Greenhouse ·
full-timeManager I, Applied Science - Frontier Agentic Models
Datadog · New York, New York, USA
Datadog provides a cloud monitoring and analytics platform that helps organizations observe infrastructure and applications. The Applied AI team turns research prototypes from Datadog’s AI lab and the broader community into production‑ready agentic systems that operate at scale. As a Manager I, Applied Science you would lead a small group of engineers and applied scientists focused on building foundations for autonomous agents, context‑memory layers, and tools for validating AI‑native services. Day‑to‑day work includes setting technical direction, running short feedback loops with product and research partners, defining success criteria, and overseeing end‑to‑end delivery from early exploration to reliable production systems. You would also drive evaluation practices, shape hiring, and mentor team members while balancing quality, latency, cost, and safety. The role suits a people‑focused manager with deep expertise in large language models, retrieval‑augmented generation, agentic systems, or related ML areas, strong product intuition, and experience taking AI ideas from concept to customer impact.
Applied AI is where Datadog's ambitious AI bets get built and shipped ( Bits Chat , updog ). We sit at the intersection of research and product: turning promising capabilities from Datadog AI Research lab and the research community into production systems that reach real customers. The team builds the foundations for agentic systems capable of operating at scale in complex production environments. Current bets span agents that run autonomously at scale, context and memory layers that make those agents more intelligent over time, and tools that help customers build and validate AI-native services in production. The mandate is to move fast from idea to customer impact, and when a product finds its footing, to set it up for growth. As an Engineering Manager I in Applied AI, you will lead a team of engineers and applied scientists working on one of these challenges. You will define technical direction, run short feedback loops, make deliberate decisions about what to pursue or stop, and work closely with product managers, research teams, and cross-functional partners to ship AI capabilities that matter. At Datadog, we place value in our office culture, the relationships and collaboration it builds and the creativity it brings. We operate as a hybrid workplace to ensure our Datadogs can create a work-life harmony that best fits them. What You'll Do Lead and develop a team of engineers and applied scientists focused on building the foundations for agents operating at scale Work closely with product managers, research teams, and cross-functional partners to shape the team's bets from initial framing through to broader adoption, with a clear definition of success criteria at each stage Own end-to-end delivery of high-quality AI systems, from early research exploration to production-grade reliability, with high standards for operational excellence, system reliability, and technical quality Navigate the unique challenges of shipping AI-powered products: balancing quality, latency, cost, and safety considerations. Drive evaluation and iteration practices for AI systems: define the quality bar and guide the team in building the offline and online evaluation pipelines needed to measure quality and detect drift Contribute to cross-team collaboration and knowledge sharing across the broader AI organization Support career growth for engineers through coaching, feedback, and fostering a culture of experimentation, innovation, and learning. Participate in hiring and help shape the future team as the organization grows Who You Are A people-focused manager with experience leading and mentoring engineers, able to develop strong engineering talent in a fast-moving domain A technical leader with deep expertise in one or more areas of AI or machine learning: large language models, retrieval-augmented generation (RAG), semantic search, agentic systems, deep learning, or NLP Well-versed in evaluation methodologies for AI systems, both offline benchmarks and online metrics A strong product instinct: able to anchor early-stage work in concrete customer problems, define success criteria before writing code, and actively contribute to shaping product direction alongside product and research partners Experience taking AI products from 0 to 1 is strongly valued: able to bring structure to early-stage work by scoping clear hypotheses, moving quickly toward signal, and making deliberate decisions about what to pursue, pivot, or stop BS/MS/PhD in Machine Learning, Computer Science, Engineering, or related field, or equivalent professional experience Datadog values people from all walks of life. We understand not everyone will meet all the above qualifications on day one — that's okay. If you're passionate about technology and want to grow your skills, we encourage you to apply. Benefits and Growth New hire stock equity (RSUs) and employee stock purchase plan (ESPP) Continuous professional development, product training, and career pathing An inclusive company culture with the ability to join Community Guilds (Datadog employee resource groups) Free, global Spring Health benefits for employees and dependents age 6+ Competitive global benefits Giving programs Benefits and Growth listed above may vary based on the country of your employment and the nature of your employment with Datadog. #LI-Hybrid Datadog offers a competitive salary and equity package, and may include variable compensation. Actual compensation is based on factors such as the candidate's skills, qualifications, and experience. In addition, Datadog offers a wide range of best in class, comprehensive and inclusive employee benefits for this role including healthcare, dental, parental planning, and mental health benefits, a 401(k) plan and match, paid time off, fitness reimbursements, and a discounted employee stock purchase plan. The reasonably estimated yearly salary for this role at Datadog is: $192,000 — $240,000 USD About Datadog: Datadog is the leading observability and securi
| Role | Manager I, Applied Science - Frontier Agentic Models |
|---|---|
| Company | Datadog |
| Location | New York, New York, USA |
| Type | full-time |
| Compensation | Not disclosed |
| Posted | 2026-09-30 |
| Deadline | Rolling |
Typical process for this type of role
A general guide — the exact steps for this specific listing may vary; check the original posting for details.
- 1ApplicationSubmit your resume through the apply link.
- 2ScreeningRecruiter reviews your background against the role.
- 3AssessmentA technical test, assignment, or coding round, depending on the role.
- 4Interview(s)One or more rounds with the hiring team.
- 5OfferOffer letter with compensation and start date.
Before you apply
0/4About Datadog
Datadog provides a modern monitoring and security platform designed for developers, IT operations teams, and business users operating in the cloud. The company's platform offers a wide range of capabilities, including infrastructure, network, container, and serverless monitoring, as well as application performance monitoring, log management, and cloud security. These tools are utilized by organizations across various industries, such as financial services, healthcare, retail, and technology, to enable digital transformation and drive collaboration across teams. Datadog employs over 8,100 people globally and continues to expand its presence to support customers across diverse markets and regions.
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