Head of Engineering, Product

Pika

. Set and communicate the technical vision and strategy for product engineering across all Pika platforms and user-facing features .

Posted 9/24/2026full-timePalo Alto • California • United StatesLeadWebsite

Core Competencies

Role fit

Core Competencies

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Demonstrates expertise in technical leadership, system architecture, and product engineering, with a focus on building scalable, high-performing systems and mentoring engineering teams. Proven ability to align technical solutions with business objectives and drive cross-functional collaboration.

Highest-signal resume keywords

Technical LeadershipSystem ArchitectureDistributed SystemsCloud Infrastructure (AWS/GCP)Mentorship Skills

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills

Product EngineeringSystem ReliabilitySoftware QualityAPIsHigh-Traffic ApplicationsAI-Powered ApplicationsRapid IterationTechnical RoadmapProcess ImprovementTechnology Selection

Soft Skills

Emotional IntelligenceOutstanding CommunicationOrganizational Abilities

Tools & Technologies

KubernetesGenerative AICreative ToolsLarge-Scale Collaboration Platforms

Industry Keywords

High-Growth StartupsHigh-Ambiguity EnvironmentsOpen SourceHackathon ExperienceCompetitive Coding

Tech Stack

Tools & technologies

AWSCloudDistributed SystemsGoogle Cloud PlatformKubernetesOpen Source

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Set and communicate the technical vision and strategy for product engineering across all Pika platforms and user-facing features
Lead, mentor, and scale multiple engineering teams
Architect and oversee scalable, high-performing systems
Ensure best practices in system reliability, security, and efficiency
Partner with product, design, and ML teams to define technical solutions aligned with business and user needs
Guide strategic and architectural technical decision-making, including technology selection and process improvement
Champion software quality, rapid iteration, and best-in-class product experience
Own the technical roadmap, resource planning, and milestone delivery for major product launches and iterations
Represent engineering in executive discussions and drive cross-functional alignment

Requirements

What you’ll need

10+ years of progressive engineering experience, with significant time spent managing and scaling product engineering teams
Strong record of technical leadership in developing and launching complex, high-impact, user-facing products (web/mobile)
Proven experience building and scaling distributed systems, APIs, and cloud infrastructure (AWS/GCP, Kubernetes, etc.)
Mastery of system and software architecture for high-traffic, media-rich, or AI-powered applications
Emotional intelligence and mentorship skills, with a track record of developing engineering leaders and high-performing teams
Deep experience collaborating with executive leadership to shape organizational vision and drive business outcomes
Outstanding communication and organizational abilities
Experience with generative AI, creative tools, or large-scale collaboration platforms
Background in high-growth startups or high-ambiguity environments
Open source, hackathon, or competitive coding experience
Ability to regularly work from Pika's Palo Alto HQ
Authorization to work for any employer in the United States

Benefits

Comp & perks

Substantial equity in a fast-growing startup defining the future of AI and creativity
Comprehensive health benefits
Monthly stipends
Company retreats
Collaborative leadership environment