Director of Engineering (US Remote)
About the position Alignable is the largest online network of small business owners, with over 10 million members across North America. Our mission is to empower small businesses by helping them build trusted relationships and grow through referrals, connections, and community. We don't just connect business owners—we unlock the hidden potential in their existing networks by revealing second- and third-degree relationships that drive real business growth. Think of it like this: when a software engineer realizes their college roommate's older brother is the hiring manager at the startup they want to join, or when a founder discovers their neighbor's former colleague is exactly the technical co-founder they need—that's our platform at work, but for small businesses. We built the technology that makes those invisible connections visible. Here's the technical challenge we've solved: we're processing relationship data across 30,000+ communities, building recommendation engines that surface the most valuable connections, and creating trust-based networking algorithms that actually work. This isn't just social networking—it's relationship intelligence at scale. With 20,000+ new freemium members joining each week, we're entering a new phase of scale where product-led growth (PLG) is core to our transformation. As a profitable Series C company, we're not burning cash hoping to find revenue—we're scaling proven technology that millions of real entrepreneurs depend on to build their businesses. Your work here directly impacts the backbone of the American economy. Small businesses employ nearly half of all American workers, and when your code helps them find customers, suppliers, or services through trusted referrals, you're making a tangible difference in millions of lives. If you want to empower the small business owner through a networking platform unlike any other, let's talk. We're looking for a Director of Engineering to lead our engineering organization through its next chapter of growth. This is a critical leadership role on our executive team—you'll own the technical strategy, team development, and delivery for ~26 engineers across multiple squads. This role reports directly to our Co-Founder/President and has a clear path to VP of Engineering. You'll partner closely with Product, Design, and Data leadership to shape what we build and how we build it—while ensuring our engineering culture continues to attract and retain exceptional talent. Responsibilities • Leading the Engineering Organization • Setting Technical Direction • Driving AI Integration • Driving Delivery and Operational Excellence • Partnering Cross-Functionally • Building for Scale Requirements • Engineering Leadership Experience: 8+ years in software engineering with at least 4 years leading engineering teams, including experience managing managers. You've built and scaled teams of 20+ engineers at growth-stage companies. • Technical Credibility: You've been a strong IC in your past and can still go deep on architecture, system design, and code quality. You don't need to be the best coder in the room, but you need to earn the respect of senior engineers through your technical judgment. • Delivery Track Record: You've shipped products that matter at companies with real scale. You know how to balance speed and quality, manage technical debt, and keep teams focused on outcomes over output. • People Development: You've grown Engineering Managers and senior ICs. You have a track record of retention and promotion. You know how to give hard feedback and have hard conversations. • AI/ML Familiarity: You've shipped AI-powered product features or led teams integrating LLMs and ML into products. You're excited about what AI can do for small businesses—and for engineering productivity. • Cross-Functional Partnership: You've worked closely with Product, Design, and business leadership. You can translate between technical and non-technical stakeholders and influence without authority. Nice-to-haves • Experience with our stack is a plus: Ruby on Rails, Elixir, React/TypeScript, AWS. But we care more about your ability to learn and lead than matching every technology. Benefits • Smart, supportive co-workers • Competitive compensation • Equity • Health, dental, and vision insurance • Unlimited vacation policy • Virtual working environment • Flexible working hours • Paid Parental leave • Professional Development Program • 401(k) Apply tot his job