Engineering Manager Build Platform at GitLab - DevSecOps in Columbus
Career & Market Insight
This is a high-leverage infrastructure leadership role at one of the most transparently-run companies in open-source software. Leading the Build team at GitLab means owning critical delivery infrastructure used by 50M+ registered users — a rare combination of scale, visibility, and real ownership.
Work-life balance signals are strong: GitLab's Flexible PTO policy is genuinely unlimited and well-documented in their public handbook. The fully remote, async-first culture tends to reward output over hours-logged, which suits senior engineers who manage energy strategically.
Skills this role develops:
- Software supply chain security (SBOMs, provenance, SLSA frameworks) — a rapidly growing compliance requirement across enterprise software
- Large-scale CI/CD platform engineering at 99.99% SLO standards
- AI tooling integration into engineering workflows — a differentiating skill in 2024–2025 hiring markets
- Cross-functional technical program management without a dedicated TPM — extremely marketable
Compensation benchmarks: GitLab typically pays Engineering Managers in the $180K–$230K+ USD total compensation range (base + equity), competitive with mid-to-large tech companies. UK-based candidates should expect GBP equivalents benchmarked to local market rates. Equity via ESPP and stock options adds meaningful upside for a company of GitLab's scale (NYSE: GTLB).
Green flags: Public handbook, strong DEI commitment, globally distributed team, technical depth expected from managers (not just process managers). Watch for: The role explicitly mentions "managing out when necessary" — GitLab has a performance-driven culture that moves quickly on underperformance, which suits high-performers but may not suit those used to more protective environments.
GitLab is the intelligent orchestration platform for DevSecOps. GitLab enables organizations to increase developer productivity, improve operational efficiency, reduce security and compliance risk, and accelerate digital transformation. More than 50 million registered users and more than 50% of the Fortune 100* trust GitLab to ship better, more secure software faster.
The same principles built into our products are reflected in how our team works: we embrace AI as a core productivity multiplier, with all team members expected to incorporate AI into their daily workflows to drive efficiency, innovation, and impact. GitLab is where careers accelerate, innovation flourishes, and every voice is valued. Our high-performance culture is driven by our values and continuous knowledge exchange, enabling our team members to reach their full potential while collaborating with industry leaders to solve complex problems. Co-create the future with us as we build technology that transforms how the world develops software.
*Fortune 500® is a registered trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, used under license. Claim based on GitLab data. Fortune 100 refers to the top 20% ranked companies in the 2025 Fortune 500 list, published in June 2025. Fortune and Fortune Media IP Limited are not affiliated with, and do not endorse products or services of GitLab.
Summary:
Lead the Build team within GitLab Delivery, accountable for the strategy, execution, and operational excellence of the systems that turn GitLab source code into secure, verified, and distributable artifacts for Self-Managed and other delivery targets. The role owns the build platform foundations that make component delivery faster, more consistent, and more self-service for development teams, while ensuring artifacts are reliable for customers to install and operate.
Key Responsibilities:
- Lead the Build team roadmap across UBT, TUBE, and the broader build platform.
- Own delivery of GitLab distributable artifacts, including packages, container images, and cloud marketplace images.
- Drive a build-once, deploy-everywhere model across Omnibus, CNG, and future delivery targets.
- Lead centralized dependency management and coordinated dependency updates across components.
- Ensure supply chain security through SBOMs, provenance, vetted dependencies, and compliant build isolation.
- Create self-service onboarding paths with standard CI templates, documentation, and paved paths.
- Improve build quality and consistency through unified build environments and validation.
- Establish observability, dashboards, and metrics for build pipelines and platform impact.
- Partner across Delivery and adjacent teams to unblock onboarding and reduce coordination overhead.
What you'll bring:
- Proven track record building and owning large-scale distributed services, with the technical depth to dive into architecture and guide the team on technical strategy.
- Experience in driving operational excellence and ownership of services running at four-nines (99.99%) SLOs and knowing what it takes to keep them there.
- Experience leveraging AI tooling to boost team productivity, with real lessons learned from both wins and missteps.
- A history of building and managing high-performing, accountable team cultures, including managing out when necessary.
- Comfort driving complex projects to completion without relying on a dedicated TPM.
- Experience leading distributed and remote teams effectively.
How GitLab Supports Full-Time Employees:
- Benefits to support your health, finances, and well-being
- Flexible Paid Time Off
- Team Member Resource Groups
- Equity Compensation & Employee Stock Purchase Plan
- Growth and Development Fund
- Parental Leave
Please note that we welcome interest from candidates with varying levels of experience; many successful candidates do not meet every single requirement. Additionally, studies have shown that people from underrepresented groups are less likely to apply to a job unless they meet every single qualification. If you're excited about this role, please apply and allow our recruiters to assess your application.
Country Hiring Guidelines: GitLab hires new team members in countries around the world. All of our roles are remote, however some roles may carry specific location-based eligibility requirements. Our Talent Acquisition team can help answer any questions about location after starting the recruiting process.
Privacy Policy: Please review our Recruitment Privacy Policy. Your privacy is important to us.
GitLab is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and is an affirmative action employer. GitLab's policies and practices relating to recruitment, employment, career development and advancement, promotion, and retirement are based solely on merit, regardless of race, color, religion, ancestry, sex (including pregnancy, lactation, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression), national origin, age, citizenship, marital status, mental or physical disability, genetic information (including family medical history), discharge status from the military, protected veteran status (which includes disabled veterans, recently separated veterans, active duty wartime or campaign badge veterans, and Armed Forces service medal veterans), or any other basis protected by law. GitLab will not tolerate discrimination or harassment based on any of these characteristics. See also GitLab's EEO Policy and EEO is the Law. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please let us know during the recruiting process.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this Engineering Manager role fully remote?
What does the Build team at GitLab actually own?
Does GitLab offer equity compensation for this role?
Is prior experience with supply chain security required for this role?
Does this role require managing a team without TPM support?
