Manager, Software Engineering

About the role

Figma is looking for a manager to guide an engineering team focused on building personalized, intuitive AI-driven features for users. You will work alongside an AI Research team to expand what designers can accomplish and make design tools accessible to more people. This position involves taking AI initiatives from early concept through full delivery. You will own the end to end execution of ambitious AI projects, translating high level research and product ideas into working software that changes how designers work. You will partner closely with cross functional stakeholders to define the vision for AI features and ensure that technical decisions support long term product goals. The role requires you to balance strategic thinking with hands on technical leadership to solve complex problems in a fast moving environment. You will be responsible for creating an environment where engineers can build innovative solutions while maintaining a high bar for quality and user impact.

Key facts

What you'll do

• Build and grow a diverse engineering team responsible for AI features across Figma's core products, focusing on hiring, coaching, and retention.
• Collaborate with Product, Engineering, AI Research, and Data Science to shape strategy and maintain a clear roadmap for AI experiences that align with user needs.
• Recruit, coach, and retain strong engineering talent while encouraging innovation and thoughtful experimentation within the team.
• Identify opportunities for 0 to 1 development by applying new AI technologies to improve user experiences and unlock novel design workflows.
• Support diversity and inclusion through equitable hiring, team growth, and company wide initiatives that create a more inclusive product and workplace.
• Translate ambiguous product concepts into concrete technical strategies, defining milestones and success metrics for AI driven features.
• Own the technical design of AI features, making decisions on architecture, tooling, and integration to ensure scalability and performance.
• Monitor product data and user feedback to iterate on AI features, driving improvements and identifying new areas for investment.
• Partner with design and research teams to ensure that AI capabilities are intuitive, accessible, and aligned with how designers work.
• Mentor engineers by providing guidance, feedback, and growth opportunities that help individuals advance their careers and skills.
• Lead scoping and planning sessions to break down complex AI initiatives into manageable deliverables and dependencies.
• Ensure that engineering practices, including code reviews, testing, and deployment, support rapid yet reliable feature delivery.
• Communicate progress, risks, and trade offs to stakeholders, aligning expectations and adjusting plans as needed.
• Foster a culture of learning by encouraging the team to explore emerging AI technologies and incorporate best practices into their work.

Requirements

• 3+ years of experience hiring, leading, and developing high performing engineering teams in demanding product environments.
• Background building and scaling AI powered product capabilities, preferably in fast paced, high growth settings where outcomes are critical.
• Track record of driving 0 to 1 product development and turning ambiguous ideas into production ready features that users rely on.
• Ability to lead fast moving teams that balance creative exploration with reliable execution while maintaining quality and deadlines.
• Genuine interest in emerging AI technologies and how they apply to user facing products, with a focus on solving real problems.
• Experience managing remote and hybrid teams across distributed locations, ensuring inclusion and alignment among all members.
• Strong communication skills to articulate technical concepts to both technical and non technical stakeholders.
• Willingness to participate in on call and virtual meetings as needed, including occasional after hours support for critical launches.

Nice to have

• Familiarity with generative AI, RAG, fine tuning processes, and their use in creative tools to understand technical constraints and opportunities.
• Hands on experience analyzing product data to identify new opportunities or investment areas for your team, using metrics to inform decisions.

Skills & tools

• Engineering team leadership
• AI product development
• Cross functional collaboration with Product, Research, and Data Science
• 0 to 1 product delivery
• Hiring and talent development

Practical notes

• Compensation includes equity, health, dental, and vision coverage, retirement benefits with company contributions, parental leave, reproductive and family planning support, mental health and wellness benefits, and paid time off.
• Exempt employees receive flexible paid PTO and flexible paid sick leave, subject to manager approval.
• Additional perks include company recharge days, cell phone and home internet reimbursements, and lifestyle spending accounts.
• Eligible non sales roles may receive an annual bonus.
• Candidates must keep cameras on during video interviews.
• If hired, in person onboarding attendance is required.
• Accommodation requests can be sent to accommodations ext@figma.com.