Solutions Engineering Manager

About Stellar

Stellar is a decentralized, public blockchain that gives developers the tools to create experiences that are more like cash than crypto. The network is faster, cheaper, and far more energy-efficient than most blockchain-based systems.

About the Role

In this role, you'll lead Stellar's Solutions Engineering function, responsible for enabling enterprise partners to successfully design, build, and operate production-grade integrations on the Stellar network. This is a senior leadership role (L4+) combining people management, architectural depth, and program ownership. Reports directly to the Chief Business Officer, with a dotted line to the VP of Engineering.

The ideal candidate is a player/coach — someone who can lead and grow a team while also rolling up their sleeves for hands-on architectural work and direct partner engagement. This person will be responsible for hiring two additional in-house Solutions Engineers/Solutions Architects.

Key Responsibilities

- Own and continuously refine Stellar's Solutions Engineering program, including engagement models, partner tiering, and escalation paths

- Build, manage, mentor, and grow a team of Solutions Architects and Solutions Engineers

- Lead end-to-end technical partner engagements, from early discovery through production launch and ongoing support

- Serve as a senior technical escalation point for high-tiered partners

- Provide hands-on architectural leadership for complex or non-standard use cases

- Set and uphold a high technical quality bar for enterprise integrations

- Collaborate with Product and Engineering teams to surface partner needs and inform roadmap prioritization

- Design and scale repeatable engagement models including partner tiering, SLAs, and documentation standards

- Oversee hiring, onboarding, training, and certification program for solutions engineers

- Represent SDF in strategic partner conversations and selective onsite engagements

Requirements

- Significant experience leading customer-facing engineering or solutions teams, ideally in blockchain, fintech, or financial infrastructure

- Strong technical background enabling you to lead architectural discussions and evaluate system-level trade-offs

- Experience managing multi-disciplinary teams (Solutions Architects, Forward-Deployed Engineers, Partner Engineers, or similar)

- Comfort operating in ambiguous, fast-evolving environments

- Experience working directly with enterprise or institutional partners, including senior technical stakeholders

- Willingness to travel occasionally for partner engagements

Bonus Skills

- Experience with blockchain systems, distributed ledgers, or financial market infrastructure

- Experience working in a forward-deployed or embedded engineering model

- Experience designing or running certification, training, or partner enablement programs

- Experience contributing to open-source or ecosystem-driven platforms

- Excellent written and verbal communication skills

- Strong sense of ownership and accountability for program outcomes