About Duolingo
What is Duolingo?
Duolingo (NASDAQ: DUOL) is the leading language-learning platform, with a stated mission to "develop the best education in the world and make it universally available." Founded in 2011 by Luis von Ahn and Severin Hacker, the company has grown into a global education brand serving hundreds of millions of learners.
Recent product progress (per CEO Luis von Ahn's LinkedIn): "In Q1, we made speaking practice a core part of the product. We scaled our content to B2 level across nine languages, published more course units in a single quarter than we used to ship in a year." The platform now includes math content covering Grades 2 through 12 in English (with more languages coming).
Where will I work?
Duolingo's HQ is in Pittsburgh, PA ("our headquarters are right where we started"). Additional offices: New York City, Seattle, Detroit, Beijing, London, Berlin. Onsite amenities include company-provided in-office lunch M-F + breakfast M-Th, barista services in PGH + NYC, micro kitchens, bike storage, 24/7 gym access (PGH), and massage therapists in PGH/NYC/SEA/BEI.
What is the Duolingo team like?
Duolingo's culture is anchored on its mission: "to make the best education in the world and make it universally available." New hires are nicknamed Nuos (new Duos). Six Employee Resource Groups include Women, LGBTQIA+, Black/African American, Hispanic/LatinX, International, and Asian/AAPI.
Teams: Engineering (largest function), Product, Design (product, art, animation, brand), Marketing, Learning + Curriculum (learning science + pedagogical experts), Business (also runs Duolingo English Test), People, and Finance & Accounting. The annual three-day all-company retreat is "usually somewhere tropical" — "truly laptops are shut."
Work-Life Balance
Duolingo offers 20 days PTO + 7 company holidays + a 2-week Winter Break + unlimited sick time — "our team is off almost 2 months per year!" PTO rises to 25 days at 5 years, and at 10 years Duos qualify for a fully-paid 2-month sabbatical. New parents get 16 weeks 100% paid parental leave (no tenure requirement) plus 5 hours/week of Parent Hours for school events or daycare pickup. Spring Health provides 10 free therapy + 10 free coaching sessions per year.
Perks and Benefits
- 20 days PTO + 7 holidays + 2-week winter break + unlimited sick time
- +5 days PTO at year 5; 2-month paid sabbatical at year 10
- 16 weeks 100% paid parental leave for all Duos, no tenure requirement
- 5 hours/week Parent Hours for caregiver responsibilities
- 15 days paid backup care (also covers your fur family!)
- $30,000 Carrot lifetime benefit — fertility, egg freezing, adoption, gender affirming, menopause/Low T
- Highmark BCBS Medical (HDHP & PPO) + Delta Dental + VSP Vision
- Paid One Medical membership (NY + Seattle)
- Spring Health mental health — 10 free therapy + 10 free coaching sessions/year
- Life + AD&D — 2x base salary up to $250K, premiums paid
- Disability — 100% pay 13 weeks short-term, 60% up to $12k/mo long-term
- 401(k) 5% match, immediate vesting (Empower)
- Equity Refresh Grants after 3 years (vesting immediately)
- $10K referral bonus + $250 peer bonuses (up to 4/qtr) + spot bonuses
- $600/yr learning budget + $500 Language Challenge (twice/year)
- Annual 3-day tropical company retreat ("truly laptops shut") + DuoTrips after 2 years
- $10K first-time home buyer bonus (Pittsburgh)
- $1,200/yr non-car commuter benefit + Parking/Transit reimbursement
- $1,000/yr donation match + paid Global Entry application
- HQ amenities: lunch M-F, breakfast M-Th, barista, 24/7 gym (PGH), massage therapists