Manager, Developer Relations

About Tailscale

Tailscale develops software to simplify and secure connections among people and their devices regardless of location. From individual users to large corporations, teams use Tailscale daily to safeguard networks and share internal resources. Founded in 2019 and operating fully remotely, the company is supported by investors like Accel, CRV, and Insight.

Role Summary

We seek an experienced Manager to lead our Developer Relations Engineering team, responsible for crafting impactful developer experiences such as integrations, demos, tutorials, and open-source projects that facilitate the adoption of Tailscale.

This position blends leadership with hands-on technical contributions, requiring active participation in developing prototypes, workshops, and technical content. Collaboration with multiple internal teams like Product, Engineering, and Sales is essential, along with tracking and interpreting key metrics to enhance DevRel impact.

Key Duties

• Lead the Developer Relations Engineering team and manage roadmap aligning with company and developer needs.
• Develop team members through coaching, setting expectations, and empowering ownership.
• Create and oversee developer-centric technical outputs including integrations, example projects, and tutorials.
• Personally engage in technical projects as a hands-on contributor.
• Be a prominent technical representative through presentations, community interaction, and content.
• Maintain technical accuracy and relevance of Developer Relations outputs.
• Work cross-functionally to coordinate launches, gather developer feedback, and influence product strategy.
• Define, monitor, and report on performance metrics related to developer engagement and adoption.
• Leverage insights and data to prioritize and improve DevRel initiatives.

Required Qualifications

• Over six years in Developer Relations, developer advocacy, engineering, or related domains.
• Minimum two years managing or leading technical teams within DevRel or similar settings.
• Strong software engineering skills, including coding, API integration, debugging, and rapid technology assimilation.
• Experience in delivering developer-focused projects from concept to deployment.
• Ability to set focused technical roadmaps balancing experimentation, education, and integration efforts.
• Proficient program management capabilities including prioritization and risk communication.
• Insightful understanding of developer needs and the ability to identify effective solutions.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills for clear and engaging technical explanations.
• Experience collaborating with diverse teams such as Product, Engineering, Marketing, and Sales.
• Comfortable balancing direct execution with leadership and long-term planning.
• Familiarity with public codebase collaboration and developer ecosystems like GitHub.
• Experience defining and reporting DevRel engineering metrics and their business impact.
• Adaptable to ambiguous, fast-paced environments with clear communication.
• Humble, collaborative attitude with high energy and a constructive mindset.
• Prior use and knowledge of Tailscale is expected.

Preferred Experience

• Leading DevRel in infrastructure, networking, security, or open-source products.
• Deep knowledge of Tailscale, WireGuard, networking, identity-based access, or Zero Trust architectures.
• Supporting product-led growth and self-serve adoption strategies.
• Building technical integrations, community tools, or open-source projects.
• Speaking at conferences, creating technical videos, or facilitating workshops.
• Developing public technical voices for teams or companies.
• Measuring developer engagement through lifecycle metrics.
• Managing agency partners, budgets, or external contributors.
• Experience in fast-moving startup or scale-up environments.

Compensation and Benefits

Tailscale offers an equitable compensation package including base salary, equity, and comprehensive benefits. The salary range for Canada-based employees spans $215,740 to $269,340 CAD annually.

What We Offer

• An inclusive and flexible culture encouraging authenticity and diverse perspectives.
• Competitive salary, equity incentives, and variable commissions where applicable.
• Full benefits coverage including health, vision, and dental from the first day.
• Remote-first company with options for virtual and in-person collaboration and coworking spaces.
• Employer-matched retirement contributions up to 0.75% of eligible compensation annually.
• Company retreats, team off-sites, and support for cross-location collaboration.
• Professional development support with $1500 USD annual allowance and mentoring opportunities.
• Generous paid time off promoting work-life balance.
• Personalized home office equipment and monthly internet reimbursement, plus $500 USD for workspace customization.
• Comprehensive paid parental leave with top-ups for birthing and non-birthing parents.

Accessibility and Recruitment Process

The hiring process is designed to be accessible and inclusive; accommodations are available upon request. Candidate screening utilizes AI tools, but all decisions are human-led. Official recruiter communications only come from specified email domains associated with Tailscale.