Head of Developer Relations

At SmartBear, we deliver the complete visibility developers need to make every release better than the last. Our award-winning and industry-leading tools-TestComplete, Swagger, Cucumber, ReadyAPI, Zephyr, and BugSnag-are trusted by more than 16 million developers, testers, and software engineers at over 32,000 organizations, including innovators like Adobe, JetBlue, FedEx, and Microsoft.

This is an exciting time to join us. We’re growing globally, moving fast, and looking for passionate people who want to help us shape the market. You’ll have the opportunity to work for an established company that moves with startup energy—flexible, open to new ideas, and driven to innovate.

Our employees are our foundation. SmartBear is built on a diverse group of passionate, innovative, and collaborative individuals located across four continents. Our values are Smart, Open, Driven, Accountable, and Curious. Learn more here: SmartBear Careers

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About the Role

To continue SmartBear’s growth and success, we’re seeking a strategic, charismatic Head of Developer Relations to lead our Developer Relations (DevRel) and Community Management efforts along with being a Technical Evangalist themselves.

In this role, you will:

• Manage and mentor a cross-functional team of Developer Advocates and Community Managers.
• Drive influence in both open source (OSS) and commercial communities & forums.
• Represent SmartBear at leading global developer and industry forums.
• Shape and scale our DevRel and community programs across API and Testing domains.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership & Strategy

• Lead and mentor a high-performing team focused on API and Testing.
• Develop and execute a comprehensive DevRel strategy aligned with SmartBear’s product goals.
• Foster influence across open source, enterprise, and partner communities.

Community Building & Evangelism

• AI will shape the future of AI and Testing domains. Need someone who can provide an opinionated AI perspective in the market.
• Position SmartBear as a trusted voice in open source and paid developer ecosystems.
• Drive thought leadership through content, community programs, and digital initiatives.
• Expand engagement in SmartBear’s own Community and Forums, including initiatives like Community Champions.
• Build and nurture relationships with open source projects and ecosystem partners (e.g., OpenAPI, Swagger, Pact).

External Representation

• Serve as a primary speaker at top-tier developer and industry conferences worldwide.
• Lead workshops and technical sessions on topics such as API governance, workflows, and contract testing.
• Cultivate SmartBear’s presence within standards bodies (e.g., OpenAPI Initiative) and help influence future specifications.

Internal Representation

• Setting and driving internal API standards in partnership with Product Management & Engineering
• Coaching and mentoring teams on API design & governance best practices
• Contributing to product strategy, roadmaps, and Go-To-Market activities

Content & Thought Leadership

• Produce authoritative content: blogs, articles, videos on API design, governance, workflows, BDD, developer experience, and more.
• Drive innovation in API evangelism by spotlighting modern themes such as API governance, specialization, and open source collaboration.
• Leverage emerging technologies and standards to position SmartBear at the forefront of developer-first tooling.

Basic Qualifications

• 10+ years in technical advocacy, developer relations, or enterprise architecture, ideally in APIs and developer toolchains.
• Proven leadership in building and mentoring DevRel teams.
• Strong track record of technical public speaking (conferences, standards bodies, workshops).
• Deep familiarity with API lifecycle tools, open source standards (OpenAPI, Swagger), and API governance.
• Exceptional communication skills—able to simplify complex ideas persuasively.
• Strategic thinker with strong execution skills.
• Community-driven, collaborative, and inclusive mindset.
• Strong network across OSS, enterprise, and standards communities.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working with OpenAPI and other OSS API communities, developer tools, or software testing solutions.
• Background in software development, QA/testing, or related technical fields.
• Competitive analysis experience and ability to position products in crowded markets.
• Track record of successful SaaS or marketplace-based product launches.

Why you should join the SmartBear crew:

• You can grow your career at every level.
• We invest in your success as well as the spaces where our teams come together to work, collaborate, and have fun.
• We love celebrating our SmartBears; we even encourage our crew to take their birthdays off.
• We are guided by a People and Culture organization - an important distinction for us. We think about our team holistically – the whole person.
• We celebrate our differences in experiences, viewpoints, and identities because we know it leads to better outcomes.

Did you know?

Our main goal at SmartBear is to make our technology-driven world a better place.

• SmartBear is committed to ethical corporate practices and social responsibility, promoting good in all the communities we serve.
• SmartBear is headquartered in Somerville, MA with offices across the world including Galway Ireland, Bath, UK, Wroclaw, Poland and Bangalore, India.
• We’ve won major industry (product and company) awards including B2B Innovators Award, Content Marketing Association, IntellyX Digital Innovator and BuiltIn Best Places to Work.

SmartBear is committed to creating an inclusive workplace for employees where all individuals are treated with respect and dignity. We are an equal opportunity employer and make employment decisions based on merit, qualifications, and business needs. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, gender, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, or any other protected status under applicable laws. We are dedicated to fostering a workplace that reflects a diversity of thought and experience as well as our values of being smart, open, driven, accountable, and curious.

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