams, ideally in fast-moving, early-stage product areas.
- Experience developing a strategy and roadmap under real ambiguity.
- Hands-on experience with, or a strong point of view on, AI agent infrastructure: LLM gateways, MCP/tool-calling, agent identity and authorization, or governed data access patterns for AI systems.
- An entrepreneurial spirit.
- Strong verbal and written communication skills and demonstrated technical leadership.
- Previous experience growing a team to 15-20 people.
- Comfortable working with a globally distributed engineering team.
Nice to Have
- Experience shipping a net-new product category or 0-to-1 product inside an existing company.
- Experience with AI agent frameworks, protocols, or infrastructure.
- Direct experience selling or supporting technical products in security- or compliance-sensitive markets.
- A track record of introducing AI-assisted development practices to a team.
- Previous experience managing people managers.
