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Director of Engineering, Search

Mapbox is the leading real-time location platform for a new generation of location-aware businesses. Mapbox is the only platform that equips organizations with the full set of tools to power the navigation of people, packages, and vehicles everywhere. More than 3.5 million registered developers have chosen Mapbox because of the platform’s flexibility, security and privacy compliance. Organizations use Mapbox applications, data, SDKs and APIs to create customized and immersive experiences that delight their customers. 

What We Do

Our mission is to revolutionize the way information is accessed and utilized, and we are seeking a seasoned engineering leader to help lead our search organization into the next phase of growth. The ideal candidate will possess a strong technical background in scaling organizations, a deep understanding of search technologies, a high bar for data quality, and a proven track record in navigating through ambiguous environments. As the Director of Engineering for Search, you will leverage cutting-edge technology, while shaping the future of location search services. You will pioneer the vision, create strategy through operational excellence, and drive the execution to achieve market success by delighting our customers.

What You'll Do

  • Own a customer/consumer-focused experience for search and discovery in different modalities (text, voice, etc).

  • Deliver APIs and data at scale, ensuring seamless integration and a top-tier developer experience.

  • Develop and launch SDKs for B2B search solutions, enhancing integration and search functionality.

  • Own the technical vision, lead the strategy and guide the team to execute towards building the future of Search. 

  • Collaborate with product, design, and key stakeholders to drive impactful search decisions that shape business outcomes.

  • Coordinate deadlines, set pricing, develop a marketing strategy, and enable support teams.

  • Collaborate closely with product teams to identify customer needs and develop a strategic plan to address their challenges.

  • Lead and develop engineering teams by driving recruitment, retention, mentoring, and continuously enhancing team capabilities.

What We Believe are Important Traits for This Role:

  • 10+ years of leadership experience: Managed technical teams and drove strategic initiatives in diverse organizational settings.

  • Strong academic foundation: A Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or a related technical discipline.

  • Technical domain expertise: Prior experience in delivering APIs, SDKs, and/or iOS/Android Apps would be valuable in this role. Proven ability to conceptualize and deliver B2B2C or consumer-facing products.

  • Ownership & execution: Experience in a high-accountability environment, with the ability to build, operationalize, and scale technically distributed organizations (engineering, product, data scientists, etc.).

  • Product Launch Experience: Proven track record of successfully bringing products to market, driving adoption, and generating revenue. Skilled in coordinating deadlines, setting pricing, developing marketing strategies, and enabling support teams.

  • Data-informed mindset: You believe in the value of data-informed decision-making and strive to measure things that are not straightforward but essential. You also have the right instincts to make speedy decisions in the absence of perfect & comprehensive data.

  • Customer focus: You care deeply about your customers and their problems, and you work tirelessly to innovate on their behalf. 

  • Operational excellence: Cultivate a culture of quality and continuous improvement, ensuring a balance between maintaining high standards and delivering at speed.

  • Strong communication skills: Able to articulate complex ideas clearly and concisely, both in writing and verbally, to diverse audiences. Skilled at developing a realistic yet ambitious product roadmap and effectively communicating it across the organization and to the market.

  • Hire & elevate: Great leaders understand the importance of hiring the best talent and creating a culture where team members can learn & grow with the organization. You demonstrate investment in coaching and stretching peers across all levels. 

Other Valuable Experience  

  • Experience managing P&L and balancing budgets with investments to drive growth and efficiency.

What We Value

In addition to our core values, which are not unique to this position and are necessary for Mapbox leaders:

  • We value high-performing creative individuals who dig into problems and opportunities.

  • We believe in individuals being their whole selves at work. We commit to this through supportive health care, parental leave, flexibility for the things that come up in life, and innovating on how we think about supporting our people.

  • We emphasize an environment of teaching and learning to equip employees with the tools needed to be successful in their function and the company.

  • We strongly believe in the value of growing a diverse team and encourage people of all backgrounds, genders, ethnicities, abilities, and sexual orientations to apply.

Our annual base compensation for this role ranges from $269,875- $365,125 for most US locations and 5% to 10% higher for US locations with a higher cost of labor. Job level and actual compensation will be decided based on factors including, but not limited to, individual qualifications objectively assessed during the interview process (including skills and prior relevant experience, potential impact, and scope of role), market demands, and specific work location. Please discuss your specific work location with your recruiter for more information.

By applying for this position, you acknowledge that you agree to the Mapbox Privacy Policy which is linked here.

Mapbox participates in E-Verify to confirm employee work authorization. Please refer to the Notice of E-Verify Participation and Right to Work posters for more information.

We are committed to a fair and equitable hiring process. We do not discriminate against any protected class.

#LI-Remote

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Average salary estimate

$317500 / YEARLY (est.)
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$269875K
$365125K

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What You Should Know About Director of Engineering, Search, Mapbox

Mapbox is in search of a visionary Director of Engineering for our Search team. As a leader in the real-time location platform arena, we empower businesses to enhance their navigation capabilities for people, packages, and vehicles. In this pivotal role, you will spearhead our search initiatives and strategically guide a talented engineering group to redefine location-based search services. You'll hit the ground running by shaping the technical vision and operational excellence that will take our search solutions to new heights. With over 10 years of leadership experience, you will be adept at navigating through complex environments and making impactful decisions using data. You’ll also have the opportunity to work collaboratively with cross-functional teams to understand customer needs and innovate accordingly. If you're passionate about delivering exceptional search experiences across platforms—be it text or voice—you’ll thrive in this position. Join Mapbox and help create extraordinary solutions that both excite and delight our customers while ensuring the highest level of service compliance and data quality. Step into this dynamic role and shape the future of search technology with us!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for Director of Engineering, Search Role at Mapbox
What are the main responsibilities of a Director of Engineering at Mapbox?

The Director of Engineering at Mapbox plays a critical role in leading the search organization, overseeing the development of innovative APIs and SDKs, and delivering a customer-focused experience across various modalities. They will also be responsible for collaborating closely with product teams, coordinating deadlines, and driving recruitment within engineering teams. This position directly impacts the strategic vision and operational excellence of Mapbox's search services.

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What experience is required for the Director of Engineering position at Mapbox?

Candidates for the Director of Engineering role at Mapbox should have a minimum of 10 years of leadership experience in technical environments, especially with a focus on scaling organizations and delivering consumer-friendly products. A strong academic foundation in Computer Science or a related field is essential, along with expertise in APIs, SDKs, and mobile applications. Familiarity with data-informed decision-making is also highly valued.

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What skills are necessary to succeed as a Director of Engineering at Mapbox?

To thrive as a Director of Engineering at Mapbox, candidates should possess strong technical skills, a deep understanding of search technologies, and excellent communication abilities. A knack for customer-focused innovation, operational excellence, and team development is crucial. Additionally, strong analytical skills will be needed to navigate complex data and make informed decisions.

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How does the Director of Engineering impact the user experience at Mapbox?

The Director of Engineering strongly influences user experience by owning the vision for search and discovery technologies. They develop and strategize new solutions that enhance the way users interact with search features, ensuring that every touchpoint—whether text or voice—is seamless. Their decisions directly affect customer satisfaction and product adoption, guiding the engineering team to deliver high-quality solutions.

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What kind of work environment can a Director of Engineering expect at Mapbox?

The work environment for a Director of Engineering at Mapbox is collaborative and innovative, focusing on high performance and creative problem-solving. The company is committed to diversity and inclusion, emphasizing a culture of learning and growth. Flexibility in work schedules and support for personal health and well-being ensures that leaders can bring their whole selves to work.

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Common Interview Questions for Director of Engineering, Search
Can you describe your experience with search technologies relevant to the Director of Engineering position?

When discussing your experience with search technologies, highlight specific instances where you led projects or developed products that utilized search algorithms, data handling, and user experience improvements. Discuss your methodology for keeping up with industry trends and how you applied those insights in past roles to drive innovation.

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How do you approach team development and mentorship in your leadership style?

Your answer should outline your philosophy on mentorship—how you identify talent and cultivate skills in your team members. Provide examples of successful mentorship or training programs you initiated and the positive outcomes they produced for team dynamics and performance.

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What strategies have you implemented to enhance product quality and reliability?

Discuss strategies that include comprehensive testing protocols, the implementation of real-time monitoring systems, and the establishment of quality metrics. Share how you have engaged cross-functional teams to uphold and elevate product standards throughout the development lifecycle.

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How would you prioritize different engineering projects at Mapbox?

Articulate your approach to prioritization through criteria such as market demand, customer pain points, potential impact, and resource allocation. Position it in the context of aligning with the overall business strategy and ensuring that the team remains focused on high-value initiatives.

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What do you believe is the most important aspect of leading a technical team?

Discuss the importance of fostering a culture of collaboration, open communication, and accountability. Share how strong leadership is about empowering team members to make decisions and take ownership of their work while ensuring they have the resources and guidance to succeed.

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Describe a time when you had to make a decision with incomplete data. How did you handle it?

Share a specific situation where you used your intuition combined with the available information to make a swift decision. Emphasize how you balanced risk management with the necessity for timely action, and reflect on the outcome to highlight learning points.

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How do you drive customer-centric design in engineering projects?

Showcase your commitment to the customer by illustrating how you gather user feedback, conduct market research, and integrate customer insights into the product development process. Discuss the importance of metrics and KPIs to evaluate the impact of changes made for the customer experience.

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Can you explain your experience in managing budgets and P&L for engineering projects?

Detail your experience in financial management, including budget creation, monitoring, and adjustments. Provide examples of how you optimized resource allocation to achieve maximum efficiency and the impact this had on project success.

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What innovations have you led in your previous positions?

Share specific examples of projects where you introduced innovative solutions or methodologies that enhanced product offerings or operational efficiency. Highlight how you engaged the team in the process and the outcomes achieved.

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How do you handle conflicts within your team or with cross-functional departments?

Explain your conflict resolution strategy, focusing on open communication, active listening, and mediation. Use examples from your past where these techniques successfully resolved conflicts, fostering a more productive environment.

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Mapbox powers navigation for people, packages, and vehicles everywhere.

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Full-time, remote
DATE POSTED
March 26, 2025

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