Datadog for Startups Founding Engineering Lead

The Datadog for Startups (DDFS) program helps the next generation of fast-scaling companies adopt best-in-class observability and security from day one. We're looking for the technical engine of this program - someone who can sit across from a startup CTO earn credibility in the first five minutes and help them see how Datadog fits into their stack before they've even finished describing it. You'll be the first technical member on a lean five-person team owning the technical motion end-to-end: discovery calls demos startup enablement forward-deployed engineering projects and representing Datadog at founder events across San Francisco. This isn't a traditional SE seat - it's part solutions architect part technical consultant part startup evangelist and it requires someone adaptable proactive and ready to take initiative without being told what to do next.

At Datadog we place value in our office culture - the relationships and collaboration it builds and the creativity it brings to the table. We operate as a hybrid workplace to ensure our Datadogs can create a work-life harmony that best fits them.

What You'll Do:

• Run discovery calls with startup CTOs and engineering leads to identify quick wins validate technical needs and position Datadog against alternatives like Grafana New Relic Sentry and Clickhouse
• Deliver tailored Datadog demos and help startups get instrumented quickly - removing friction showcasing value and ensuring smooth technical onboarding particularly around AI/ML observability infrastructure scaling and security
• Manage forward-deployed engineering (FDE) projects embedded directly with client teams translating their workflows and pain points into Datadog adoption and communicating customer needs back to product and engineering
• Build automation to improve internal team workflows - EX: outreach reporting the application process and website updates
• Represent Datadog for Startups at accelerator demo days hackathons conferences founder dinners and workshops across San Francisco
• Build relationships across SF's startup ecosystem - founders VCs accelerator partners and technical communities - and develop thought leadership content for technical founder audiences

Who You Are:

• 5-7+ years in solutions architecture pre-sales engineering technical consulting or a similar customer-facing technical role at a SaaS or cloud company with broad fluency across cloud infrastructure containers Kubernetes CI/CD and modern application frameworks
• A tinkerer with genuine personal interest in AI and emerging technologies - you've used tools like Claude ChatGPT Codex or Cursor outside of work and follow what's happening with agentic workflows vibe coding and codegen because you find it interesting
• Consultative mindset - you do the overview first then go deep. You identify customer needs and quick wins in a first conversation not just recite product features
• Strong presence and communication skills - you can command a room of technical founders run a compelling demo and hold your own in an unscripted conversation with a CTO
• Adaptable and flexible - comfortable shifting between contexts priorities and audiences quickly and thrive in ambiguity on a small lean team
• Based in San Francisco and actively engaged in the local tech/startup community with startup experience (founded a company early-stage engineer or consulting/advisory to founders) strongly preferred

Datadog values people from all walks of life. We understand not everyone will meet all the above qualifications on day one. That's okay. If you're passionate about technology and want to grow your skills we encourage you to apply.

Benefits and Growth:

• New hire stock equity (RSUs) and employee stock purchase plan (ESPP)
• Continuous professional development product training and career pathing
• Intradepartmental mentor and buddy program for in-house networking
• An inclusive company culture ability to join our Community Guilds (Datadog Affinity Slacks)
• Access to Inclusion Talks with a focus on Diversity Equity and Inclusion
• Free global mental health benefits for employees and dependents age 6+
• Competitive global benefits

Benefits and Growth listed above may vary based on the country of your employment and the nature of your employment with Datadog.

What We Do

Datadog (NASDAQ: DDOG) is a global SaaS business delivering a rare combination of growth and profitability. We are on a mission to break down silos and solve complexity in the cloud age by enabling digital transformation cloud migration and infrastructure monitoring of our customers' entire technology stacks. Built by engineers for engineers Datadog is used by organizations of all sizes across a wide range of industries. Together we champion professional development diversity of thought innovation and work excellence to empower continuous growth. Join the pack and become part of a collaborative pragmatic and thoughtful people-first community where we solve tough problems take smart risks and celebrate one another.

Why Work With Us

At Datadog we learn from and celebrate each other daily - each win is a team win. Datadogs solve tough problems innovate pragmatically and grow together. We promote from within provide mentorship and opportunities for career development and support our colleagues in the process. Best of all? We truly love what we do.

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