Software Engineering Manager, Software Supply Chain Security: Human Authentication

As an Engineering Manager for the Human Authentication & Identity team at GitLab, you'll lead a talented group of engineers who are fundamentally transforming how user authentication and enterprise identity management works across our platform. This role addresses one of GitLab's most complex engineering challenges: scaling authentication systems to serve millions of users across diverse deployment models while maintaining enterprise-grade security.

At GitLab, we see our team as our product. While you'll need to be technically credible in enterprise identity management and authentication frameworks, your primary focus will be on nurturing your team's health, hiring exceptional talent, and positioning them for success.

You'll collaborate closely with Product Managers to shape the roadmap for modern authentication features that balance security, usability, and performance at enterprise scale.

Your leadership will be instrumental as we execute our multi-phase Auth Architecture Redesign, including building the Identity and Access Management (IAM) Service. This is a unique opportunity to lead critical infrastructure work that touches every enterprise customer while solving complex distributed systems challenges including global authentication at GitLab.com scale, multi-tenant organization boundaries, and other technical complexities.

This role is an extension of the Engineering Manager position.

Strategic Leadership & Architecture Execution

• Lead the design and implementation of GitLab's next-generation Identity and Access Management (IAM) Service to support global scale and multi-tenancy

• Navigate the technical complexities of supporting multiple deployment models: GitLab.com (millions of users), self-managed installations, and Dedicated instances

Team Development & Technical Excellence

• Build and lead a team of talented engineers focused on human authentication and enterprise identity systems

• Hire and onboard senior ICs with deep enterprise identity experience (SAML, LDAP, OIDC)

• Mentor existing team members transitioning from the legacy authentication team structure

• Foster a culture of security-first development and zero-trust principles

Enterprise Identity & Scale Challenges

• Guide implementation of enterprise SSO integrations that must handle millions of authentication requests daily

• Oversee LDAP, SAML,, and OIDC protocol implementations that scale across diverse enterprise environments

• Solve complex performance challenges including authentication latency, session storage optimization, and global identity synchronization

• Design identity federation systems that work seamlessly across air-gapped, cloud, and hybrid deployments

What You'll Bring

Technical Leadership Experience

• 5+ years of software engineering management experience with large-scale identity systems

• Deep expertise in enterprise identity protocols: SAML, LDAP, OIDC and similar

• Understanding of complex session management, credential lifecycle, and enterprise security compliance at scale

• Familiarity with zero-trust security models, context-aware authentication systems, and modern authentication patterns

Leadership & Team Building

• Proven track record of building and scaling engineering teams

• Experience hiring and developing senior engineers

• Strong technical communication skills for complex authentication system discussions

In addition to the standard Engineering Manager performance indicators, this role will also be measured on:

Architecture & Performance Delivery

• Successful implementation of IAM Service components that demonstrate improved scalability and performance
• Measurable improvements in authentication latency, system throughput, and global availability

Team Development Success

• Successful hiring and onboarding of senior ICs within first 6 months
• Team satisfaction and retention metrics during major architectural transition
• Individual contributor growth and skill development in enterprise identity systems

The Human Authentication & Identity team is one of three newly structured teams within GitLab's Software Supply Chain Security stage, specifically created to address GitLab's most complex authentication and scale challenges. 

Your team will tackle some of the most challenging problems in distributed systems: global authentication consistency, multi-tenant security isolation, zero-downtime migrations of critical infrastructure, and the complex performance requirements of serving authentication requests at GitLab.com scale.

• Benefits to support your health, finances, and well-being
• All remote, asynchronous work environment
• Flexible Paid Time Off 
• Team Member Resource Groups
• Equity Compensation & Employee Stock Purchase Plan
• Growth and Development Fund
• Parental leave 
• Home office support

Please note that we welcome interest from candidates with varying levels of experience; many successful candidates do not meet every single requirement. Additionally, studies have shown that people from underrepresented groups are less likely to apply to a job unless they meet every single qualification. If you're excited about this role, please apply and allow our recruiters to assess your application.