Privacy Engineering Director

About DuckDuckGo

DuckDuckGo is a remote-first online privacy company with over 300 team members globally. Founded in 2008, it has been profitable since 2014, boasting annual revenue exceeding $100 million USD. Millions rely on its browser available on Mac, Windows, iOS, and Android, as well as its search engine and subscription services. The company also offers private, optional AI tools such as Duck.ai, which enables private conversations with ChatGPT, Claude, and other AI models in one unified platform. DuckDuckGo’s culture emphasizes trust, inclusivity, and empowered project ownership at all levels.

Role and Responsibilities

As a key figure on the Privacy Functional Team, you will serve as the Privacy Engineering Director responsible for tackling the most complex and high-stakes privacy challenges across DuckDuckGo’s products. Your expertise will be vital in leading privacy initiatives that influence the future of private browsing, search, and AI-assisted agentic computing workflows.

• Develop and implement privacy engineering frameworks especially for agentic browsing products addressing novel challenges related to user data in AI workflows.
• Design scalable technical solutions that enable private search index capabilities while maintaining strict privacy guarantees.
• Oversee high-complexity privacy projects from conception through delivery.
• Enhance privacy triage and review processes and build automation tools to decrease engineering workload.
• Mentor and grow the next generation of privacy engineers within the company.
• Contribute significantly to shaping privacy strategy on a company-wide level.

Candidate Profile

• A minimum of 10 years leading privacy audits, reviews, or technical privacy initiatives in consumer-facing companies with over one million active users.
• At least 4 years of leadership experience specifically in privacy engineering, including developing infrastructure tools and data minimization technologies.
• Executive-level management experience (Director, Head, VP) including responsibility for hiring and managing technical teams.
• Proven capacity to independently lead complex, cross-functional projects with little oversight.
• Exceptional communication skills with the ability to translate privacy principles into pragmatic engineering solutions that balance competing priorities.
• Experience optimizing organizational workflows by identifying bottlenecks, implementing automation, and creating scalable review systems.
• A strong dedication to advancing privacy standards and cultivating trust online.

Compensation and Benefits

The annual salary is $243,800 USD plus stock options, with transparent pay scales across the organization based on level and region. While company-sponsored health benefits are offered only to U.S.-based employees, the company ensures comprehensive support for employee wellbeing including paid parental leave, ergonomic office setup allowances, and coworking stipends.

Hiring and Diversity Commitment

The hiring process is designed to be collaborative, supporting candidates in understanding the company and envisioning their role. DuckDuckGo is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion, providing equal opportunities and prohibiting discrimination based on various protected characteristics. Reasonable accommodations during the application process are available upon request.

Additional Terms

• Candidates must participate in video meetings.
• Travel twice yearly is expected for team all-hands and retreats, each lasting about 4-5 days.
• The role requires approximately 40 hours per week with flexible working hours but no core hours.
• A background check is mandatory prior to employment.
• Applicants must submit accurate and truthful information; any falsification may lead to offer revocation or termination.

Use of Artificial Intelligence in Hiring

DuckDuckGo employs AI technologies to assist in reviewing applications and test projects, ensuring privacy and transparency. Final hiring decisions are made by humans considering AI-supported insights. Applicants may request alternative selection processes if preferred.