Founding Engineering Lead

Responsibilities

• Run discovery calls with startup CTOs and engineering leads to identify technical needs and position Datadog against competitors.
• Deliver tailored demos and assist startups with technical onboarding, specifically regarding AI/ML observability and infrastructure scaling.
• Build automation to improve internal team workflows, including outreach, reporting, and application processes.
• Represent Datadog for Startups at accelerator demo days, hackathons, conferences, and founder events across San Francisco.
• Develop relationships within the SF startup ecosystem, including founders, VCs, and technical communities.

Requirements

• 5-7+ years in solutions architecture, pre-sales engineering, technical consulting, or a similar customer-facing role at a SaaS or cloud company.
• Broad fluency in cloud infrastructure, containers, Kubernetes, CI/CD, and modern application frameworks.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to command a room of technical founders and engage in unscripted conversations with CTOs.
• Based in San Francisco and actively engaged in the local tech/startup community.
• A consultative mindset with the ability to thrive in an ambiguous, fast-paced startup environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Previous startup experience, such as being an early-stage engineer, a founder, or a consultant to founders.
• Genuine personal interest in AI and emerging technologies (e.g., LLMs, agentic workflows, or codegen tools).

Benefits

• New hire stock equity (RSUs) and employee stock purchase plan (ESPP).
• Competitive global benefits including healthcare, dental, and mental health support.
• Continuous professional development and career pathing opportunities.
• Inclusive company culture with access to Community Guilds and mentorship programs.

About the Company

Datadog is the leading observability and security platform for the AI era, providing businesses with unified visibility across the technology stack to manage complexity at scale. Trusted globally by Fortune 500 companies and high-growth AI leaders, Datadog enables businesses to move faster with clarity and confidence.