Engineering Manager, Monetization

Upwork ($UPWK) is the world’s largest work marketplace, connecting businesses with highly skilled professionals worldwide. From entrepreneurs to Fortune 100 enterprises, companies trust Upwork’s platform to access expert talent, leverage AI-powered work solutions, and drive meaningful business outcomes.

Upwork’s AI-powered platform has facilitated over $20 billion in economic opportunity for professionals worldwide. With professionals spanning 10,000+ skills, including AI and machine learning, software development, sales and marketing, customer support, finance and accounting, and more, Upwork empowers businesses of all sizes to scale, innovate, and build agile teams.

We are looking for an Engineering Manager, Monetization to lead a talented team of backend and frontend engineers. In this role, you will drive the technical direction and execution of critical monetization initiatives, including subscriptions, fees, and payment systems. Your work will directly impact how Upwork structures its pricing and revenue models, ensuring a seamless and scalable experience for both clients and freelancers. You will collaborate with cross-functional stakeholders—including Product, Finance, and Data teams—to build, optimize, and enhance our monetization strategy.

Responsibilities

• Lead, mentor, and grow a team of backend and frontend engineers, fostering an environment of technical excellence and innovation.
• Drive the development and optimization of subscriptions, fees, and payment models to enhance Upwork’s monetization strategies.
• Collaborate closely with Product, Finance, and Data teams to define and execute on revenue-generating initiatives.
• Ensure the team delivers high-quality, scalable, and secure solutions while maintaining a strong focus on user experience and performance.
• Provide architectural guidance and technical leadership to solve complex engineering challenges related to payment processing and transaction fees.
• Establish best practices for engineering, testing, deployment, and monitoring to ensure system reliability and efficiency.
• Balance short-term deliverables with long-term strategy to scale Upwork’s monetization infrastructure effectively.

What it takes to catch our eye

• Strong leadership experience managing backend and frontend engineering teams, ideally in a fast-paced environment.
• Hands-on technical expertise in backend development (Java, Python, or similar) and frontend technologies where applicable.
• Ability to work cross-functionally with Product, Finance, Data, and other key stakeholders to align engineering efforts with business goals.
• Preferred experience: understanding of monetization models, including subscriptions and transaction fees.
• Experience working with payment processing systems, financial transactions, or billing platforms is a plus!
• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to make data-driven decisions in a complex marketplace ecosystem.
• Passion for building scalable, secure, and user-friendly financial systems that drive business growth.

Come change how the world works.

At Upwork, you’ll shape the future of work for a global, remote-first workforce, creating economic opportunities for professionals worldwide. While we have a physical office in Palo Alto, we currently hire full-time employees in 21 U.S. states, making it easier than ever to join our mission from wherever you call home.

Our culture is built on trust, risk-taking, customer focus, and excellence, all in service of our core mission: to create economic opportunities so people have better lives. We embrace authenticity and inclusion, encouraging everyone to bring their whole selves to work. Personal and professional growth is a priority here, supported through development programs, mentorship, and our Upwork Belonging Communities.

We’re proud to offer benefits that go beyond the basics, including comprehensive medical coverage for you and your family, unlimited PTO, a 401(k) plan with matching, 12 weeks of paid parental leave, and an Employee Stock Purchase Plan. Visit our Life at Upwork page to learn more about our values, working principles, and the overall employee experience.

Ready to help shape the future of work? Check out our Careers page and follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and X. to learn more about life at Upwork.

Upwork is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse and inclusive workforce. We do not discriminate based on race, religion, color, national origin, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, genetic information, or other legally protected characteristics under federal, state, or local law.

Please note that a criminal background check may be required once a conditional job offer is made. Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered in accordance with applicable law, including the California Fair Chance Act and local Fair Chance ordinances.