GitLab
Software Engineering Manager, Software Supply Chain Security: Human Authentication
Job Summary
The role is for an Engineering Manager leading the Human Authentication & Identity team at GitLab, focusing on designing and implementing scalable enterprise authentication systems. The position requires expertise in protocols such as SAML, LDAP, and OIDC, as well as experience managing large-scale identity infrastructure. The candidate will oversee team development, direct architecture efforts, and address complex technical challenges related to performance, security, and deployment across diverse environments. Emphasis is placed on fostering a security-first culture and delivering reliable, enterprise-grade authentication solutions at scale.
Required Skills
Benefits
Job Description
GitLab is an open core software company that develops the most comprehensive AI-powered DevSecOps Platform, used by more than 100,000 organizations. Our mission is to enable everyone to contribute to and co-create the software that powers our world. When everyone can contribute, consumers become contributors, significantly accelerating the rate of human progress. This mission is integral to our culture, influencing how we hire, build products, and lead our industry. We make this possible at GitLab by running our operations on our product and staying aligned with our values. Learn more about Life at GitLab.
Thanks to products like Duo Enterprise, and Duo Workflow, customers get the benefit of AI at every stage of the SDLC. The same principles built into our products are reflected in how our team works: we embrace AI as a core productivity multiplier. All team members are encouraged and expected to incorporate AI into their daily workflows to drive efficiency, innovation, and impact across our global organization.
An overview of this role
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.
What You'll Do
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Lead the design and implementation of GitLab's next-generation Identity and Access Management (IAM) Service to support global scale and multi-tenancy
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Navigate the technical complexities of supporting multiple deployment models: GitLab.com (millions of users), self-managed installations, and Dedicated instances
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Mentor existing team members transitioning from the legacy authentication team structure
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Foster a culture of security-first development and zero-trust principles
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Guide implementation of enterprise SSO integrations that must handle millions of authentication requests daily
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Oversee LDAP, SAML, and OIDC protocol implementations that scale across diverse enterprise environments
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Solve complex performance challenges including authentication latency, session storage optimization, and global identity synchronization
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Design identity federation systems that work seamlessly across air-gapped, cloud, and hybrid deployments
What You'll Bring
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Significant experience in software engineering management with large-scale identity systems
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Deep expertise in enterprise identity protocols: SAML, LDAP, OIDC and similar
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Understanding of complex session management, credential lifecycle, and enterprise security compliance at scale
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Familiarity with zero-trust security models, context-aware authentication systems, and modern authentication patterns
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Proven track record of building and scaling engineering teams
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Experience hiring and developing senior engineers
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Strong technical communication skills for complex authentication system discussions
About the team
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.
How GitLab will support you
- 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.
The base salary range for this role’s listed level is currently for residents of listed locations only. Grade level and salary ranges are determined through interviews and a review of education, experience, knowledge, skills, abilities of the applicant, equity with other team members, and alignment with market data. See more information on our benefits and equity. Sales roles are also eligible for incentive pay targeted at up to 100% of the offered base salary.
Country Hiring Guidelines: GitLab hires new team members in countries around the world. All of our roles are remote, however some roles may carry specific location-based eligibility requirements. Our Talent Acquisition team can help answer any questions about location after starting the recruiting process.
Privacy Policy: Please review our Recruitment Privacy Policy. Your privacy is important to us.
GitLab is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and is an affirmative action employer. GitLab’s policies and practices relating to recruitment, employment, career development and advancement, promotion, and retirement are based solely on merit, regardless of race, color, religion, ancestry, sex (including pregnancy, lactation, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression), national origin, age, citizenship, marital status, mental or physical disability, genetic information (including family medical history), discharge status from the military, protected veteran status (which includes disabled veterans, recently separated veterans, active duty wartime or campaign badge veterans, and Armed Forces service medal veterans), or any other basis protected by law. GitLab will not tolerate discrimination or harassment based on any of these characteristics. See also GitLab’s EEO Policy and EEO is the Law. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please let us know during the recruiting process.
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