[Remote] Director of Platform Operations – Infrastructure at Upwork

Remote

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Not SpecifiedCompensation

Senior (5 to 8 years)Experience Level

Full TimeJob Type

UnknownVisa

Software, AI, Cloud ComputingIndustries

Requirements

Proven experience (10+ years) in software engineering
3+ years leading high-performing infrastructure or platform teams
Deep technical expertise in cloud-native systems, Kubernetes, CI/CD platforms, and distributed systems operations
Experience designing and scaling AI/ML platforms for model training, deployment, and monitoring
Demonstrated success in building reusable, self-service platforms that accelerate developer productivity
Growth-minded leader with exceptional communication and collaboration skills

Responsibilities

Lead global operations for core infrastructure platforms, including Kubernetes (EKS), developer environments, CI/CD systems, and enterprise integrations
Define and execute the roadmap for secure, multi-tenant infrastructure that powers engineering and AI/ML workloads
Drive automation for build and release processes, incident response, and compliance readiness
Oversee platform-wide observability, including logging, monitoring, distributed tracing, and SLO instrumentation
Partner with AI platform teams to operationalize next-gen infrastructure such as GPU provisioning, MCP/Agent Marketplace, and model-serving environments
Recruit, mentor, and scale a high-performing, globally distributed team
Represent infrastructure operations in strategic planning and architectural reviews

Skills

Key technologies and capabilities for this role

KubernetesCI/CDDeveloper ToolingAI/ML InfrastructurePlatform OperationsCloud ComputingEKSAutomationIncident ResponseSecurity

Questions & Answers

Common questions about this position

What experience is required for the Director of Platform Operations role?

Candidates need proven experience with 10+ years in software engineering and 3+ years leading high-performing infrastructure or platform teams.

What technical skills are essential for this position?

Deep technical expertise is required in cloud-native systems, Kubernetes, CI/CD platforms, and distributed systems operations, plus experience designing and scaling AI/ML platforms for model training, deployment, and monitoring.

Is this a remote position or does it require office work?

This information is not specified in the job description.

What is the salary or compensation for this role?

This information is not specified in the job description.

What does the team structure look like for this role?

The role involves overseeing a globally distributed team, recruiting, mentoring, and scaling a high-performing team that fosters innovation and technical excellence.

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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