Senior Manager, Engineering, Docker Agents (London)
Senior Manager, Engineering, Docker Agents (London)

Senior Manager, Engineering, Docker Agents (London)

Full-Time 43200 - 72000 ÂŁ / year (est.) Home office possible
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At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead a team to build next-gen AI agent capabilities for Docker.
  • Company: Join Docker, the leading platform for app development with a global remote-first team.
  • Benefits: Enjoy flexible work, generous parental leave, and a tech stipend.
  • Why this job: Make a real impact in the world of AI and automation while growing your career.
  • Qualifications: 7+ years in software engineering and 3+ years managing teams required.
  • Other info: Be part of a diverse culture that values innovation and collaboration.

The predicted salary is between 43200 - 72000 ÂŁ per year.

At Docker, we make app development easier so developers can focus on what matters. Our remote‑first team spans the globe, united by a passion for innovation and great developer experiences. With over 20 million monthly users and 20 billion image pulls, Docker is the #1 tool for building, sharing, and running apps—trusted by startups and Fortune 100s alike. We’re growing fast and just getting started. Come join us for a whale of a ride!

Senior Manager, Engineering, Docker Agents leads the team responsible for building Docker’s next‑generation AI agent capabilities. This team designs and delivers intelligent, containerized agents that enable automation, adaptive workflows, and real‑world AI usage for developers. This role combines people leadership, technical strategy, and cross‑functional collaboration. The manager ensures the team delivers reliable, high‑impact systems while maintaining a strong engineering culture grounded in trust, learning, and execution.

Responsibilities
  • Team Leadership & Development: Lead, mentor, and grow a team of engineers working on Docker Agents. Define hiring plans, onboarding, career paths, and performance expectations. Foster a culture of psychological safety, accountability, and continuous improvement.
  • Technical Strategy & Delivery: Partner with Product and Engineering leadership to define the vision, roadmap, and technical direction for agent systems. Guide architectural decisions for scalable, secure, and maintainable agent platforms. Balance long‑term strategy with short‑term execution to ensure consistent delivery.
  • Cross‑Functional Collaboration: Work closely with Product Management, Platform, DevOps, and QA teams to align priorities. Advocate for agent capabilities across the Docker ecosystem. Ensure smooth integration between agent systems and other Docker products.
  • Operational Excellence: Establish and track engineering metrics related to quality, velocity, and reliability. Remove blockers and improve developer productivity through better tooling and processes. Drive improvements in CI/CD, testing, observability, and system resilience.
  • Culture & Values: Model strong leadership behaviors rooted in empathy, clarity, and ownership. Promote inclusion, diversity, and fairness in hiring and team development. Handle feedback, performance discussions, and prioritization decisions with transparency and respect.
Qualifications
  • Required: 7+ years of professional software engineering experience. 3+ years of experience managing engineering teams. Proven ability to lead remote, distributed teams. Strong experience with distributed systems, APIs, or platform engineering. Demonstrated ability to navigate ambiguity and guide teams through evolving requirements. Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
  • Preferred: Experience working with AI systems, LLMs, or agent‑based architectures. Background in developer tools, platforms, or infrastructure products. Product‑oriented mindset with exposure to user‑facing engineering decisions.
What to Expect
  • First 30 Days: Integrate into Docker’s AI & Agents Engineering organization and establish relationships with key stakeholders across Product, Platform, Engineering leadership, and sister AI teams. Deep dive into the Docker Agents ecosystem including cagent project architecture, current roadmap, open‑source community engagement, and technical debt assessment. Conduct comprehensive 1:1s with each team member to understand their technical backgrounds, career aspirations, current project ownership, and individual growth opportunities. Assess team dynamics, delivery processes, engineering practices, and identify immediate opportunities to remove blockers, improve productivity, and enhance code quality.
  • First 90 Days: Hire and onboard critical team members with expertise in containerized systems, AI/LLM integration, distributed systems, and open‑source community management. Establish clear team operating principles including engineering standards for agent development, code review processes, testing frameworks, and production deployment practices. Drive alignment on technical vision and roadmap for Docker’s containerized agent platform in partnership with Product Management, ensuring clear prioritization of cagent evolution, enterprise features, and developer experience improvements. Ship significant improvements to cagent or containerized agent platform capabilities with measurable impact on developer productivity or agent deployment reliability.
  • One‑Year Outlook: Build and lead a high‑performing engineering team of 8‑12 engineers that consistently delivers reliable, scalable containerized agent infrastructure impacting millions of Docker users worldwide. Establish the Docker Agents team as a center of excellence for containerized AI systems, influencing architecture decisions across Docker’s AI initiatives and the broader container ecosystem. Develop team members into technical leaders through mentorship, conference speaking opportunities, open‑source contributions, and clear career advancement paths within Docker’s engineering organization. Establish repeatable processes for rapid prototyping, evaluation, and productization of new agent capabilities that maintain Docker’s reputation for reliability and developer experience excellence.

Docker does not offer visa sponsorship for this role. We use Covey as part of our hiring and / or promotional process for jobs in NYC and certain features may qualify it as an AEDT. As part of the evaluation process we provide Covey with job requirements and candidate submitted applications. We began using Covey Scout for Inbound on April 13, 2024. Please see the independent bias audit report covering our use of Covey here.

Perks
  • Freedom & flexibility; fit your work around your life
  • Designated quarterly Whaleness Days plus end of year Whaleness break
  • Home office setup; we want you comfortable while you work
  • 16 weeks of paid Parental leave
  • Technology stipend equivalent to $100 net/month
  • PTO plan that encourages you to take time to do the things you enjoy
  • Training stipend for conferences, courses and classes
  • Equity; we are a growing start-up and want all employees to have a share in the success of the company
  • Docker Swag
  • Medical benefits, retirement and holidays vary by country
  • Remote‑first culture, with offices in Seattle and Paris

Docker embraces diversity and equal opportunity. We are committed to building a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. The more inclusive we are, the better our company will be.

Senior Manager, Engineering, Docker Agents (London) employer: Docker

Docker is an exceptional employer that champions a remote-first culture, offering unparalleled flexibility and a commitment to employee well-being through initiatives like Whaleness Days and generous parental leave. With a strong focus on innovation and professional growth, employees are encouraged to develop their skills through training stipends and mentorship opportunities, all while contributing to cutting-edge technology that impacts millions of users globally. Join us in a collaborative environment where diversity is celebrated, and every team member has a voice in shaping the future of app development.
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Contact Detail:

Docker Recruiting Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫

We think this is how you could land Senior Manager, Engineering, Docker Agents (London)

✨Tip Number 1

Network like a pro! Reach out to current or former Docker employees on LinkedIn. A friendly chat can give you insider info and maybe even a referral, which can really boost your chances.

✨Tip Number 2

Prepare for the interview by diving deep into Docker's products and culture. Show us you’re not just another candidate; demonstrate your passion for innovation and how you can contribute to our mission.

✨Tip Number 3

Practice your leadership stories! We want to hear about times you've led teams through challenges. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your answers and keep it engaging.

✨Tip Number 4

Don’t forget to follow up after your interview! A quick thank-you email can leave a lasting impression and shows us you’re genuinely interested in joining our team.

We think you need these skills to ace Senior Manager, Engineering, Docker Agents (London)

Team Leadership
Mentoring
Technical Strategy
Distributed Systems
APIs
Platform Engineering
Communication Skills
AI Systems
LLMs
Agent-Based Architectures
Continuous Improvement
CI/CD
Code Review Processes
Open-Source Community Engagement
Problem-Solving

Some tips for your application 🫡

Show Your Passion for Innovation: When writing your application, let your enthusiasm for innovation shine through! We love seeing candidates who are excited about making app development easier and have a genuine interest in AI and containerized systems.

Tailor Your Experience: Make sure to highlight your relevant experience in software engineering and team leadership. We want to see how your background aligns with the role of Senior Manager, Engineering, especially your experience with distributed systems and managing remote teams.

Be Clear and Concise: Keep your application clear and to the point. Use straightforward language to describe your achievements and how they relate to the responsibilities outlined in the job description. We appreciate clarity as much as you do!

Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for this exciting opportunity at Docker. We can’t wait to hear from you!

How to prepare for a job interview at Docker

✨Know Your Stuff

Make sure you brush up on your technical knowledge, especially around distributed systems and AI. Docker is all about innovation, so be ready to discuss your experience with containerized systems and how you've tackled challenges in previous roles.

✨Show Your Leadership Skills

As a Senior Manager, you'll need to demonstrate your ability to lead and mentor a team. Prepare examples of how you've fostered a culture of accountability and continuous improvement in past positions. Highlight your experience managing remote teams, as this is crucial for the role.

✨Collaborate Like a Pro

Cross-functional collaboration is key at Docker. Think of instances where you've worked closely with product management or other engineering teams. Be ready to discuss how you align priorities and advocate for your team's needs while ensuring smooth integration with other products.

✨Emphasise Culture Fit

Docker values inclusion, diversity, and strong leadership behaviours. Be prepared to talk about how you promote these values in your work environment. Share your thoughts on psychological safety and how you handle feedback and performance discussions with transparency and respect.

Senior Manager, Engineering, Docker Agents (London)
Docker

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