Datadog Startups Founding Engineering Lead

The company 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 the company 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 the company 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 the company, 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.

• Run discovery calls with startup CTOs and engineering leads to identify quick wins, validate technical needs, and position the company against alternatives like Grafana, New Relic, Sentry, and Clickhouse
• Deliver tailored company 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 the company adoption and communicating customer needs back to product and engineering
• Build automation to improve internal team workflows – e.g., outreach, reporting, the application process, and website updates
• Represent the company 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

• 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

the company 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.

• New hire stock equity (RSUs) and employee stock purchase plan (ESPP)
• Continuous professional development, product training, and career pathing
• Intra‑departmental mentor and buddy program for in‑house networking
• An inclusive company culture, ability to join our Community Guilds (the company Affinity Slacks)
• Access to Inclusion Talks with a focus on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
• Free, global mental health benefits for employees and…