Engineering Director, Talent

Engineering Director, Talent Full-Time · Hybrid · Barcelona, Spain Relocation support available Visa sponsorship available for eligible international candidates About the Role We are looking for an Engineering Director to lead the engineering organization behind the Talent product portfolio. You will own the engineering direction for Talent products spanning Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS), employee engagement and performance, and Learning Management Systems (LMS) and training. You will lead a team of approximately six engineers and report directly to the VP of Engineering. The role combines technical leadership, product thinking, engineering management, architecture, and hands-on problem solving. This is an opportunity for an engineering leader who operates with strong product ownership and entrepreneurial thinking, helping take an established HR technology platform into an AI-first product environment. What You’ll Own • Lead the engineering organization for the Talent product domain • Own the technical direction for the ATS, performance and engagement products, and learning and training capabilities • Lead a team of approximately six engineers and create an environment where engineers can perform at their best • Define what should be built, why it matters, and how the engineering organization can deliver it effectively • Partner closely with the CPO and VP of Product on product strategy and major Talent product initiatives • Work with product and design leadership to translate product opportunities into scalable technical solutions • Drive architecture decisions, technical trade-offs, reliability, scalability, and system performance • Help evolve Talent products toward an AI-agent-first product experience • Solve complex performance and scalability challenges associated with serving thousands of customers on a shared platform • Balance technical excellence with customer value, product differentiation, and business outcomes • Report to the VP of Engineering and collaborate with other engineering leaders across the organization What We’re Looking For • Strong technical leadership experience in product engineering • Experience building or leading products, platforms, or engineering organizations • Strong understanding of software architecture, technical trade-offs, scalability, and production performance • Experience leading and developing engineering teams • Ability to remain technically credible with experienced engineers • Strong product thinking and the ability to connect engineering decisions with customer and business outcomes • Demonstrated ability to define what to build and explain why a product or feature will create differentiated value • Entrepreneurial mindset with a high level of ownership and autonomy • Ability to operate effectively in a fast-growing product organization • Willingness to work closely with product, design, engineering, and executive leadership Technical Leadership The role requires sufficient technical depth to engage meaningfully with architecture and production challenges. You should be comfortable discussing: • System architecture and technical design • Scalability and performance • Engineering trade-offs • Production reliability • Technical debt and prioritization • Building products for a large customer base • Applying AI capabilities within established software products The specific programming language or technology stack is not a requirement for this role. Product & AI Focus The Talent organization is evolving toward an AI-first product experience. You will help shape how AI and intelligent agents can enhance areas including recruiting, candidate assessment, employee performance, engagement, learning, and training. The role requires someone who can evaluate AI opportunities from both a technical and product perspective while maintaining a strong focus on customer value and product quality. Leadership & Team You will lead approximately six engineers and are expected to combine strong people leadership with technical and product ownership. The emphasis is on developing engineers, creating clarity, making sound technical decisions, and enabling the team to deliver high-impact products without unnecessary process. This is not a purely administrative engineering management position. Technical judgment, product thinking, and ownership are central to the role. Work Environment This is a hybrid position based in Barcelona, Spain. The role requires four days per week in the office. International candidates are welcome, with relocation support and visa sponsorship available. The company supports approximately one month of remote work toward the end of the year through its flexible working arrangement. Reporting Structure You will report directly to the VP of Engineering and work alongside other engineering directors responsible for different product domains. You will also partner closely with the CPO and VP of Product on Talent product strategy and priorities. Interview Process The interview process is expected to take approximately two to three weeks. 1. Hiring Manager & Fit Discussion covering your background, leadership approach, working style, and approach to collaboration. 2. Technical Knowledge Assessment of technical fundamentals and depth, including architecture, scalability, and significant performance challenges you have faced. 3. Product Vision Discussion of a recent product or feature you built or led, including its purpose, differentiation, and expected market or customer value. 4. Engineering Leadership Discussion of how you lead engineers, develop teams, and create an environment where high-performing engineers can succeed. 5. CPO Interview Discussion of product leadership and working across the wider organization. 6. Product / Design Leadership Discussion with the product or design leadership partner responsible for working alongside the Talent engineering organization. Compensation Compensation is determined according to level and includes a combination of base salary, bonus, and equity. Specific compensation details are confirmed during the hiring process.