Director of Engineering, Governance

Confluent3 weeks ago

Location

Remote, United States

Workplace

Remote

Type

Full Time

Salary

USD 322,500 – 387,000

Level

Director

Role

Engineering Manager

Posted

Feb 19, 2026

Full TimeRemoteDirector

The role

Summary

Director of Engineering position at Confluent leading a global team to build next-generation data governance platform for Apache Kafka, Flink, and Iceberg technologies. Requires 10+ years of second-level engineering management experience with strong distributed systems background and track record of shipping production features.

What you'll do

Team Leadership: Lead a highly productive, global team of software engineers and engineering leaders across multiple time zones

Strategic Planning: Drive the long-term direction and strategy of Governance in Confluent, partnering with internal stakeholders

Technical Innovation: Create competitive advantages for Confluent by driving technical innovation in governance and adjacent technologies

Schema Management: Drive improvements in schema management and enforcement, including enabling a shift from thick to thin clients

Team Growth: Continue strong growth trajectory by hiring top tier engineers and establishing quality standards

Architecture Design: Accountable for design, development, quality and operations for technologies running on clients and clouds

Platform Integration: Help shape next generation catalog services for seamless Kafka, Flink and Iceberg integration

Cross-functional Collaboration: Partner deeply with Product team to build vision, strategy and roadmap for governance features

What we look for

Technical

Distributed SystemsStrong fundamentals in distributed systems design and development

Production ServicesPreferred experience running production services in public clouds

Data StreamingDeep understanding of real-time data streaming and governance platforms

Schema ManagementExperience with schema registry, data governance, and policy enforcement

Education

Bachelor's DegreeBachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related technical field preferred

Advanced DegreeMaster's degree in Computer Science or related field is a plus

Experience

Management Experience10+ years of second-level engineering management experience leading productive, high-functioning teams

Technical LeadershipProven track record of shipping features and hitting deadlines consistently

Team BuildingExperience maintaining high hiring bar while recruiting, motivating, coaching, and managing performance

Strategic VisionAbility to anticipate future technical needs and craft multi-year strategic plans

Skills

Required skills

Engineering Management10+ years of second-level engineering management experience

Distributed SystemsStrong fundamentals in distributed systems design and development

Team LeadershipProven ability to lead high-functioning engineering teams

Strategic ThinkingVision and strategy to anticipate future technical needs

CommunicationExcellent communication and collaborative techniques for influence

Nice to have

Cloud PlatformsExperience running production services in public clouds (AWS, GCP, Azure)

Apache KafkaDeep experience with Kafka ecosystem and streaming technologies

Data GovernanceBackground in data governance, schema management, and policy enforcement

Open SourceExperience with open source projects and community contribution

Agile MethodologiesExperience with agile development practices and sprint management

Compensation & benefits

Salary

USD 322,500 – 387,000 (annual)

Stock options

Available

Benefits

Equity Compensation

Stock options and equity participation in company growth

Remote Work

Fully remote work arrangement with global team collaboration

Professional Development

Opportunities for continuous learning and career advancement

Health Insurance

Comprehensive health, dental, and vision coverage

Inclusive Culture

Equal opportunity workplace with focus on belonging and diversity

Interview process

1
Initial Screening — Phone or video screening with hiring manager to discuss background and role fit
2
Technical Leadership Interview — Deep dive into technical leadership experience, system design, and management philosophy
3
Behavioral Interview — Assessment of leadership style, team building capabilities, and cultural fit
4
Executive Interview — Strategic discussion with senior leadership about vision and long-term planning
5
Team Meet & Greet — Virtual meeting with potential team members and key stakeholders
6
Reference Check — Professional reference verification and background check process