Senior Manager of Engineering, Next Gen Collaboration & Marketing Tech

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Upwork is hiring a Senior Manager of Engineering to lead the Next Gen Collaboration and Marketing Tech teams, driving ML-powered collaboration, scalable project management, and SEO initiatives. In this role you’ll translate product priorities into reliable architectures, guide cross-functional work with Product, Data Science and Design, and set quality standards for scalable systems. You’ll coach managers and engineers, champion responsible AI, and resolve misalignments to maintain momentum. Ideal candidates bring a track record in scalable cloud-based collaboration platforms, strong cross-functional communication, and adaptive AI fluency. When applying, tailor your resume to show measurable impact, team leadership, architecture decisions, and outcomes, plus SEO and AI initiatives; note hub arrangements and readiness to join Upwork when possible.

Upwork Inc.’s (Nasdaq: UPWK) family of companies connects businesses with global, AI-enabled talent across every contingent work type including freelance, fractional, and payrolled. This portfolio includes the Upwork Marketplace, which connects businesses with on-demand access to highly skilled talent across the globe, and Lifted, which provides a purpose-built solution for enterprise organizations to source, contract, manage, and pay talent across the full spectrum of contingent work. From Fortune 100 enterprises to entrepreneurs, businesses rely on Upwork Inc. to find and hire expert talent, leverage AI-powered work solutions, and drive business transformation. With access to professionals spanning more than 10,000 skills across AI & machine learning, software development, sales & marketing, customer support, finance & accounting, and more, the Upwork family of companies enables businesses of all sizes to scale, innovate, and transform their workforces for the age of AI and beyond.

Since its founding, Upwork Inc. has facilitated more than $30 billion in total transactions and services as it fulfills its purpose to create opportunity in every era of work. Learn more about the Upwork Marketplace at Upwork.com and follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and X; and learn more about Lifted at Go-Lifted and follow on LinkedIn.

We’re hiring a Senior Manager of Engineering to lead our Next Gen Collaboration & Marketing Tech  teams - an ambitious effort to reinvent how talent and clients connect across the platform and also innovate on top of the funnel visibility through Search Engine Optimization & Marketing (SEO/SEM).. This role will guide engineering teams building real-time, ML-powered systems that redefine how the clients and talent collaborate to deliver the right outcomes. You’ll shape the technology strategy and execution for intelligent matchmaking at global scale, collaborating across functions to ensure seamless, trusted outcomes for our users.

Responsibilities

• Lead and support multiple engineering teams building ML-enabled Collaboration and project / task management systems.
• Technical SEO Mastery: Expertise in crawlability, indexing, and site architecture is essential to ensure search engines can navigate the website efficiently.
• Translate business and product priorities into reliable, performant, and scalable engineering solutions
• Partner with Product, Data Science, and Design to define goals and measure outcomes that takes the collaboration to next level 
• Guide architecture decisions and quality standards for real-time collaboration systems
• Develop and coach engineers and managers, fostering an inclusive and high-performing team culture
• Model adaptive use of AI in engineering workflows—encouraging responsible experimentation, iterative improvement, and knowledge sharing
• Identify and resolve cross-functional misalignments, ensuring seamless collaboration and forward momentum across orgs

What it takes to catch our eye

• Demonstrated success leading engineering teams working on highly scalable and available collaboration, project/task management systems
• Hands-on experience in building cloud based solutions and has a deep understanding of the latest technologies, frameworks and architectural patterns.  
• Experience managing people leaders and mentoring teams through ambiguity, scale, and architectural evolution
• Clear record of setting high bars for system quality, customer impact, and engineering effectiveness
• Strong cross-functional communication skills and an ability to align product and technical goals at pace
• Adaptive-level AI fluency: skilled at integrating AI into team workflows, iterating on output quality, and scaling best practices across teams

Come change how the world works..

This position will initially be employed through a partner to ensure a seamless hiring process while we establish the hub. Once the hub is established, there may be opportunities to transition to employment with Upwork depending on business needs and other requirements. While employed by the partner, you’ll work as part of Upwork’s team, with access to our resources, culture, and growth opportunities.

Our partner will offer competitive benefits. When Upwork’s hub is established, we will be excited to offer employment and benefits directly as business needs require. 

Upwork is committed to building a diverse, inclusive, and equitable workforce. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or any other status protected by applicable law.

Upwork is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse and inclusive workforce. We do not discriminate based on race, religion, color, national origin, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, genetic information, or other legally protected characteristics under federal, state, or local law.

Please note that a criminal background check may be required once a conditional job offer is made. Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered in accordance with applicable law, including the California Fair Chance Act and local Fair Chance ordinances. The Company is committed to conducting an individualized assessment and giving all individuals a fair opportunity to provide relevant information or context before making any final employment decision.

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