Developer Lead

About this role

Datum’s most important core value is to be connectors — of people, businesses, apps, and networks. That’s why we’re on a mission to help the next 1k thrive in the AI era with an ecosystem-led network cloud.

But what good is global connected infrastructure if it’s clunky and built for the last wave? We know that ergonomic APIs require a meticulous appreciation of usability, documentation, integration, and automation (as well as a hunch about what is around the corner). That’s why we’re looking for the right person to lead all things “developers” at Datum, helping us create the ideal experience for the next wave of builders.

• API and Developer Experience

• Own the developer experience for our platform, from the browser to the command line to the IDE

• Use your high standard of taste and judgment for when to lean in, and when to break the mold

• Keep pace for our team by managing our releases, working across the organization to balance priorities with capacity

• Lead our investments in documentation, and be an active advocate and communicator

• Partner to help us build trust with users and customers, from uptime to security

• Work with users, “alt cloud” customers, and partners to maximize dopamine and minimize friction

• Build for developers, in the open

• Approach problems through the lens of Datum APIs

• Work in the open and drive community engagement

• Lean into open source – we make money through our network, not our software

• Scale yourself and the team through effective automation

• Play an active role in the community, from meetups and speaking to blog posts and demos

• Demonstrate engineering leadership

• Drive your roadmap by modeling Datum’s values every day

• Distill customer needs into clear problem statements that align priorities

• Use maximum creativity to solve hard problems, balancing the tradeoffs

• Shepherd the team through timely decision-making

• Improve efficiency and processes along the way

Background

• Expertise: You regularly use public and alt clouds and have strong opinions about the experience

• Browser & UX
  :
  You’ve written code for the browser and are conversant with Type Script and probably React, Angular, or similar frameworks. You also know how to get around a Unix shell and have opinions about that.

• Infrastructure
  :
  You’re an operator  don’t tolerate manual deployments or slow builds. No problem is off the table, and you can implement the right glue no matter the language.

• Orchestration & IaC
  :
  You have enough familiarity with Kubernetes or other container orchestration systems to work seamlessly with our control and data planes.

• AI Forward
  :
  You’re comfortable with next-gen tools and ways of working, from Cursor to Claude

• Open source
  :
  You have a track record of using, building, and contributing to open source

Non-Negotiables

• Logistics: Overlap with NYC business hours and ability to travel to NYC and elsewhere

• High EQ
  :
  You read rooms, understand people, and navigate complexity with grace

• Hunger
  :
  You’re driven by impact and energized by building something meaningful

• Humility: You check your ego, give credit freely, and focus on collective success

Core Attributes

• Thrive in an async environment

• Simplify technical complexity through writing, demos, and speaking

• Relationship builder who creates and maintains genuine, valuable connections

• Genuinely passionate about digital infrastructure and the future of the industry

• Able to toggle between 30,000-foot vision and ground-level execution

• Comfortable with ambiguity and capable of creating structure where none exists

For Datum

• Rock-solid APIs, squeaky clean docs, and fast “time to dopamine”

• Intuitive interfaces for developers that help them unlock internet superpowers

• Traction with key opportunities and partnerships

• Increased cohesion across the organization

For You

• Growing Datum into a household name among developers

• Providing global-scale, cross-provider, API-driven connectivity

• Keep the Internet open for the generation to come

• Platform to demonstrate strategic and operational leadership

We believe in openness, clarity, and collaboration. To learn more about how Datum aims to operate, please review our public handbook.