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United States
Remote only
Not Available
Why Thunderbird?
Thunderbird is one of the world’s most trusted open-source email applications, empowering more than 20 million people globally. At MZLA, the team behind Thunderbird, we build privacy-respecting communication and productivity tools that help people manage their digital lives while staying in control of their data.
We are open source by design. Our products are developed transparently and in collaboration with a global community of contributors, and that same spirit shapes how we work: collaboratively, inclusively, and with a shared commitment to putting users first.
We are a small but growing company of 60+ people distributed across seven countries. As Thunderbird evolves beyond a single desktop application, we are expanding across desktop, mobile, paid services, and new product experiences that help people and organizations work more effectively without giving up control to big tech ecosystems.
Our revenue model combines user donations, which help keep Thunderbird’s apps freely available, with paid services that cover the costs of hosted offerings while supporting long-term sustainability and continued innovation.
A note about MZLA and Mozilla: MZLA Technologies Corporation is the nonprofit-owned company behind Thunderbird and part of the Mozilla family. MZLA is separate from Mozilla Corporation and has its own compensation programs, benefits, and employment policies.
To learn more, visit www.thunderbird.net and www.thunderbolt.io.
The opportunity
Thunderbolt is an open-source, cross-platform AI product initiative from the team behind Thunderbird. It is being built around a clear principle: people and organizations should be able to use AI while staying in control of their data, infrastructure, model choices, and long-term options. Thunderbolt is designed to support flexible deployment models, integrations with AI tools and workflows, and use cases across desktop, web, and mobile.
We are looking for a Senior Engineering Manager to lead engineering execution, people management, and operating practices for Thunderbolt as it moves from R&D incubation into a more mature product and enterprise development phase. This role will help the team define what production-ready means at this stage: stronger release discipline, clearer ownership, higher user-facing product quality, stronger engineering practices, and a more scalable operating model.
This is a hands-on technical management role for a seasoned engineering leader who has helped early-stage products become reliable, production-ready, and enterprise-ready. You will manage and grow a small senior engineering team, stay close to code quality and technical execution, and partner closely with product and technical leadership to turn an open-source, privacy-respecting AI product into something organizations can deploy with confidence.
We are looking for someone who has seen this stage before: a promising early product, a small senior team, real enterprise interest, incomplete process, and the need to move quickly without creating fragile systems or one-off customer work.
What you’ll do
What you bring
Bonus points for
What success looks like
Success in this role means helping Thunderbolt make the leap from promising R&D-stage product to a production-ready, enterprise-grade open-source AI product that security-conscious organizations can deploy with confidence. Within the first year, the Senior Engineering Manager should help turn a fast-moving early product into a team and engineering system that can scale by helping the team:
Work environment
This is a full-time, fully remote position. You’ll work with our passionate staff, open-source community members and partners from all over the globe. Strong communication and documentation skills are essential for effective collaboration across time zones and disciplines.
Compensation & benefits
We benchmark our base salaries to local markets and target the 60th percentile of the peer market. The salary ranges for this role are:
In addition to competitive salaries, we offer a comprehensive benefits package designed to support your whole self.
Work & career
Rest & play
Health & family
Work eligibility
Applicants must reside in and have permanent work authorization for the country location(s) specified in the posting. We are unable to consider applicants outside of these markets at this time. And, we do not provide visa sponsorship.
How to apply
Please apply directly through our career page. We carefully review every cover letter and screening question, so take the time to answer each fully. We value authentic, thoughtful responses that reflect your own experience and perspective. It is fine to use AI tools to polish your writing, but your answers should be your own. Candidates who submit generic or unoriginal AI-generated responses may be disqualified from further consideration.
Our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion
MZLA believes in the value of diverse creative practices and forms of knowledge, and knows diversity, equity and inclusion are crucial to and enrich the company’s core mission. We encourage applications from everyone, including members of all equity-seeking communities, such as (but not limited to) women, racialized and Indigenous persons, persons with disabilities, persons of all sexual orientations, gender identities and expressions.
We are an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race (including hairstyle and texture), religion (including religious grooming and dress practices), gender, gender identity, gender expression, color, national origin, pregnancy, ancestry, domestic partner status, disability, sexual orientation, age, genetic predisposition, medical condition, marital status, citizenship status, military or veteran status, or any other basis covered by applicable laws. MZLA will not tolerate discrimination or harassment based on any of these characteristics or any other unlawful behavior, conduct, or purpose.
We will ensure that qualified individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, as appropriate. Please contact us at hiringaccommodations@thunderbird.net to request accommodation.
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