Job Description
Overview
About DX
About the role
We’re looking for a Distinguished Researcher (remote - US) to help define the industry’s understanding of developer productivity and the impact of AI on software engineering.Â
- In this role, you will:
- Lead original, high-signal research that combines quantitative data, qualitative insights, and real-world stories from hundreds of engineering organizations.
- Develop and evolve frameworks, models, and measurement approaches that become reference points for CTOs, VPs of Engineering, and industry analysts.
- Produce flagship reports and essays that move the conversation forward and shape how leaders talk about developer productivity and AI.
- You’ll operate as a top-of-ladder IC: setting direction for major research themes, partnering closely with product, marketing, and sales, and representing DX and Atlassian in the broader industry.
Responsibilities
Responsibilities
What you’ll ship
- Each member of this team is expected to produce:
- Two “small ships†per month – quick, high-signal pieces that capture one strong insight or idea. For example:
- An insight or trend we’re seeing in the data (e.g., how AI is changing specific workflows).
- Key takeaways from a panel, webinar, or interview with senior engineering leaders.
- A framework or mental model for how to think about a relevant problem (e.g., measuring developer productivity in hybrid teams).
- One “big ship†per quarter – a flagship piece that combines multiple data points, stories, and perspectives into something that reframes how leaders think about a problem. That might include:Â
- A major AI Impact Report sharing insights and trends from data across hundreds of companies.Â
- Regular updates with commentary to our industry benchmarks.Â
- A deep-dive framework that becomes the default way leaders talk about a complex topic.
- A compilation of “small ships†that come together in a cohesive guide on a topic that our audience wants help with or answers to.Â
What you’ll need to be comfortable with
- Research and insight generation
- Leading end-to-end research initiatives on developer productivity, developer experience, and the impact of AI in engineering organizations.
- Designing and interpreting quantitative and qualitative studies using DX’s data, customer interviews, and external benchmarks.
- Synthesizing findings into clear, opinionated insights that are both academically credible and practically useful.
- Writing and storytelling
- Writing clear, concise, and compelling reports, essays, and briefs that senior engineering leaders read and act on.
- Collaborating with editors, designers, and marketers to turn research into polished, high-impact artifacts.
- Representing DX’s research in external channels (talks, panels, podcasts, briefings) as needed.
- Collaboration and distributionÂ
- Partnering with customers and members of the community to understand what they’re facing to identify and unlock new research opportunities using DX’s data.
- Working closely with marketing and sales to ensure our research is being distributed to the right people in the right ways. Â
- QualificationsWho you are
- Deep experience (often 10+ years) in developer productivity, software engineering research, or closely related fields – e.g., engineering leadership, developer experience, socio-technical systems, or software metrics.
- Proven track record of publishing high-impact work: industry reports, academic papers, widely read essays, or frameworks that have influenced how organizations operate.
- Comfortable operating at the level of CTOs, VPs of Engineering, and Heads of Platform/DevEx – you can earn their trust and withstand their scrutiny.
- Strong quantitative and qualitative research skills; you know how to separate signal from noise and avoid misleading conclusions.
- Exceptional writer and communicator: you can explain complex ideas in a way that is clear, concise, and actionable for busy leaders.
- Opinionated but open-minded: you’re willing to take a stand, but you update your views when the evidence changes.
- Low ego, high ownership: you care more about the quality and impact of the work than about credit.
- It’s nice if you have:Â
- Experience working inside large engineering organizations or platforms teams.
- Prior roles as a Field CTO, Deputy CTO, Principal Engineer, or similar.
- Experience collaborating with product and go-to-market teams to turn research into product and narrative.
- A network of senior engineering leaders, researchers, and practitioners you can tap for feedback and collaboration.
- You’re looking for a role where you can:
- Shape how an entire industry thinks about developer productivity and AI.
- Do deep, rigorous work that is actually read and used by senior leaders.
- Operate with a high degree of autonomy while partnering closely with our customers and audience members to define where the research needs to go.Â
- See your frameworks and ideas show up in how Atlassian, DX, and our customers run their engineering organizations.
Benefits & Perks
Atlassian offers a wide range of perks and benefits designed to support you, your family and to help you engage with your local community. Our offerings include health and wellbeing resources, paid volunteer days, and so much more. To learn more, visit go.atlassian.com/perksandbenefits.
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