Research Manager

Available Locations: Austin, TX About the department
The Cloudflare Research team stands at the nexus of academic inquiry and real-world implementation, operating with a clear mandate: to advance the company's mission to help build a better Internet. That core objective drives every project, publication, and standard the team contributes to, upholding Cloudflare's commitment to a more secure, private, and accessible Internet. The department is crucial in translating Cloudflare's public values into tangible, globally-scaled technologies. This environment offers a unique opportunity for specialized researchers and engineers to perform intellectually challenging work that delivers measurable, positive impacts on global digital infrastructure. Our current focus areas include Artificial Intelligence, Cryptography, Privacy, Network protocols, architecture, measurement and performance evaluation, and distributed systems.
More information about Cloudflare's approach to research can be found here.
What you'll do
A Cloudflare Research Engineering Manager plays a pivotal role in leading technical teams that are at the forefront of developing groundbreaking solutions. This position involves frequent and close collaboration with both research scientists and data scientists, fostering an environment where cutting-edge research seamlessly transitions into tangible product development. Their expertise is particularly crucial in highly specialized and rapidly evolving domains such as advanced cryptography, robust distributed systems, and practical applications of machine learning.
Beyond their technical acumen, Research Engineering Managers are responsible for the comprehensive oversight of their teams. This includes providing clear technical guidance, making critical architectural decisions that shape the future of Cloudflare's infrastructure, and ensuring that individual projects align with the broader strategic objectives of the business. A key aspect of their role is to bridge the gap between high-level business goals and their granular technical implementation. Their efforts directly contribute to enhancing the developer experience by building scalable, resilient, and state-of-the-art technology that underpins Cloudflare's mission to help build a better Internet.
Examples of desirable skills, knowledge and experience:

• A minimum of 6 years of experience in management or supervisory roles within a large, technology-driven organization.
• A strong foundation in computer science, specializing in areas such as algorithms, data structures, software design, web security, and building large-scale distributed systems.
• Exceptional skills in planning, cross-functional collaboration, and leading teams to consistently deliver results with predictability.
• A proven track record of leading teams, including expertise in hiring, onboarding, and professional development. You are able to inspire your team and effectively communicate both the "why" and the "how."
• Experience in implementing tools, processes, internal instrumentation, and methodologies, as well as resolving blockages.
• Demonstrated ability to recruit and hire top-tier talent.
• Comfortable managing teams and projects under tight deadlines and short release cycles.
• Experience in fostering the growth and maximizing the potential of both budding and experienced engineers and researchers.
• A track record of excellence in at least one of the team's key research areas.

Responsibilities

• Lead and Develop the Team: Guide, mentor, and foster the growth of a skilled team of engineers, researchers, and data scientists. Cultivate an environment that values technical excellence, teamwork, continuous learning, and innovation. Conduct regular one-on-one meetings, offer constructive feedback, and support career progression.
• Drive Strategic Planning and Roadmap: Define and manage the team's strategic roadmap while enhancing effectiveness. Ensure team objectives align with broader organizational goals and contribute to the overall Research team strategy.
• Foster Cross-functional Collaboration: Collaborate closely with various teams, including engineers, data scientists, and product managers, to integrate research innovations into products.
• Communicate Progress and Strategy: Effectively communicate team progress, challenges, and strategic direction to senior leadership, stakeholders, and the wider organization. Represent the team's work internally and externally, including through blog posts and presentations.
• Contribute to Hiring and Growth: Actively participate in the hiring process to expand the team, identifying and attracting top talent who can contribute to Cloudflare's mission and culture.