> Markdown version of [/jobs/ext/3967373-team-lead-windows-sandboxes](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/jobs/ext/3967373-team-lead-windows-sandboxes). Every page supports `.md` or `Accept: text/markdown`. Links point to the HTML versions so they work for humans too. Agent guide: [/agents.md](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/agents.md). --- # Team Lead, Windows Sandboxes - **Company:** Recruiting from Scratch - **Location:** San Francisco, CA, United States (Remote available) - **Experience:** Expert - **Salary:** $250,000 - $300,000 - **Contract:** Permanent contract - **Skills:** LTE (Telecommunication), Microsoft Windows, Artificial Intelligence, Build Automation, Microsoft Azure, Booting (BIOS), C Sharp (Programming Language), C++ (Programming Language), Cloud Computing, System Configuration, Desktop Environments, Kernel-Based Virtual Machine, Windows Search, Virtual Desktops, Windows PowerShell, Quick EMUlator (QEMU), Remote Desktop Services, Data Streaming, System Programming, Virtual Machines, Virtualization Technology, IT Architecture, Agentic-AI, Low Latency, Production Code, Windows Services, Serverless Computing - **Published:** October 27, 2026 - **Apply:** https://www.careerbuilder.com/job-details/team-lead-windows-sandboxes-san-francisco-ca--0b205557-3d96-42b2-9822-db255ccdfa83 ## About the Role Team Lead/Manager, Microsoft Windows Operating System, Needs Assessment, Team Lead/Manager, Microsoft Windows Operating System, Artificial Intelligence (AI) Agents, Desktop Environments, Startup, Microsoft Windows Desktop, Virtual Machine (VM), * 8+ years of professional systems, infrastructure, virtualization, or platform engineering experience. * 2+ years of experience leading engineers responsible for production systems. * Deep experience operating Windows infrastructure at scale outside of primarily Microsoft-native environments. * Hands-on experience running Windows guests using KVM/QEMU. * Strong experience with virtio drivers and Windows VM image automation. * Deep understanding of Windows internals, including the boot process, services, registry, and system configuration. * Experience automating Windows infrastructure using PowerShell, WinRM, unattended provisioning, or similar technologies. * Strong systems programming ability with Go, Rust, C, or C++, or significant C#/PowerShell expertise combined with a systems programming language. * Experience designing reliable, multi-tenant infrastructure with strong isolation requirements. * Comfortable acting as a player-coach-leading a team while spending most of your time building alongside them. * Pragmatic understanding of how technical, operational, and licensing constraints affect infrastructure architecture. * High ownership mindset with the ability to take infrastructure from architecture through production operations. Preferred * Experience building VDI, Cloud PC, virtual desktop, or desktop-as-a-service infrastructure. * Background working on systems comparable to Windows 365, Azure Virtual Desktop, or large-scale remote workstation platforms. * Experience with game streaming or other low-latency remote desktop technologies. * Experience running GPU-accelerated Windows virtual machines. * Deep familiarity with remote display protocols such as RDP or SPICE. * Experience building custom video, display, or input streaming infrastructure. * Familiarity with Windows SPLA, BYOL, or other licensing models relevant to multi-tenant cloud infrastructure. * Experience optimizing VM density, cold-start performance, and infrastructure unit economics. * Experience supporting AI computer-use agents or desktop automation systems. * Background at a virtualization, cloud infrastructure, serverless compute, VDI, or hyperscaler infrastructure organization. ## Description Recruiting from Scratch is a specialized talent firm dedicated to helping companies build exceptional teams. We partner closely with our clients to deeply understand their needs, then connect them with top-tier candidates who are not only highly skilled but also the right fit for the company's culture and vision. Our mission is simple: place the best people in the right roles to drive long-term success for both clients and candidates. https://www.recruitingfromscratch.com, * Own the architecture and delivery of the company's Windows sandbox runtime. * Build and operate Windows guest environments on top of a KVM-based virtualization stack. * Optimize Windows VM boot, provisioning, and login times to create an instant-start sandbox experience. * Design infrastructure supporting snapshotting, pausing, restoring, and forking Windows virtual machines. * Build scalable Windows image pipelines, including Sysprep and automated provisioning. * Own virtio and driver integration across Windows guest environments. * Develop reliable display and input streaming infrastructure for computer-use AI agents. * Build automation around Windows services, registry configuration, WinRM, PowerShell, and unattended provisioning. * Design a licensing-compliant architecture for multi-tenant Windows infrastructure while partnering with legal and finance on SPLA and BYOL requirements. * Optimize sandbox density, infrastructure utilization, reliability, and cost per workload. * Lead a small pod of senior infrastructure engineers while continuing to ship production code yourself. * Hire, mentor, and unblock engineers while establishing the team's technical direction and engineering standards. * Partner with Product on roadmap priorities and enterprise customer commitments. * Own the production outcomes and long-term evolution of the Windows sandbox platform., * Lead an initial pod of two senior engineers alongside a dedicated Product Manager. * Player-coach structure where hands-on engineering remains the majority of the role. * Opportunity to build a novel serverless Windows infrastructure platform specifically designed for AI agents. * Join shortly after the company's Series A during a period of rapid growth, with the platform already having grown approximately 10x. * Significant ownership over architecture, reliability, infrastructure economics, licensing strategy, team development, and the long-term technical direction of the Windows sandbox platform.