VP, Engineering

VP, Engineering & Technical Architect (Hybrid - LA, Seattle, or Denver) Summary / Objective Identity Digital is building a DNS-based governance solution for agentic identity. We're addressing a critical infrastructure gap: as enterprises deploy millions of AI agents, the industry demands a universal standard for governing agent identity and secure interoperability across open and closed systems. Backed by Identity Digital (the leading DNS company) and top-tier PE investors, we're moving quickly to establish the foundational governance layer for agentic AI as the market explodes toward 80 billion agents by 2030. You’ll lead the new Innovation Labs department, building a team from the ground up and functioning as the senior‑most technical expert. Responsible for the platform’s architecture, scalability, and integration strategy, you’ll partner with engineering teams, product leadership, and external collaborators to deliver and evolve this cornerstone service. This role reports into the Identity Digital COO and will work closely with the Innovation Labs General Manager to implement strategic initiatives. What You'll Do Architecture & Technical Strategy Set vision and direction for Innovation Labs engineering; define and evolve the long‑term technical architecture for the DNS‑Anchored Agentic Identity Platform. Oversee cloud‑native system design (AWS or equivalent), microservices, and APIs. Provide guidance on identity, authentication, and certificate management strategies. Establish and enforce standards for security, compliance, and performance across all platform components. Strategic Leadership Serve as a strategic partner to executive leadership. Identify, plan, and execute strategic technical initiatives that drive platform evolution and business growth. Partner with product, business, and engineering stakeholders to translate objectives into technical roadmaps and evaluate build‑vs‑buy decisions. Hands‑on Technical Contribution Architect and contribute to solutions for complex technical challenges in DNS‑based identity, scalability, and cross‑platform integration. Partner with development teams to ensure design quality, implementation excellence, and system reliability. Team Leadership & Ecosystem Engagement Hire, onboard, coach, and performance manage a high‑performing team, foster a collaborative environment, and consistently model Identity Digital’s values. Mentor engineers and establish best practices for modern, AI‑assisted development approaches. Represent technical perspectives in vendor evaluations, standards bodies, and community discussions. Who You Are / What You Bring 10+ years of experience designing and delivering large‑scale distributed systems and 5+ years people management experience. Proven ability to hire, retain, and develop diverse talent while cultivating an inclusive, positive culture of excellence. Deep understanding of cloud‑native architectures, microservices, and APIs. Expertise in identity and access management (OAuth2, OIDC, SAML). Strong foundation in security architecture, PKI, and key management. Working knowledge of DNS, DNSSEC, and certificate authorities. Hands‑on experience with: Languages: Python, Go, or TypeScript/JavaScript Databases: PostgreSQL or similar Infrastructure: Kubernetes, Terraform, AWS (preferred) Modern Development: AI‑assisted development tools (GitHub Copilot, Cursor, Cline, or similar) Proven experience in technical leadership, mentoring, and architecture governance. Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills. Strong ability to present and explain complex technical topics, problems, alternative solutions to others. Additional Preferred Qualifications Experience architecting multi‑tenant SaaS or high‑scale systems. Exposure to Web3, blockchain identity, or decentralized identifiers (DID). Familiarity with IETF, W3C, or open standards development. Background in domain registry, DNS operations, or related infrastructure. Why This Role Matters This position is mission‑critical to Identity Digital’s transformation from a domain registry operator to a leader in DNS‑anchored agentic identity services. The Principal Architect will shape the platform that enables trusted, verifiable identity at internet scale. Locations This is a hybrid position (1 day/week in office) and can be based from any of our US office hubs. Bellevue, WA Salary Range The U.S. base salary range for this full‑time position is $277,000 – $340,000 (flexibility based on experience) plus benefits as described below. In addition, the successful candidate will be eligible to receive other compensation from time to time in the form of discretionary and/or nondiscretionary bonuses and long‑term incentive plan. Actual compensation will be influenced by a candidate’s qualifications, internal employee equity considerations, and location. We will not ask for information about a candidate’s current or past compensation for purposes of developing an offer of employment. US team members (and their spouses, domestic partners, and/or dependent children) are covered by generously subsidized medical, dental, and vision insurance which includes company contributions to a Health Savings Accounts. Team members are also covered by company‑paid life and disability insurance and have the option of participating in employee‑paid supplemental life, accidental death and dismemberment, critical illness, and accident insurance. In addition, team members can enroll in the company’s 401(k) plan with up to a 5% match. You receive 15 days of paid vacation yearly, increasing to 20 days after one year. Additionally, you get 5 days of paid sick leave, 13 paid holidays, and 20 weeks of paid parental leave for birthing parents, 12 weeks for others. Also, there is an opportunity for tuition reimbursement for qualifying expenses. Note: Benefits programs are subject to eligibility requirements and may vary in certain locations. A few things to know about us Identity Digital is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, veteran status, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or any other category prohibited by local, state or federal law. This policy applies to all aspects of employment, including recruitment, placement, promotion, transfer, demotion, compensation, benefits, social and recreational activities, and termination. At the time of an offer, you will be required to complete a background check. Any offer is contingent upon a satisfactory background check. Sponsorship Statement Please note that work sponsorship for this position may not be available now or in the future. While we strive to support our candidates, not all roles will qualify. Eligibility will be reviewed on a case‑by‑case basis. Accommodation Statement We are committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, Identity Digital will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, please contact our Recruiting Team at careers@identity.digital. #J-18808-Ljbffr