Director of Engineering

Whip Media is the leading SaaS platform transforming how the world’s largest media and entertainment companies manage, distribute, and monetize content across the global streaming supply chain. Our flagship product, Helix, is an AI-native platform built to radically optimize content operations—empowering data-driven decisions that maximize revenue, streamline distribution, and scale profitable strategies. Trusted by top studios, networks, and streaming platforms, we’re redefining the business of content through innovation, collaboration, and a culture that values impact just as much as fun. If you’re ready to shape the future of entertainment at the intersection of media and technology, join us.

Why This Role Matters:

Our two Java-based platforms power most of today’s customer revenue and generate petabytes of real-world data—yet we’re in the middle of an AI-led transformation that will culminate in a brand-new Go-and-React cloud platform.

We’re looking for an engineering leader who loves turning mature products into innovation playgrounds. You’ll apply modern DevOps, AI-assisted refactoring, and pragmatic architecture upgrades to sharpen what already works—then roll those lessons straight into our next-gen stack.

What You Will Do:

First 3 Months – Modernize & Mobilize

• Shadow product squads to map out critical workflows, hot spots, and “unknown unknowns.”
• Launch an AI-powered refactor initiative (GitHub Copilot, OpenAI Codex, Windsurf) targeting high-ROI code paths.
• Partner with DevOps to lift pipeline speed, observability, and deployment safety.
• Build trust through 1:1s and quick wins that reduce support noise and unlock feature velocity.

Months 4-12 – Innovate & Influence

• Ship measurable upgrades: faster releases, tighter automated-test nets (MABL), and 30 %+ cut in Sev-1 incidents.
• Introduce modular “upgrade rails” that make it easy to slide services or entire features onto the new Go platform.
• Become a thought-partner to Product and the SVP of Engineering on roadmap trade-offs and AI/tooling strategy.
• Grow and mentor a 10-person mix of FTEs and contractors; hire where new skills are needed.

Beyond Year 1 – Build the Future

• Take a lead role on green-field services in Go/React, bringing forward the best patterns pioneered in the modernization phase.
• Champion continuous experimentation with emerging AI dev tools and quality-automation tech.
• Help shape the engineering org’s operating model as we scale.

What You'll Own

• Technical Strategy & Execution – Set direction, unblock teams, and deliver outcomes across both mature and new products.
• People & Culture – Coach diverse engineers (some with deep domain tenure) through change, growth, and high performance.
• AI-Forward Engineering Practices – Embed Copilot/Codecs-driven workflows, intelligent test generation, and data-backed decision-making.
• DevOps Excellence – Ensure CI/CD, IaC, and runtime observability keep pace with our ambitions.
• Cross-Functional Leadership – Align with Product, QA, Customer Success, and the executive team to balance innovation with reliability.

What You Will Bring:

• 5–15 direct/indirect reports led in a high-scale SaaS or B2B environment.
• Proven success modernizing large Java systems and introducing new architectures or languages (Go, Node, etc.).
• Hands-on experience with AI-assisted development tooling and a track record of pragmatic adoption.
• Strong change-management chops—able to inspire both long-tenured engineers and new hires to level up together.
• Deep familiarity with cloud-native DevOps, automated testing (MABL or similar), and progressive delivery practices.
• Exceptional communication: you translate tech detail into business impact and rally stakeholders behind a plan.

Nice-to-Haves:

• Go microservices or event-driven architecture experience.
• React/Next.js leadership on customer-facing products.
• Media, entertainment, or data-intensive domain background.
• Success leading distributed teams across time zones.

Whipster Values:

We Value Customer Success

• We continually evolve our products to innovate ahead of the ever-changing needs of our customers

We Embrace Hard Problems

• We don’t shy away from challenges- we embrace them

We Are Adaptable

• We continuously reassess our strategy and tactics 

We Are Data-Driven

• We work to minimize gaps & biases by allowing data to form our decisions & solutions

We Get It Done

• We invest in one another and expect outstanding results

We Are All Whipsters

• We’re one team with shared goals, but our strength comes from our differences

What We Have to Offer:

Your wellbeing is our priority. We want our Whipsters to feel set up for success at work and at home! We offer a competitive health plan so you can choose the right plan for you and your loved ones! We offer wellbeing bundles to ensure your mental and physical health resources are at your fingertips. Whip’s People Team is committed to your happiness and growth in every aspect of your life! Here are some other perks:

• Competitive Maternity/paternity leave 
• Remote office stipend 
• Flexible PTO
• Referral Bonuses
• Access to FSA plans
• 401K retirement plan
• Monthly mobile reimbursement 

The anticipated annual base salary for this position is $190,000 - $220,000. Additionally, you will be eligible to participate in our  robust medical, dental, vision, retirement, and other benefit plans. The actual base salary offered depends on a variety of factors, which may include as applicable, the location in which the applicant lives and/or from which they will be performing the job, job-related skills, experience, and relevant education/certifications or training.

Equal Opportunity Employer:

At Whip Media, we are all Whipsters! We strive to create an inclusive, diverse environment where you are encouraged to bring your whole self to work. We value unique perspectives, ideas, authenticity, and welcome, as well as support, points of view which drive your own growth alongside that of the company.

Whip Media has made a commitment to continue to grow our diverse workplace and partners with organizations that provide us with a range of candidates from diverse backgrounds. We foster a people-centric environment that promotes and evaluates belonging and inclusion and actively strives to bridge any gaps that exist between employee groups.