Technical Leader, Platform Innovation

Employment Type: Full-time Location Type: Remote (Implied) Salary: $235,000 – $260,000 USD (or equivalent in local currency)

Position Overview

Customer.io powers automated communication that people actually want to receive. Over 7,500 companies, from scrappy startups to global brands, use our platform to send billions of emails, push notifications, in-app messages, and SMS every day. We help teams send smarter, more relevant messages using real-time behavioral data. Our technology stack includes Go, React, Ember, and AI.

We are seeking an experienced technical leader to drive innovation and shape the future of our platform. This role is ideal for someone who thrives in ambiguity, enjoys shipping new features, and brings deep technical perspective to early product initiatives. You will lead strategy, architecture, and execution on high-impact projects as an individual contributor, with opportunities for growth as the work scales. You will report to our CTO and collaborate closely with a small, highly collaborative team focused on building what's next.

What We Value

• Entrepreneurial Thinking: Turn ambiguity into opportunity, move fast, connect technical ideas to customer value, and build impactful products.
• Architectural Leadership: Possess sharp technical judgment and a systems mindset, make smart tradeoffs, set clear direction, and design for lasting scale.
• Hands-On Execution: Ship code, shape architecture, and remain involved from the first commit through long-term adoption.

What You’ll Do

• Architect and build new capabilities from scratch, guiding them through scaling.
• Prototype smarter product experiences using modern AI tools (LLMs, agents, embeddings, etc.).
• Lead technical strategy and decision-making on early-stage product initiatives.
• Partner across disciplines to define product direction and priorities.
• Write production code, shape architecture, and communicate technical vision effectively.
• Ensure long-term success through clean handoffs, excellent documentation, and strong technical vision.
• Influence without authority by driving significant ideas forward from an individual contributor role.

What We're Looking For

• 10+ years of software engineering experience, with at least 5 years in founder, principal, or staff technical leadership roles.
• Proven ability to take projects from concept to launch and transition them into durable systems.
• Deep expertise in cloud-native architecture, distributed systems, and backend infrastructure.
• Experience building with or evaluating modern AI tooling and opportunities.
• Excellent communication skills, including writing, verbal collaboration, and architectural thinking.
• A high-context thinker who moves fast, makes sound decisions, and ships with care.

Compensation & Benefits

We believe in transparency. The starting salary for this role is $235,000 – $260,000 USD (or equivalent in local currency), depending on experience and subject to market rate adjustments.

We are committed to taking great care of our employees. Our inclusive benefits package supports your well-being and growth, including:

• 100% coverage of medical, dental, vision, mental health, and supplemental insurance premiums for you and your family.
• 16 weeks paid parental leave.
• Unlimited Paid Time Off (PTO).
• Stipends for remote work and wellness.
• Professional development budget.
• And more.

See full benefits here → (Note: Link not provided in original text)

Our Process

Our hiring process is designed to be clear and thoughtful, helping both parties make an informed decision.

1. Application: We review every application with care. Please tell us why you're interested in this role.
2. Recruiter Call (30 mins): A conversation to discuss your career goals and how we work.
3. Behavioral Interview (60 mins): Discuss your experience, values, and working style with the hiring manager, focusing on ownership, product thinking, and collaboration.
4. Strategic Leadership Interview (60 mins): Engage with one of our leaders to discuss your approach to this role, innovation, and past experiences leading similar initiatives.
5. Take-Home Assignment: Submit a short retrospective on a relevant project or technical challenge. (Note: Assignment details were cut off in the original text)