Sr. Engineering Manager, AI Platform

Redpanda is a unified platform combining streaming, SQL analytics, and intelligent connectivity with a governance layer for enterprise AI agents in production, trusted by Fortune 500 companies and startups. The role focuses on ADP, Redpanda's governed runtime connecting AI agents to production data with audited control for AI gateway traffic, agent identity, policy enforcement, and observability, built on streaming and Iceberg technologies. The position is hybrid based in Warsaw, working at least 3 days on-site.

• 10+ years of software development and delivery experience.
• 5+ years managing software developers.
• Experience leading highly technical engineering teams in early-stage, fast-moving products.
• Experience creating strategy and roadmaps under ambiguity with shifting requirements.
• Hands-on or strong opinions on AI agent infrastructure including LLM gateways, MCP/tool-calling, agent identity/authorization, and governed data access.
• Entrepreneurial spirit; comfortable working in startup-like teams.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Technical leadership including representing engineering in technical sales.
• Experience growing teams to 15-20 people.
• Comfortable with globally distributed teams and open collaboration (e.g., GitHub).

Nice to have:

• Experience shipping new product categories or 0-to-1 products with early design-partner collaboration.
• Experience with AI agent frameworks, protocols, or infrastructure.
• Experience in security or compliance-sensitive markets.
• Track record introducing AI-assisted development practices improving velocity or quality.
• Experience managing people managers.

• Own the roadmap and execution for ADP including AI gateway, MCP/tool governance, agent identity, policy enforcement, and audit/observability.
• Ship features quickly to stay competitive and credible with design partners.
• Work cross-functionally to operationalize product success and go-to-market motion.
• Collaborate with engineering leadership and product management on technology vision and strategy.
• Set the AI-first engineering culture using team practices as a model.
• Empower the team with ownership and belonging.
• Motivate and enable the team towards organizational success.
• Provide frequent, actionable feedback supporting personal development.
• Foster collaborative, aligned decision-making.
• Continuously improve team workflows and measure outcomes.
• Lead recruiting, hiring, and performance reviews.
• Mentor team members for personal and career growth.
• Communicate challenges, assess risks, and manage contingency plans.
• Drive evaluation and management of team performance.
• Manage project execution.