Distinguished Engineer, Core DevOps

GitLab

Confirmed live today High trust
Remote

Quick summary

Work type
Remote
Location
CanadaUnited Kingdom
Salary
$250,000–$349,000 / yr
Posted
9 days ago
Freshness
Confirmed live today

Market check

Salary context

Above market

How this pay compares to similar roles

Similar $168k
This role $300k
$92k most similar roles pay here $376k

This role pays more than 91% of similar roles. Most pay $126,800–$210,018 — the shaded band above. At the midpoint, this role pays about $300k versus about $168k for comparable roles.

Based on 240 similar postings.

Employer

About GitLab

GitLab is an all-remote software company that develops an AI-powered DevSecOps platform combining source code management, CI/CD, security scanning, and project planning in a single application.

GitLab currently has 53 open roles on FindRole.

Listed pay typically runs $152,800–$235,400 across 46 roles with salary data.

Most-posted roles

View all roles at GitLab

At a glance

TL;DR · Distinguished Engineer, Core DevOps

Distinguished Engineer, Core DevOps will lead technical direction for GitLab's Core DevOps services, which include continuous integration, continuous deployment, planning, and source control systems. This role involves defining long-term architecture, managing systemic risks, and translating company goals into actionable roadmaps while ensuring high availability and performance across multi-tenant environments. The candidate will perform hands-on work including writing code, prototypes, and proof of concepts to resolve complex technical hurdles. Key requirements include over ten years of software engineering experience with a focus on scalable distributed systems, as well as deep expertise in AI and ML systems, large language models, agentic frameworks, and autonomous workflow design at production scale. The role addresses the challenge of modernizing mature, high-traffic infrastructure while integrating AI-native development into core products without disrupting existing user workflows.

What does a Engineer earn in Remote?

Median $203385 from 32 postings across 15 companies.

See salary data

What you'll do

  • Set and refine the technical direction for CI, CD, planning, and source code experiences.
  • Translate company-wide AI and productivity goals into concrete technical roadmaps for Core DevOps services.
  • Identify and mitigate systemic technical risks, including single points of failure and brittle system couplings.
  • Lead complex design decisions by writing code, prototypes, and proofs of concept to provide evidence for architectural choices.
  • Design migration paths that allow large, long-lived systems to evolve without disrupting existing users.
  • Serve as the final escalation point for contested technical decisions across the Core DevOps group.
  • Write opinionated design documents and architecture narratives to enable independent decision-making across teams.
  • Mentor Principal and Staff Engineers while raising the bar for design rigor and technical hiring.

What we're looking for

  • 10+ years of software engineering experience.
  • 4+ years in a Staff, Principal, or equivalent senior technical leadership role.
  • Deep expertise in AI and ML systems, including large language models and agentic frameworks at production scale.
  • Proven track record of leading hands-on technical experimentation and translating findings into scalable architecture decisions.
  • Strong background in scalable, multi-tenant distributed systems with a focus on fault tolerance and observability.
  • Experience designing human-in-the-loop controls and responsible AI practices for production systems.
  • Experience mentoring senior engineers and influencing technical direction across multiple teams without direct authority.
  • Excellent written and asynchronous communication skills for a remote, globally distributed organization.

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