Principal Technical Program Manager, Forward Deployed Engineering
Docker · Remote · United States · $162.5k–$254.7k
Posted by Docker on their careers site · View the original posting
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The posting, as Docker wrote it
ABOUT DOCKER
Docker has been one of the most loved brands in developer tooling, trusted by more than 20 million monthly users and over 20 billion container image pulls. From solo founders to the world's largest companies, developers rely on Docker to build, share, and run their applications across our suite of products including Docker Desktop, Docker Hub, and Docker Scout.
We are a globally distributed, remote-first team building the tools that define how software gets built and delivered. As AI agents redefine software development, Docker is at the center of that shift, providing the sandboxed environments, verified images, and secure infrastructure that make autonomous workflows trustworthy by default.
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ABOUT THE ROLE
Docker's Forward Deployed Engineering (FDE) team embeds senior engineers inside our most strategic customers to solve their hardest deployment, integration, and adoption problems. FDEs then bring what they learn back to Docker Product and Engineering so that every customer benefits.
As the Principal Technical Program Manager for FDE, you define what good looks like for the organization and run the business that delivers it. You define the standards for how FDE plans, commits, delivers, and measures quality. You own the operating rhythm, track commitments Docker has made to customers, the commitments Docker Engineering has made to FDE, and the timelines and resourcing behind them.
This is a senior role that works with stakeholders across the business to drive outcomes for Dockers most important customers. FDE is where Docker proves it can deliver for the customers that matter most while the technology around us changes quickly. You will set the standard for how a small team of senior engineers earns and keeps the trust of customers, and you will make what they learn useful to the whole company. The practices you establish will become the model for how Docker engages with its largest, most complex customers.
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RESPONSIBILITIES
DEFINE WHAT GOOD LOOKS LIKE
- Define the FDE delivery standards, engagement model, and quality bar, and write them down so engagements are consistent across customers, regions, and engineers.
- Decide which metrics matter for FDE, set targets, and revise them as the team learns.
- Turn lessons from each engagement into reusable practice and product improvements.
RUN THE FDE BUSINESS
- Give executives a clear account of what is on track, what is at risk, what decision is needed, and from whom.
- Own FDE capacity management and staffing plans with FDE leadership and recruiting: which engineers are aligned to which customers, where the gaps are, where and when to hire to stay ahead of demand.
OWN CUSTOMER AND ENGINEERING COMMITMENTS
- Instrument every commitment Docker has made to FDE customers, and every commitment Docker Product
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COMPENSATION & EQUITY
All full-time roles include equity. Final compensation is determined on factors including but not limited to experience, skills, qualifications, and location.
United States: $162,505 - $254,650 base
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POSTING INFORMATION
- Open vacancy: This posting is for an existing open role.
- AI in hiring: Docker may use AI-assisted tools during our recruiting process.
- Interview recordings: Candidates will be invited to opt in to interview recordings to support interviewer calibration and consistent evaluations. Recordings are optional and require explicit consent.
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PERKS & BENEFITS
- Remote-first by design – Work from your home, with offices in Seattle and Paris for connection and collaboration.
- Flexibility that fits your life – We trust you to manage your schedule while delivering great work.
- Time to recharge – Generous PTO, designated quarterly Whaleness Days, and a designated end-of-year Whaleness break.
- Home office support – Set up your workspace for comfort and success.
- Technology stipend – Equivalent to US$100 net per month to help support your work.
- Learning & development – Annual stipend for conferences, courses, certifications, and continued learning.
- Parental leave – 16 weeks of paid parental leave after six months of employment.
- Equity for all full-time employees – Share in Docker's long-term success as we continue to grow.
- Comprehensive benefits – Medical, retirement, and paid holidays vary by country.
- Docker swag – Because representing the whale never gets old.
Docker is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to building a team that reflects a broad range of backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. We believe diverse teams build better products, make better decisions, and better serve our global community.