Senior Director, Applied Science

About GitHub

As the global home for all developers, GitHub is the complete AI-powered developer platform to build, scale, and deliver secure software. Over 100 million people, including developers from 90 of the Fortune 100 companies, use GitHub to build amazing things together across 330+ million repositories. With all the collaborative features of GitHub, it has never been easier for individuals and teams to write faster, better code.

Locations

In this role you can work from Remote, United States

Overview

GitHub Copilot is pioneering the future of software development - we have changed the way software is built, and have a unique opportunity to help the industry reimagine how we can make software development be faster, safer, easier, and more accessible! Join us at the forefront of innovation as our new Senior Director, leading the Copilot Applied Science Org.

We’re looking for a talented and experienced Senior Director to join us to lead the Copilot Applied Science Org! This org is responsible for the models and engines, experiments, prompting, Large Language Model (LLM) fine-tuning, quality measurements, and RAI (responsible AI) needed to make our Copilot product successful.

The Applied Science org’s charter:

• Continuously, rapidly, and rigorously improve the quality of our core Copilot products by leveraging cutting-edge techniques such as Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG), Reinforcement Learning from Human Feedback (RLHF), and precision fine-tuning to elevate performance and refine user experiences.
• Delve into the intricacies of LLMs to harness emergent behaviors, engineer robust measurement frameworks, and design bespoke models.
• Create and prototype new Copilot capabilities and user experiences (in collaboration with industry-leading researchers and other partners).
• Share science knowledge and best practices across GitHub, across Microsoft, and across the industry.
• Build out a culture of research, experimentation and innovation.
  
  

Responsibilities

• Spearhead the continuous, rapid, and rigorous enhancement of quality and performance while expanding the functionality of our core Copilot products.
• Innovate and prototype new Copilot capabilities and user experiences, in close collaboration with Next and other partners, to stay ahead of the curve.
• Disseminate science knowledge and best practices within GitHub, across Microsoft, and throughout the industry, fostering a culture of continuous learning and improvement.
• Build up a high-performing org that is both successful and has a healthy, sustainable culture.
• Mentor, coach and grow your team. Ensure each of your team members grow and advance their skill sets to be successful in their careers.
• Foster an inclusive environment across the company where team members are empowered to do their best work and demonstrate a strong sense of ownership and belonging.
  
  

Qualifications

Required Qualifications:

• 10+ years experience in software development, or related field
• OR Bachelor's Degree in related field AND 8+ years experience in software development, or related field
• OR equivalent experience.
• 5+ years experience overseeing research and product development in AI technologies
• People management experience
  
  

Preferred Qualifications:

• 10+ years technical engineering experience with coding in languages such as C, C++, C#, Java, JavaScript, or Python.
• Exceptional collaboration, team management, and the successful application of modern AI methodologies.
  
  

Other Qualifications:

• Ability to meet GitHub, customer and/or government security screening requirements are required for this role. These requirements include, but are not limited to the following specialized security screenings: Microsoft Cloud Background Check: This position will be required to pass the Microsoft, GitHub’s parent company, Cloud Screen upon hire/transfer and every two years thereafter.
  
  

Compensation Range

The base salary range for this job is USD $134,800.00 - USD $357,500.00 /Yr.

These pay ranges are intended to cover roles based across the United States. An individual's base pay depends on various factors including geographical location and review of experience, knowledge, skills, abilities of the applicant. At GitHub certain roles are eligible for benefits and additional rewards, including annual bonus and stock. These rewards are allocated based on individual impact in role. In addition, certain roles also have the opportunity to earn sales incentives based on revenue or utilization, depending on the terms of the plan and the employee's role.

GitHub values

• Customer-obsessed
• Ship to learn
• Growth mindset
• Own the outcome
• Better together
• Diverse and inclusive
  
  

Manager fundamentals

• Model
• Coach
• Care
  
  

Leadership principles

• Create clarity
• Generate energy
• Deliver success
  
  

Who We Are

GitHub is the world’s leading AI-powered developer platform with 100 million developers and counting. We’re also home to the biggest open-source community on earth (and 99% of the world’s software has open-source code in its DNA). Many of the apps and programs you use every day are built on GitHub.

Our teams are dreamers, doers, and pioneers, leading the way in AI, driving humanitarian efforts around the globe, and even sending open source to Mars (and beyond!). At GitHub, our goal is to create the space you need to do your best work. We’re remote-first and offer competitive pay, generous learning and growth opportunities, and excellent benefits to support you, wherever you are—because we know that people flourish when they can work on their own terms.

Join us, and let’s change the world, together.

EEO Statement

GitHub is made up of people from a wide variety of backgrounds and lifestyles. We embrace diversity and invite applications from people of all walks of life. We don't discriminate against employees or applicants based on gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, race, religion, age, national origin, citizenship, disability, pregnancy status, veteran status, or any other differences. Also, if you have a disability, please let us know if there's any way we can make the interview process better for you; we're happy to accommodate!