Director, Hands-on Labs

Job Description:

As the Director, Hands-on Labs, you will set the technical vision, hands-on learning strategy, and operational strategy for building and scaling high-quality hands-on lab experiences across the Pluralsight platform. We're looking for a technologist at heart - someone who has developed software, led technical teams, understands how real-world technical environments are designed, tested, deployed, maintained, and can help shape how learners build practical technical skills through hands-on experiences.

You'll bring this to life by leading a team responsible for delivering technically accurate, reliable, and scalable hands-on learning experiences. In addition, you will be accountable for balancing innovation, quality, learner experience, reliability, and throughput while creating scalable systems, standards, and workflows for lab production. Lastly, collaboration is key at Pluralsight, so this requires close partnership with other Content teams, Product, Engineering, and R&D to improve the technical foundations of lab delivery and shape the future of hands-on learning at Pluralsight.

Who you're committed to being:

• Technical Credibility & Authority : A technical leader who can engage credibly with engineers, architects, content experts, and technical producers on software development practices, cloud environments, automation, reliability, and lab architecture.
• Systems Architect & Strategist: A systems thinker who can translate business goals, learner needs, and technical complexity into scalable production models, measurable outcomes, and clear technical requirements.
• Practitioner & Visionary: A technologist at heart who understands how software is built, tested, shipped, and maintained, and can apply that experience to create realistic learning environments as well as improve lab delivery practices
• Leader & Mentor: A leader who can guide technical decision-making, mentor individual contributors, and raise the technical maturity of the Hands-on Labs function.
• Technical Guide : Comfortable reviewing technical designs, troubleshooting lab environments, evaluating platform constraints, and partnering with Engineering on tooling and platform improvements.
• AI Fluency : A leader with working knowledge of AI technologies and their impact on learning, content creation, software development, and the broader technology industry, with the ability to identify where AI can improve learner outcomes, production workflows, lab experiences, and technical content quality.
• Proactive Communicator: A proactive problem solver and collaborator who removes blockers, improves systems, communicates clearly, and leads effectively through change and growth.

What you'll do:

• Lead and develop a team responsible for building, validating, maintaining, and scaling hands-on labs and interactive technical experiences.
• Drive career growth, performance management, coaching, and team structure planning for Technical Content Producers and technical contributors.
• Shape the strategy for hands-on learning at Pluralsight, defining how labs, sandboxes, interactive technical experiences, and emerging learning formats help learners build practical skills, demonstrate competency, and apply technologies in real-world scenarios.
• Own the lab production operating model, including intake, prioritization, staffing and capacity planning, delivery forecasting, roadmap alignment, quality gates, and technical review processes.
• Partner with Engineering and Product teams to improve lab platform capabilities, developer tooling, telemetry, QA systems, and operational reliability.
• Improve lab development workflows through automation, reusable patterns, technical documentation, templates, testing frameworks, and repeatable production systems.
• Lead technical reviews and deep dives to assess lab feasibility, topical accuracy, architecture, platform fit, reliability, and long-term maintainability.
• Identify, surface, and mitigate risks related to technical scope, platform constraints, lab quality, learner experience, and delivery schedules.
• Build a culture of technical excellence, ownership, continuous improvement, and learner-centered execution.

Experience you'll bring:

• Experience leading software development teams, technical teams, senior technical ICs, or other cross-functional technical groups.
• Technical proficiency in software development, IT operations, DevOps, cloud, cybersecurity, data, AI/ML, or similar technology domains.
• Working knowledge of AI technologies, including how AI is influencing learning experiences, content creation workflows, software development practices, and the broader technology industry.
• Ability to establish technical standards for lab creation, including environment configuration, validation and testing practices, versioning, maintenance, quality gates, and troubleshooting expectations.
• Background leading automation, tooling, or workflow improvements in partnership with Engineering, R&D, Product, or platform teams.
• Experience in technical education, developer enablement, learning platforms, labs, sandboxes, interactive technical environments, or instructional environments preferred.

Requirements:

• 5-8 years of experience in software development, technical leadership, platform engineering, cloud engineering, DevOps, cybersecurity, technical content, learning experience delivery, or related technical domains.
• 3+ years of people leadership experience, including leading software engineers, technical producers, senior ICs, managers, or cross-functional technical teams.
• Demonstrated experience building, shipping, operating, supporting, or troubleshooting software systems, cloud environments, developer tools, infrastructure, labs, or technical platforms.
• Proven ability to lead technical discussions, evaluate architectural tradeoffs, and make decisions that balance quality, scalability, reliability, learner experience, maintainability, and delivery timelines.
• Demonstrated ability to lead complex, cross-functional initiatives.
• Proven ability to assess multiple project needs, prioritize effectively, and manage tradeoffs across scope, schedule, quality, technical complexity, and learner impact.
• Ability to provide constructive feedback, coaching, and mentorship while building high-performing teams through development, accountability, and clear expectations.
• Experience working in fast-paced teams and asynchronously with remote teams across time zones.
• Experience in technical learning, developer education, hands-on labs, sandboxes, interactive training, technical enablement, or technical content production preferred.
• This is a remote role; however, applicants located within 45 miles of our Westlake/Dallas, TX office should expect to work on-site Tuesday through Thursday, with remote flexibility on Mondays and Fridays. This approach enables more effective collaboration, quicker decision-making, and a stronger culture, while still providing flexibility.

Why you'll love working here:

• We work in a blended environment that supports collaboration, flexibility, and connection across teams.
• We are mission-driven, shaping the future of tech upskilling and delivering impact that matters.
• We foster a culture of inclusion and belonging, where everyone can contribute and thrive.
• We are always learning, creating an environment where you can take on new challenges, expand your skills, and grow with purpose.
• Benefits include competitive compensation, bonus eligibility, comprehensive medical coverage, unlimited PTO, wellness reimbursement, professional development funds, and more.

About us:

Pluralsight provides the only learning platform dedicated to accelerating the technology skills and capabilities of today's tech workforce. Thousands of companies, government organizations and individuals around the world rely on Pluralsight to support critical technology skill development in areas that are crucial to innovation including artificial intelligence, cloud computing, cybersecurity, software development, and machine learning. We offer highly curated content developed by vetted technology experts, industry leading skill assessments, and hands on, immersive learning experiences designed to help individuals skill-up faster.

Physical Requirements:

This role is primarily performed in an office or home office setting and involves standard computer-based work.

EEOC & Accommodations Statement:

Bring yourself. Pluralsight is an equal opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, or veteran status. We also consider qualified applicants with criminal histories, consistent with EEOC guidelines and local laws.

If you need an accommodation to apply, interview, or perform essential job functions, please visit the bottom of our website to learn how to request an accommodation. Learn more about our commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in our DEIB Report.

Pay Transparency:

The annual US base salary range for this role is $148,200 - $195,000 USD. Actual compensation will depend on location, skills, experience, and other factors. Additional benefits and bonuses may apply.

Applications must be submitted within 90 days after the initial posting date to be considered.

Recruiting Scam Notice:

Please be aware of recruiting scams. We'll only contact you from an @pluralsight.com email or verified channels. We never ask for sensitive personal info or payments as part of the hiring process. All openings are posted on our Careers page.

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