Director / Sr. Manager: Engineering Strategy & Operations

Salesforce•Palo Alto, CA

About The Position

The Director / Sr. Manager of Engineering Operations and Strategy will serve as a key member of the engineering leadership team, responsible for driving operational excellence, organizational effectiveness, and long-term strategic initiatives across the global engineering organization. This leader will partner closely with the SVP of Engineering, and other cross-functional executives to align engineering processes, resources, and roadmaps with the company’s strategic goals. This role serves as a critical link between engineering execution and business strategy, ensuring teams operate with efficiency, deliver high-quality outcomes, and align with broader company objectives. We are seeking a seasoned Engineering Director / Sr. Manager to lead the growth and scale of engineering operations programs. As part of the Engineering Strategy & Operations team, this role is responsible for building a world-class technical enablement and deployment program that empowers engineers to tackle complex customer challenges using the Salesforce Platform. The ideal candidate is a data-driven, people-centric leader who brings a blend of strategic thinking , operational discipline , and deep understanding of modern engineering practices. You will be responsible for defining onboarding experiences, technical training programs, and engagement models that prepare engineers to deliver secure, scalable, and high-performance solutions. Your efforts will lay the groundwork for how engineers drive platform adoption, enhance technical health, and accelerate customer time-to-value in the field. This is a hands-on leadership position that blends strategic program ownership, technical acumen, and operational scale. You will collaborate closely with cross-functional partners across Product, Engineering, and Customer Success to instill engineering rigor and deliver impactful solutions for Field Service Cloud.

Requirements

15+ years of experience in engineering, operations, or program management roles in SaaS or enterprise software, with 5+ years in leadership positions.
Experience in scaling engineering teams and operations in fast-paced environments with background in change management and scaling operational frameworks.
Proven track record managing cross-functional, globally distributed engineering teams and large-scale program
Demonstrated ability to manage complex, cross-functional programs and drive outcomes in ambiguous environments .
Experience supporting senior executives and leadership teams in a strategic and operational capacity .
Strong understanding of enterprise SaaS deployment models, platform guardrails, and technical health frameworks.
Strong understanding of software development lifecycle (SDLC), DevOps, Agile, CI/CD
Operational mindset with the ability to balance strategic thinking and hands-on execution.
Exceptional communication, stakeholder management, with the ability to influence senior engineers, product teams, and customer stakeholders.
Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field (or equivalent experience )

Responsibilities

Engineering Leadership & Enablement Act as a trusted advisor and partner to senior engineering leaders, improving alignment, communication, and decision-making.
Anticipate upcoming priorities, risks, and decision points, proactively driving alignment and action.
Advocate for leadership effectiveness, team engagement, and organizational health across the engineering organization.
Provide mentorship and guidance to engineering leaders on operational best practices, organizational health, and execution rigor.
Foster a culture of engineering excellence, continuous learning, and customer-first problem solving.
Lead and grow a team of technical enablement leads responsible for onboarding and scaling engineers globally.
Build pathways that support engineering leaders in scaling teams, improving engagement, and driving customer-centric outcomes.
Operational Excellence Drive V2MOM planning and execution, ensuring alignment, progress tracking, and accountability across engineering leadership.
Own end-to-end headcount management, including attrition backfills, hiring strategy, workforce planning, and global resource allocation in alignment with leadership priorities.
Maintain strong oversight of engineering health metrics, ensuring visibility, accountability, and timely resolution of operational gaps.
Help drive financial planning and budget management, including forecasting, cost optimization, in partnership with finance stakeholders.
Lead preparation of Engineering Health Reviews and operational readouts, ensuring clear storytelling, data accuracy, and executive readiness.
Establish and manage operational rhythms, including leadership staff meetings, trust reviews, and cross-functional checkpoints across global teams.
Coordinate and execute key organizational initiatives such as offsites, hackathons, demo days, and recognition programs, reinforcing culture and engagement.
Program & Technical Strategy Partner with engineering leadership to translate strategic priorities into executable programs with measurable outcomes.
Lead and execute high-impact initiatives that span across engineering (e.g., AI adoption, compliance programs, operational transformations).
Define engineering goals, success metrics, timelines, and stakeholder alignment for initiatives that may not have dedicated ownership.
Drive continuous improvement in operational frameworks, tooling, and processes to increase efficiency and scalability.
Cross-Functional Collaboration Connect cross-functional teams and initiatives, ensuring alignment across engineering, product, and customer organizations.
Work closely with Salesforce Product and Engineering teams to align field feedback with product improvements.
Ensure strong alignment between engineering execution and customer outcomes, including go-lives, escalations, and trust-related initiatives.
Serve as a key escalation and coordination point for complex operational or customer-impacting issues.