Senior Engineering Manager, Media Foundation

Airbnb

Senior Engineering Manager building Airbnb’s global media infrastructure for photo, video, and document experiences. Leading strategy, reliability, scalability, and engineering teams across Airbnb’s platform.

Posted 8/4/2026full-timeRemote • 🇺🇸 United StatesSenior💰 $248,000 - $310,000 per yearWebsite

Core Competencies

Role fit

Core Competencies

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Demonstrates deep expertise in large-scale distributed systems and media/content infrastructure, with a strong focus on technical strategy, architecture, and operational excellence. Proven ability to lead diverse teams, influence cross-functional partners, and drive significant business impact through large initiatives.

Highest-signal resume keywords

Engineering Management ExperienceLarge-Scale Distributed SystemsMedia/Content InfrastructureTechnical Strategy and ArchitectureOperational Excellence

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills

Large-Scale Distributed SystemsMedia/Content InfrastructureTechnical StrategyArchitecture DesignSystem ReliabilityScalabilityCDN DeliveryData ProcessingTechnical Debt ResolutionCross-Team Initiatives

Soft Skills

Strong Communication SkillsFlexible Leadership StyleJudgment in Business NeedsCoaching and MentoringFostering Diversity and Inclusion

Certifications & Qualifications

Bachelor’s Degree in Computer ScienceMaster’s Degree in Computer Science

Industry Keywords

Media InfrastructureOperational RigorEngineering ExcellenceCross-Functional CollaborationTeam Growth and Retention

Tech Stack

Tools & technologies

Distributed Systems

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Lead a team building and operating Airbnb’s media infrastructure for photo, video, and document interactions.
Set technical strategy and architecture for media infrastructure across multiple teams.
Shape the team’s vision and steer the organization toward larger goals.
Oversee day-to-day operations, technical deep dives, internal engineering community engagement, and strategic planning.
Own the reliability, scalability, and evolution of Airbnb’s media systems.
Lead, coach, and grow managers and senior technical leads.
Partner with Product, Design, Trust, and infrastructure organizations on the media platform roadmap.
Champion engineering excellence and operational rigor.
Resolve systemic technical debt affecting reliability, performance, or velocity.
Retain, grow, and hire a diverse team of engineers and managers.

Requirements

What you’ll need

12+ years of industry experience.
Minimum 6+ years of engineering management experience, including managing other managers or senior technical leads.
Bachelor’s and/or Master’s degree, preferably in Computer Science, or equivalent experience.
Deep expertise in large-scale distributed systems.
Track record of setting technical strategy and architecture across multiple teams.
Media/content infrastructure experience in ingestion, processing, storage, or CDN delivery is a strong plus.
Strong product instinct and communication skills.
Experience influencing senior cross-functional and cross-organizational partners.
Track record of leading and shipping large, cross-team initiatives with significant business impact.
Experience building cultures of operational excellence, quality, and reliability.
Sound judgment balancing short-term business needs with long-term technical and organizational health.
Flexible leadership style suited to varying team maturity.
Ability to identify, retain, grow, and acquire engineering and management talent.
Commitment to fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion within teams.
Must live in a state where Airbnb, Inc. has a registered entity.

Benefits

Comp & perks

Bonus eligibility
Equity eligibility
Health and other benefits
Employee Travel Credits
Remote work eligibility
Occasional office work or attendance at offsites
Disability-inclusive application and interview process
Reasonable accommodation during recruiting