Senior Director, Product Engineering (AI-Native)

Overview:

The Senior Director, Product Engineering leads multiple engineering teams to deliver scalable, high-impact product solutions aligned with Nerdy’s strategic objectives. This leader drives technical vision, operational excellence, and cross-functional alignment while building high-performing, inclusive teams. The role is responsible for translating business strategy into measurable engineering outcomes across complex product portfolios.

About Nerdy:

At Nerdy (NYSE: NRDY) -  the company behind Varsity Tutors - we’re redrawing the blueprint of learning. Our Live + AI™ platform fuses real-time human expertise with proprietary generative-AI systems, setting a new bar for measurable academic impact at global scale. 

We recruit the kind of technologists and operators you’d bet on as solo founders - people who turn ambiguous problems into shipping code, iterate faster than markets move, and compound their advantage with every data point. In an era where great employees can deliver 10-times the leverage of the merely good, we back those who play to win.

Fortune favors the bold. Join us.

How we compete:

  • AI-Native at every level
    From the CEO to day-one hires, everyone builds and ships with generative AI. If you’re not wielding AI, you’re not done.

  • Entrepreneurial velocity
    Move at founder speed, prototype in hours, and measure in real user outcomes. Slow teams die.

  • Free-market rigor
    Ideas rise or fall on merit and results - no committees, no politics, no cap on upside.

  • Full-stack ownership
    You design, build, and run what you ship; accountability is a feature, not a bug.

  • Reward for contribution
    Pay rises with impact, not years. Outstanding results earn outsized rewards. We evaluate both what you achieve and how you achieve it: living our leadership principles and using AI effectively are formally measured and rewarded.

  • Relentless exploration
    Push the frontier of generative AI in live learning and - because only the paranoid survive - questioning every legacy assumption along the way.

  • Is Apolitical
    You stay focused on mission-aligned outcomes, not distractions or unrelated causes.

If you’re a technically minded builder who thrives on open competition, personal responsibility, and the chance to redefine how the world learns - while continually stretching the limits of what generative AI can do - come do the most ambitious and rewarding work of your career here. Learn more at nerdy.com.

Nerdy’s shareholder letters below explain our latest products and strategy:

Qualifications:

  • 10+ years of progressive engineering leadership experience, including managing managers and senior leaders

  • Proven experience leading large, distributed product engineering organizations in a high-growth environment

  • Strong track record of delivering complex, scalable software systems

  • Demonstrated ability to set technical vision and influence executive-level strategy

  • Deep understanding of modern software development practices, cloud architectures, and DevOps principles

  • Experience driving organizational design, change management, and operational transformation

  • Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills across technical and non-technical audiences

  • Data-driven decision-making mindset with strong business acumen

  • Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field; advanced degree preferred

Responsibilities:

  • Define and execute the long-term technical and organizational strategy for multiple product engineering teams

  • Partner with Product, Design, Data, and Business leaders to align roadmaps with company objectives

  • Drive delivery excellence through strong execution frameworks, predictable planning, and measurable outcomes

  • Build, mentor, and scale high-performing engineering leadership teams, including Directors and Senior Managers

  • Establish and uphold engineering standards for architecture, quality, reliability, and security

  • Lead large-scale system design and architectural decisions to ensure scalability and performance

  • Oversee resource planning, budgeting, and headcount strategy across multiple teams

  • Champion operational rigor through metrics, KPIs, and continuous improvement practices

  • Foster a culture of innovation, accountability, inclusion, and continuous learning

  • Identify and mitigate technical, operational, and organizational risks at the portfolio level

Unleash Your Potential at Nerdy:

At Nerdy, you'll earn your success through meritocracy and exceptional outcomes. Our benefits reward performance and initiative:

  • Competitive Compensation & Advancement: Market-leading salary paired with clear promotion pathways and equity (RSUs) - become an owner in our success.

  • Retirement Made Simple: 401(k) plan with company match and immediate vesting. 

  • A Remote-First Culture: We embrace flexibility across time zones and working styles to attract top talent and meet learners where they are.

  • Flexible Time Off: Recharge on your terms, ensuring maximum productivity.

  • Continuous Learning: Access an all-inclusive learning membership for you and your household, including 1:1 tutoring hours, unlimited on-demand classes, and our full suite of learning products and services.

  • Supercharge with AI: Leverage cutting-edge AI tools to accelerate your workflow.

  • You’re Covered: Medical, dental, vision, life, STD & LTD plans plus strong maternity, paternity, and adoption leaves - numerous options for you and your family.

The Bottom Line:

If you're driven by impact, energized by ownership, and excited to help shape what’s next, you’ll thrive here. We move fast, think big, and reward those who deliver. This isn’t a traditional corporate environment - it’s a place to do the most meaningful work of your career.

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