[Remote] Director of Engineering, Ads & Monetization at Upwork

Remote

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Not SpecifiedCompensation

Expert & Leadership (9+ years)Experience Level

Full TimeJob Type

UnknownVisa

Online Marketplace, Biotechnology, AdvertisingIndustries

Requirements

Candidates should have over 10 years of engineering leadership experience, including managing managers and scaling large teams. Proven success leading large-scale ad tech, monetization, or marketplace platforms with measurable business impact is required. The role also requires the ability to set a clear vision, prioritize effectively, and drive execution with urgency across multiple initiatives, along with strong collaboration and communication skills, executive presence, and influence across functions. Technical depth in distributed systems, platforms, or performance engineering is highly desirable.

Responsibilities

The Director of Engineering will lead the vision, execution, and operations of Upwork’s advertising and monetization platforms, guiding multiple teams across ad serving, targeting, measurement, and monetization systems. They will define and communicate the engineering strategy for Ads & Monetization, lead execution across ad tech systems, and build and evolve platforms that support new ad formats, targeting capabilities, and monetization models. The role involves developing and mentoring senior engineering managers and leads, partnering with product and business stakeholders to shape monetization strategies, and ensuring quality, performance, and reliability across large-scale distributed systems. The Director will also represent Ads & Monetization progress and outcomes to executive leadership with clarity and data-driven insights.

Skills

Engineering Management

Ad Serving

Targeting

Measurement

Monetization Systems

Ad Tech

Scalability

Platform Development

Mentoring

Leadership

Product Partnerships

Business Stakeholder Management

Upwork

Online platform connecting freelancers and clients

About Upwork

Upwork connects freelancers with clients looking for various services in the gig economy, which focuses on short-term contracts instead of permanent jobs. The platform allows freelancers to create profiles that showcase their skills, while clients can post job listings for specific projects. Freelancers bid on these projects, and clients choose the best candidates based on proposals and reviews. Upwork earns revenue through service fees charged to freelancers based on their earnings, with a tiered structure that rewards long-term client relationships. The platform also offers premium memberships and additional services for enhanced visibility and access to job listings. Upwork provides tools for time tracking, invoicing, and project management, making it easier for both freelancers and clients to manage their work and payments. The goal of Upwork is to facilitate successful project completion by bridging the gap between freelancers and clients.

San Francisco, CaliforniaHeadquarters

2015Year Founded

$143.8MTotal Funding

IPOCompany Stage

Consulting, Enterprise SoftwareIndustries

10,001+Employees

Benefits

Health Insurance

Unlimited Paid Time Off

401(k) Retirement Plan

401(k) Company Match

Parental Leave

Employee Stock Purchase Plan

Risks

Increased competition from Fiverr and Toptal threatens Upwork's market share.

The new Fiverr-style Project Catalog may commoditize services, reducing freelancers' perceived value.

Strategic shifts under new management may not align with current client expectations.

Differentiation

Upwork connects freelancers with clients across diverse industries, enhancing global work opportunities.

The platform offers tools like time tracking and invoicing for efficient project management.

Upwork's tiered fee structure incentivizes long-term client relationships, differentiating it from competitors.

Upsides

Upwork's acquisition of Objective AI enhances its AI capabilities for better talent matching.

The introduction of Featured Jobs increases visibility for job posts, attracting more candidates.

Upwork's recognition as the top job posting site boosts its credibility among employers.

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