Manager II, Engineering – Secure Compute Platform

Confluent3 weeks ago

Location

Remote, United States

Workplace

Remote

Type

Full Time

Salary

USD 252,800 – 297,000

Level

Manager

Role

Engineering Manager

Posted

Feb 20, 2026

Full TimeRemoteManager

The role

Summary

Confluent seeks a hands-on Engineering Manager to lead a team of 6-8 engineers building the foundational Secure Compute Platform for Confluent Cloud. This role involves managing critical infrastructure components including isolation, identity, and networking across AWS, Azure, and GCP while driving technical excellence in distributed systems and Kubernetes. The position requires 10+ years of software development experience and 3+ years of management experience.

What you'll do

Strategic Vision and Roadmap: Lead the strategic vision and multi-year roadmap for the Secure Compute Platform, aligning foundational infrastructure with company growth goals

Technical Leadership: Provide hands-on technical leadership in distributed systems, Kubernetes, and container-based runtimes to ensure world-class security and scale

Cross-functional Partnership: Partner with Product, Security, and Cloud Infrastructure teams to define architectural standards and deliver seamless, end-to-end solutions

Team Management and Culture: Cultivate a culture of technical excellence and ownership within a high-performing and inclusive engineering team. Lead, mentor, and scale a team of 6-8 engineers

AI-driven Innovation: Drive the exploration and adoption of AI-driven tools and workflows to accelerate team velocity and enhance operational efficiency

Platform Execution: Own the execution of critical platform building blocks—including isolation, identity, and networking—to meet the needs of a global, multi-tenant customer base

Operational Excellence: Champion operational hygiene and observability, maintaining high standards for reliability and performance across thousands of global clusters

Platform Adoption: Influence overall domain health by driving platform adoption and ensuring secure compute interfaces meet the needs of developer-centric users

What we look for

Technical

Distributed Systems ExpertiseDeep technical proficiency in building and scaling secure, high-performance distributed systems

Container and Kubernetes MasteryExpert-level knowledge of Kubernetes, container internals, and lower-level systems

Multi-cloud ArchitectureExperience building resilient systems at scale using hyperscale CSPs (AWS, Azure, GCP)

API GovernanceUnderstanding of API governance frameworks and best practices for ensuring API consistency, security, and reliability

Education

Computer Science DegreeBachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or equivalent experience

Experience

Software Development Experience10+ years of experience in software development

Management Experience3+ years of management experience leading engineering teams

Leadership and CommunicationAbility to influence team, peers, and upper management using effective communication and collaborative techniques

Hiring and Performance ManagementAbility to hire while ensuring a high hiring bar, motivate engineers, coach/mentor, and manage performance

Delivery ExcellenceExcellent track record of timely shipping features, sense of urgency, aggressive mindset toward achieving results, and excellent prioritization skills

Skills

Required skills

Distributed SystemsExpert-level experience in designing and scaling distributed systems

KubernetesDeep proficiency in Kubernetes orchestration and container internals

Cloud PlatformsHands-on experience with AWS, Azure, and GCP for multi-cloud deployments

Engineering ManagementProven ability to lead, mentor, and scale engineering teams

Security ArchitectureExperience building secure, isolated compute environments for multi-tenant systems

API DesignUnderstanding of API governance and design patterns for platform services

Nice to have

Open Source ContributionsTrack record of contributing to foundational open-source projects in cloud-native or distributed systems ecosystem

CNCF EcosystemExperience with Cloud Native Computing Foundation projects and community

AI-driven InfrastructureKnowledge of AI-driven infrastructure automation and tooling

Community BuildingAbility to build and foster strong engineering communities around platform technologies

Compensation & benefits

Salary

USD 252,800 – 297,000 (annual)

Stock options

Available

Benefits

Equity Compensation

Stock options and equity participation in company growth

Remote Work

Fully remote position with flexibility to work from anywhere in the United States

Equal Opportunity

Inclusive workplace with equal opportunity employment practices

Professional Development

Opportunities to contribute to open-source projects and engage with cloud-native community

Interview process

1
Initial Screening — Phone or video screening with talent acquisition to discuss background and interest
2
Technical Leadership Interview — Discussion of technical leadership experience, distributed systems architecture, and management philosophy
3
System Design Interview — Deep dive into secure compute platform design, multi-cloud architecture, and scalability challenges
4
Management Interview — Focus on team leadership, hiring practices, performance management, and organizational influence
5
Cross-functional Collaboration — Panel interview with Product, Security, and Infrastructure teams to assess partnership and communication skills
6
Final Interview — Meeting with senior leadership to discuss strategic vision, cultural fit, and long-term goals