People Strategy, Engineering

About the role

This is a senior individual contributor position focused on developing talent within Datadog's Engineering department. You will be instrumental in shaping how the company cultivates its engineering workforce, from leadership development to career progression. This role involves designing and implementing large-scale talent programs.

Key facts

What you'll do

• Lead the design and execution of complex talent programs for Engineering, covering areas like leadership skills, career frameworks, organizational structure, performance evaluation, internal transfers, and succession planning for key roles.
• Collaborate directly with People Business Partners and senior management to transform abstract challenges into clear program objectives, guiding principles, and measurable success indicators.
• Help Engineering and People teams understand and adapt to the impact of AI on roles, required skills, and work methodologies, translating these changes into practical talent and organizational design decisions.
• Maintain active involvement from initial concept to full implementation; this role requires both program creation and ongoing management, not just strategic planning and hand-off.
• Work with Enablement, Learning, People Analytics, and People Systems teams to ensure programs are scalable and integrated into core people processes.
• Provide People Business Partners with necessary frameworks, tools, and executive-ready communications to support effective program adoption within the business.
• Navigate ambiguous situations and influence stakeholders without formal authority, building trust with senior leaders even when solutions are not yet fully defined.
• Assess program effectiveness using both qualitative and quantitative data, adjusting strategies based on actual business requirements.

Requirements

• Proven experience designing and delivering talent programs within a rapidly expanding global organization.
• Demonstrated history of partnering directly with executives on strategic people-related issues.
• Equally comfortable establishing overall direction and focusing on specific details, capable of moving from strategy to execution without premature delegation.
• Data-driven, practical, and focused on results, with a strong emphasis on delivery and follow-through.
• Skilled at building consensus, offering constructive challenges, and maintaining credibility across diverse viewpoints.

Practical notes

This role offers new hire stock equity (RSUs) and an employee stock purchase plan (ESPP). Benefits include continuous professional development, product training, career pathing, an intradepartmental mentor and buddy program, an inclusive company culture with Community Guilds and Inclusion Talks, and free global mental health benefits for employees and dependents aged 6+. Comprehensive global benefits include healthcare, dental, parental planning, mental health, a 401(k) plan with match, paid time off, and fitness reimbursements. Benefits may vary by country and employment type.