Senior Engineering Manager - Video Templates (Bay area only) at Canva

Canva

San Francisco, CA, us·18h ago

SeniorFull-timeAWSAIML

Salary Range

$132,600 - $179,400 /year

Estimated

This salary is estimated based on similar roles. The actual salary may vary.

About the Role

We are looking for a Video Template Platform Lead to join Canva’s Video Group in San Francisco. This role involves leading a specialized engineering team to build the next-generation video template system, focusing on scalability and innovation.

Key Responsibilities

→Define the roadmap for Canva’s next-generation video template system, including a scalable Template Schema and high-performance rendering engine across Web, Mobile, and Desktop.
→Partner closely with Motion Designers, Product Managers, and AI Researchers to translate creative needs into scalable engineering systems.
→Architect and oversee the “Template Authoring Mode,” balancing professional-grade precision with Canva’s signature simplicity.
→Recruit, onboard, and lead a new specialized engineering team in SF, fostering a culture of technical excellence, creativity, and rapid iteration.
→Own end-to-end delivery of the template platform, managing complex cross-group dependencies across Video Engine, Content, and Platform teams.
→Drive innovation through Generative AI integration, from automated asset matching to intelligent layout adaptation.

Requirements

✓Proven experience managing engineering teams and team leads, ideally within creative tools, multimedia systems, or complex platform environments.
✓Deep systems architecture expertise and experience building extensible frameworks, SDKs, or large-scale content systems.
✓Familiarity with video editing workflows, timeline-based data structures, or graphics rendering pipelines.
✓Strong advocacy for user experience, balancing internal creators and end-user delight.
✓Successful navigation of high-growth, matrixed organizations and alignment across globally distributed teams.
✓Ability to balance long-term architectural thinking with pragmatic execution and fast iteration.

Benefits

★Equity packages - we want our success to be yours too
★Health benefits plans to support you and your wellbeing
★401(k) retirement plan with company contribution
★Inclusive parental leave policy that supports all parents & carers
★An annual Vibe & Thrive allowance to support your wellbeing, social connection, office setup & more
★Flexible leave options that empower you to be a force for good, take time to recharge and supports you personally