Engineering Manager, Detectors (Zürich)

About the Role

The Engineering Manager will be responsible for leading a team of approximately 12 engineers, with the scope to expand and develop senior ICs and tech leads as the organization scales. This role demands a unique blend of technical expertise, leadership acumen, and the ability to partner effectively with various teams, including Product, Research, GTM, and other Engineering teams.

Lakera's commitment to innovation and customer satisfaction means that the Engineering Manager must be adept at translating customer needs into engineering priorities, driving architectural and modeling decisions, and establishing technical and operational processes that ensure high standards of quality, reliability, and scalability.

What You Will Do

• Own the technical vision, roadmap, and execution for Lakera's detector and defense models.
• Lead and grow the Detectors Group, recruiting top ML and software engineering talent and developing senior ICs and tech leads.
• Partner closely with Product, Research, GTM, and other Engineering teams to shape the detection roadmap and translate customer needs into engineering priorities.
• Drive architectural and modeling decisions across production defense systems, ensuring high standards of quality, reliability, latency, and scalability.
• Establish technical and operational processes for experimentation, evaluation, deployment, and iteration.
• Design the organization for rapid growth without sacrificing execution velocity.
• Manage several work streams and tech leads, ensuring effective communication and collaboration across the team.
• Shape the evolution of Lakera's AI security defenses as the company scales.
• Foster a culture of innovation, continuous learning, and teamwork within the Detectors Group.

What We Are Looking For

• A senior ML and engineering leader with 10+ years of experience across machine learning, applied AI, and software systems.
• Experience in managing managers and leading multi-layered teams, with a strong track record of elevating people around you and building leadership capacity.
• Strong technical skills, with the ability to go deep technically and operate at the organizational and strategic level.
• Experience in scaling teams and systems in high-growth environments, with a focus on maintaining high technical quality and team morale.
• A humble, curious, and motivated individual who is driven by building the best solutions rather than defending ego or ideology.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to work effectively with cross-functional teams.
• Experience with GTM (Go-to-Market) strategies and their application in driving technical decisions.

Nice to Have

• Experience building ML systems for security, trust and safety, or adversarial domains.
• Background in deploying ML systems under strict latency, reliability, or adversarial constraints.
• Knowledge of current trends and advancements in AI security and machine learning.

Benefits and Perks

• Competitive compensation package, reflecting the seniority and importance of the role.
• Opportunity to work with a cutting-edge technology stack and contribute to the development of innovative AI security solutions.
• Collaborative and dynamic work environment, with a team of highly skilled professionals.
• Professional development opportunities, including training, conferences, and workshops.
• Flexible working arrangements, including remote work options, to support work-life balance.
• Access to a comprehensive benefits package, including health insurance, retirement plans, and paid time off.

• Tip: Showcase your technical vision and strategy for machine learning and software systems in your application and during interviews.
• Highlight your experience in leading multi-layered teams and scaling organizations in high-growth environments.
• Be prepared to discuss your approach to driving innovation, continuous learning, and teamwork within your team.
• Emphasize your ability to communicate complex technical concepts to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Demonstrate your understanding of current trends and advancements in AI security and machine learning, and how they apply to the role.
• Prepare examples of your experience in managing managers, leading tech leads, and building leadership capacity within your team.
• Research Lakera's mission, values, and products to understand the company's culture and how your skills and experience align with its goals.