Director of Engineering Partnerships

Storable•Austin, TX

About The Position

Director of Engineering Partnerships We are seeking a highly strategic, results-driven Director of Engineering Partnerships to own and evolve our global R&D partner and contractor ecosystem. This role sits at the intersection of engineering execution, workforce strategy, vendor economics, and delivery excellence and is accountable for ensuring our external talent model materially improves engineering throughput, productivity, code quality, and speed to market. This leader will act as an executive-level partner to Engineering, Product, Finance, and Talent Acquisition, with full ownership of vendor strategy, commercial negotiations, performance management, and alternative resourcing models. You will aggressively drive outcomes, challenge partners and internal stakeholders when needed, and build trusted relationships that enable scale, flexibility, and quality across our global R&D organization. This role is not about managing vendors — it’s about maximizing engineering impact through smart, disciplined workforce strategy. You will directly influence how fast we build, how well we build, and how efficiently we scale.

Requirements

8+ years of experience in engineering partnerships, workforce strategy, vendor management, or technology operations within a SaaS or product-led organization.
Proven success managing large-scale global contractor or partner ecosystems supporting R&D or engineering teams.
Strong commercial acumen with deep experience in partner negotiations, contract structuring, and cost optimization.
Demonstrated ability to influence engineering productivity, delivery velocity, and quality outcomes through external teams.
Experience building and scaling alternative talent models (offshore, nearshore, hybrid, or outcome-based).
Aggressive, confident, and decisive leadership style paired with the emotional intelligence to build trust and long-term partnerships.
Highly analytical and data-driven; comfortable holding partners and internal leaders accountable to results.
Executive presence with the ability to challenge, persuade, and align stakeholders across functions.
All applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis.
To be eligible for employment, you must reside in the following states: AL, AZ, CA, CO, CT, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, LA, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MS, NC, NE, NJ, NV, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, SC, TN, TX, UT, VA, WA, WI, WY.

Responsibilities

Own the global strategy for R&D contractor and partner ecosystems, aligning external workforce models to engineering priorities, delivery timelines, and financial targets.
Serve as the senior executive point of contact for all strategic vendor relationships, including nearshore, offshore, and specialized engineering partners.
Define and enforce a clear vendor segmentation and tiering model based on capability, quality, cost, and strategic value.
Build strong, direct relationships with partner executives while maintaining an assertive, performance-driven posture.
Lead all commercial negotiations, including rate cards, volume commitments, contract terms, SLAs, termination clauses, and renewal strategies.
Partner with Legal and Procurement to design contracts that balance flexibility, risk mitigation, and cost efficiency.
Actively renegotiate underperforming agreements and decisively exit non-performing vendors.
Ensure partner economics support business scalability while protecting engineering quality and delivery velocity.
Partner closely with Engineering leadership to define measurable productivity and quality standards for all external resources.
Implement and monitor KPIs such as: Engineering throughput and cycle time Sprint predictability and delivery commitments Code quality, defect rates, and rework Ramp time and time-to-productivity
Hold vendors accountable through data-driven performance reviews, monthly/quarterly business reviews, and corrective action plans.
Drive continuous improvement in how external teams integrate with internal engineering workflows, tooling, and standards.
Design and scale alternative talent models, including: Offshore and nearshore engineering hubs Blended teams (internal + external) Outcome-based or squad-based delivery models Specialized talent pools for niche or emerging skill sets
Partner with Talent Acquisition to align contractor strategies with full-time hiring plans and long-term workforce needs.
Continuously evaluate new markets, vendors, and engagement models to improve cost, access to talent, and speed.
Own workforce productivity frameworks for external talent, including: Capacity planning and utilization modeling Demand forecasting aligned to roadmaps Clear ramp, extension, and exit criteria
Ensure contractors are deployed intentionally against high-impact work, not as unmanaged capacity.
Establish strong operating rhythms, governance, and escalation paths across partners and internal teams.
Ensure all contractor engagements comply with global labor laws, data security, and company policies.
Partner with HR, IT, Security, and Finance to manage access, confidentiality, and compliance at scale.
Proactively identify and mitigate risk across workforce models and vendor dependencies.
Own reporting on contractor headcount and spend, vendor performance and ROI, productivity and quality outcomes, workforce mix optimization, etc.
Translate data into clear executive insights and recommendations for Engineering and Finance leadership.
Influence strategic decisions around investment, scaling, and partner rationalization.

Benefits

Generous health coverage for you and your family, including fully paid short- and long-term disability coverage and two-times base salary life insurance.
401(k) match after 60 days, 100% vested after 1 year.
Employer contribution to your HSA, plus an HRA to help offset your deductible.
Instant access to flexible vacation. We trust you, so we have a ‘take what you need’ vacation policy.
Be More – company rewards and recognition that add up and can be redeemed for personalized gifts and experiences!
Storriors have been able to enroll in SCUBA certification classes, travel overseas, and redo their back patio, among many other things.
8 hours of Volunteer Time Off each year and the opportunity to get active in the community by joining one of our offsite volunteer and community service events.
8 hours of Rest, Relax, Recharge time to care for your mental health.
Access a range of mental well-being resources for yourself and your dependents, including counseling services, stress management programs, and mindfulness workshops
Fully paid parental leave: 12 and 6 weeks for primary and secondary caregivers, respectively.
’Paw’ternity Leave and Pet Bereavement - we understand that pets are a part of the family and have generous time-off policies, which honor that commitment.
Caregiver Leave: four weeks of fully paid time away from work to care for aging dependents or family members, if needed.
$50 monthly home data stipend, plus a home office sign-on bonus of $250.
Fertility care support options to help in your journey towards parenthood.
Access to financial experts to help you make informed decisions and achieve your financial goals.
Direct Student Loan Payment Program, some qualifications and eligibility rules apply.