Engineering Manager, CDN

About the Role:

You’ll lead the team responsible for Vercel’s CDN, proxy, and edge caching systems—core infrastructure that powers performance, reliability, and cost efficiency for every customer request. Your mandate is twofold:

1. Operate critical systems exceptionally (latency, reliability, COGS), and
2. Align the team to product and business goals, translating strategy into a clear roadmap

You will set direction, grow people, and create the conditions for high trust, high autonomy, and high output—balancing technical depth with strong people leadership. This is a manager role, not a principal IC role. You’ll code when it’s the highest leverage (e.g., prototypes/unblocking), but your default is delegation, coaching, and alignment.

About You:

• 8+ years building and operating large-scale distributed systems; 3+ years managing engineers (managing managers a plus).
• Demonstrated success leading CDN/proxy/caching/edge or similar high-throughput, low-latency infrastructure.
• Proven ability to translate business goals into technical strategy and drive cross-org alignment.
• Track record establishing trust, psychological safety, and clear expectations; skilled at timely, candid feedback.
• Strong facilitator in technical conflict—you listen, synthesize, decide, and bring the team with you.
• Competence across HTTP, TLS, caching strategies, load shedding, capacity planning, observability, and cost optimization.

Bonus If You:

• Bonus: experience with Go, Lua, or Node at the edge; running high-signal hiring pipelines; collaborating with product/PMM on customer-facing narratives.

Benefits:

• Competitive compensation package, including equity.
• Inclusive Healthcare Package.
• Learn and Grow - we provide mentorship and send you to events that help you build your network and skills.
• Flexible Time Off.
• We will provide you the gear you need to do your role, and a WFH budget for you to outfit your space as needed.

The San Francisco, CA base pay range for this role is $124,000.00 - $240,000.00. Actual salary will be based on job-related skills, experience, and location. Compensation outside of San Francisco may be adjusted based on employee location. The total compensation package may include benefits, equity-based compensation, and eligibility for a company bonus or variable pay program depending on the role. Your recruiter can share more details during the hiring process. 

Vercel is committed to fostering and empowering an inclusive community within our organization. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, gender expression or identity, sexual orientation, national origin, citizenship, age, marital status, veteran status, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Vercel encourages everyone to apply for our available positions, even if they don't necessarily check every box on the job description.