Director of Engineering, Ads & Monetization

Upwork ($UPWK) is the world’s human and AI-powered work marketplace that connects businesses with highly skilled, AI-enabled independent talent from across the globe. From entrepreneurs to Fortune 100 enterprises, companies rely on Upwork’s trusted platform and its mindful AI companion, Uma, to find and hire expert talent, leverage AI-powered work solutions, and drive business transformation. With on-demand access to professionals spanning more than 10,000 skills across AI & machine learning, software development, sales & marketing, customer support, finance & accounting, and more, Upwork enables businesses of all sizes to scale, innovate, and build agile teams for the age of AI and beyond.

Upwork’s platform has facilitated more than $25 billion in economic opportunity for talent around the world. Learn more at Upwork.com and follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and X.

As Director of Engineering for Ads & Monetization, you will lead the vision, execution, and operations of Upwork’s advertising and monetization platforms. You will guide multiple teams across ad serving, targeting, measurement, and monetization systems—ensuring that engineering investments translate into measurable business outcomes. Reporting into Marketplace Engineering leadership, you will partner with product, design, and data peers to unlock new monetization models, scale infrastructure, and drive impact at the intersection of technology and business.

Responsibilities

• Define and communicate the engineering strategy for Ads & Monetization in alignment with company objectives.

• Lead execution across ad tech systems, balancing near-term revenue needs with long-term architectural scalability.

• Build and evolve platforms that support new ad formats, targeting capabilities, and monetization models.

• Develop and mentor senior engineering managers and leads, fostering a high-performance, accountable culture.

• Partner with product and business stakeholders to shape monetization strategies that drive measurable outcomes.

• Ensure quality, performance, and reliability across large-scale distributed systems.

• Represent Ads & Monetization progress and outcomes to executive leadership with clarity and data-driven insights.

What it takes to catch our eye

• 10+ years of engineering leadership experience, including managing managers and scaling large teams.

• Proven success leading large-scale ad tech, monetization, or marketplace platforms with measurable business impact.

• Ability to set a clear vision, prioritize effectively, and drive execution with urgency across multiple initiatives.

• Strong collaboration and communication skills, with executive presence and influence across functions.

• Technical depth in distributed systems, platforms, or performance engineering is highly desirable.

Come change how the world works.

At Upwork, you’ll shape the future of work for a global, remote-first workforce, creating economic opportunities for professionals worldwide. While we have a physical office in Palo Alto, we currently hire full-time employees in 34 U.S. states, making it easier than ever to join our mission from wherever you call home.

Our culture is built on trust, risk-taking, customer focus, and excellence, all in service of our core mission: to create economic opportunities so people have better lives. We embrace authenticity and inclusion, encouraging everyone to bring their whole selves to work. Personal and professional growth is a priority here, supported through development programs, mentorship, and our Upwork Belonging Communities.

We’re proud to offer benefits that go beyond the basics, including comprehensive medical coverage for you and your family, unlimited PTO, a 401(k) plan with matching, 12 weeks of paid parental leave, and an Employee Stock Purchase Plan. Visit our Life at Upwork page to learn more about our values, working principles, and the overall employee experience.

Ready to help shape the future of work? Check out our Careers page to learn more about opportunities at Upwork.

Upwork is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse and inclusive workforce. We do not discriminate based on race, religion, color, national origin, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, genetic information, or other legally protected characteristics under federal, state, or local law.

Please note that a criminal background check may be required once a conditional job offer is made. Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered in accordance with applicable law, including the California Fair Chance Act and local Fair Chance ordinances.