Job description
This is a senior individual contributor role for someone who wants to actively shape how Engineering, one of the most important parts of how Datadog develops its people.
You'll sit at the center of Datadog's biggest talent bets for Engineering: how we build leaders, define career paths and org design, evolve performance, move talent internally, and plan succession for our most critical roles. You’ll own this work end to end, from the first framing conversation with senior leaders through to delivering a program running at scale.
AI is changing how Engineering builds software, and it is changing how People builds the programs that support Engineering too. This role sits at the centre of both: understanding how AI is reshaping engineering roles, skills and structures, and building AI-powered solutions within People to keep pace.
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:
• Design and lead complex talent programmes for Engineering, spanning leadership capability, career architecture, org design, performance, internal mobility and succession for critical roles.
• Partner directly with PBPs and senior leaders to turn ambiguous problems into clear programme goals, design principles and success measures.
• Help Engineering and People understand and respond to how AI is reshaping roles, skills and ways of working, and translate that shift into practical talent and org design choices.
• Stay hands-on from concept through to adoption: this is a build and run role, not a strategy and handover role.
• Work across Enablement, Learning, People Analytics and People Systems so what you build scales and embeds into core people processes.
• Equip PBPs with frameworks, tools and executive-ready narratives that support real adoption in the business.
• Operate in ambiguity and influence without formal authority, building trust with senior stakeholders even before the answer is clear.
• Evaluate impact using qualitative and quantitative data, and refine your approach based on what the business actually needs.
Who You Are:
• You have designed and delivered talent programs in a fast-growing, global organization, and partnered directly with executives on strategic people questions.
• You are equally comfortable setting direction and getting into the detail, able to move from strategy to execution without handing work off prematurely.
• You are data-fluent, pragmatic and outcome-focused, with a strong bias towards delivery and follow-through.
• You build consensus, challenge constructively and stay credible across differing perspectives.
We don't expect every box checked on day one. If you're excited about the challenge and want to grow into it, we want to hear from you.
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, with access to Community Guilds and Inclusion Talks
• 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.
#LI-Hybrid
Datadog offers a competitive salary and equity package, and may include variable compensation. Actual compensation is based on factors such as the candidate's skills, qualifications, and experience. In addition, Datadog offers a wide range of best in class, comprehensive and inclusive employee benefits for this role including healthcare, dental, parental planning, and mental health benefits, a 401(k) plan and match, paid time off, fitness reimbursements, and a discounted employee stock purchase plan.
The reasonably estimated yearly salary for this role at Datadog is:
$162,000 — $216,000 USD
About Datadog:
Datadog is the leading observability and security platform for the AI era, providing businesses with unified visibility across the technology stack to manage complexity at scale. It brings applications, infrastructure, data, models, and security into one place, using AI to detect and resolve issues before they impact customers. Trusted globally by Fortune 500 companies and high-growth AI leaders, Datadog enables businesses to move faster with clarity and confidence. Learn more about #DatadogLife on Instagram , LinkedIn, and Datadog Learning Center.
Equal Opportunity at Datadog:
Datadog is proud to offer equal employment opportunity to everyone regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity, veteran status, and other characteristics protected by law. We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements. Here are our Candidate Legal Notices for your reference.
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Any information you submit to Datadog as part of your application will be processed in accordance with Datadog’s Applicant and Candidate Privacy Notice . For information on our AI policy, please visit Interviewing at Datadog AI Guidelines .