VP of Engineering

VP of Engineering

Manchester Full-Time 72000 - 108000 £ / year (est.) Home office (partial)
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At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead engineering teams to innovate and enhance Moonpig's technology across all platforms.
  • Company: Moonpig is a leading online gifting brand, creating personal connections through innovative technology.
  • Benefits: Enjoy flexible hybrid working, a supportive culture, and opportunities for professional growth.
  • Why this job: Join a dynamic team driving technology in e-commerce, making a real impact on customer experiences.
  • Qualifications: 10+ years in software engineering with 5+ years in senior leadership roles required.
  • Other info: Open to candidates based in Manchester with regular travel to London.

The predicted salary is between 72000 - 108000 £ per year.

Our Ways of Working Principles: We believe that most of us do our best work when we work together, but we know that everyone works in different ways, and quite frankly, has other commitments and responsibilities outside of work. As we further adjust to hybrid working, we want to take what we’ve learnt from working remotely and keep the flexibility that’s enabled us to thrive and keep driving our business forward. We have some core principles which support us in this:

  • Do what’s right
  • Trust & give permission
  • Delivery matters

We understand ways of working can look different based on your role, team and you as an individual so we are here to support and discuss this with you during the interview process.

About Us: At Moonpig Group our purpose is to create better, more personal connections between people that care about each other. We are an international group, comprising the Moonpig, Buyagift and Red Letter Days brands in the UK and the Greetz brand in the Netherlands. We were founded with a goal to disrupt the traditional greetings industry. Two decades on, we’re an established leader within the online gifting market, offering a wide range of products to customers across the world. Moonpig is an iconic brand and innovator, with clear values. These values set our teams and our business up for success in an environment that’s fun, supportive and challenging. They’re the glue that binds us together and we think of them as a platform to help us deliver our best work.

Our architecture is built for scale and flexibility which will allow us to quickly innovate and launch new propositions - coupling that with the wealth of data we have on our customers, the sky's the limit in the world of experimenting with cutting edge ideas.

What You’ll Be Doing: As Vice President of Engineering for Moonpig, you will be the single executive leader for all engineering teams across the Moonpig Group. This is a strategic and high-impact role reporting directly to the Chief Product & Technology Officer (CPTO), and working closely with the VP of Product, CEO, and other senior leaders to align technology initiatives with business objectives. The VP of Engineering will drive Moonpig’s technology vision and execution across the entire customer journey – from our consumer-facing website and apps, through fulfilment and logistics systems, to the underlying platform and infrastructure.

In this role, you will oversee an engineering organization of approximately 120 engineers (including several Engineering Directors/Managers and Principal Engineers) responsible for all aspects of Moonpig’s technology. You will have full ownership of a £20 million annual engineering budget, making key decisions on technology investments and resource allocation in a cost-conscious environment. Moonpig’s tech stack is fully cloud-native on Amazon Web Services (AWS), leveraging modern serverless architecture to deliver a highly scalable and resilient platform. As VP of Engineering, you will ensure that our cloud infrastructure and CI/CD pipelines enable fast delivery of new features without compromising stability or security.

This role is ideally based in London, UK, with the engineering headquarters, but we are open to candidates based in Manchester who can travel regularly to London to engage with the executive team and broader group.

Key Responsibilities:

  • Technology Vision & Strategy: Define and own the multi-year engineering strategy and technical vision for Moonpig Group. Ensure our technology roadmap supports the company’s business goals and international growth, leveraging the latest innovations (cloud, AI, etc.) to keep Moonpig at the forefront of personalized e-commerce. Develop architecture plans that scale globally while accommodating local market nuances and brand differences.
  • Engineering Execution & Delivery: Drive execution of technology initiatives with a focus on delivery velocity and quality. Champion agile methodologies and data-driven decision making to continuously improve our development process. Ensure teams are shipping new features and improvements rapidly, achieving fast time-to-market for innovations that delight customers. At the same time, maintain a high bar for system reliability, security, and performance.
  • Platform Scalability & Resilience: Oversee our platform and infrastructure teams to guarantee that Moonpig’s systems are highly scalable, resilient, and available. Continue to evolve our AWS cloud-native architecture, including serverless services and microservices, to meet growing demand and new product capabilities.
  • Engineering Excellence & Best Practices: Foster a culture of engineering excellence across all teams. Implement and uphold modern best practices in software development and operations – including continuous integration/deployment (CI/CD), automated testing, DevSecOps, and agile delivery.
  • Leadership of High-Performing Teams: Attract, hire, and retain top engineering talent in a highly competitive market. Inspire and mentor engineering managers and principal engineers, developing the next generation of engineering leaders.
  • Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work in close partnership with peer leaders in Product, Data, Design, Commercial, and Marketing to deliver cohesive customer experiences and business outcomes.
  • Stakeholder Management: Act as the key point of contact for engineering at the executive level. Communicate engineering plans, progress, and challenges in clear business terms to the CEO, Board, and other stakeholders.
  • Budget & Operational Management: Manage the engineering budget (£20M) and resource planning. Make data-driven decisions on build vs. buy, vendor choices, and where to focus investments for maximum ROI.

About You:

  • Proven Senior Engineering Leadership: Extensive experience (10+ years) in software engineering, with at least 5+ years in senior leadership roles (Director, Sr. Director, VP, or CTO).
  • Strategic Technology Visionary: Demonstrated ability to define and drive a technology strategy aligned with business goals.
  • Scaling and Delivery Track Record: A strong track record of delivering scalable, reliable software platforms and continuous product delivery.
  • Cloud-Native & DevOps Expertise: Deep knowledge of modern cloud technologies and DevOps practices.
  • People Leadership & Organizational Development: Exceptional leadership skills in growing and nurturing engineering teams.
  • Cross-Functional Collaboration & Communication: Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills at the executive level.
  • Innovative Mindset: Passion for staying up-to-date with emerging technologies.
  • Results-Driven and Accountable: Data-driven decision-maker with a focus on outcomes.
  • Domain Experience (Bonus): Experience in e-commerce, digital retail, or a similar consumer internet industry is a plus.

Moonpig’s Commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusivity: At Moonpig Group, we’re committed to creating an inclusive and caring culture with brilliant people who feel a real sense of belonging. We welcome and celebrate all diverse backgrounds to Moonpig Group, from working parents who need flexibility with their hours to individuals who are neurodiverse and prefer to work a certain way.

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Contact Detail:

Moonpig Recruiting Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫

We think this is how you could land VP of Engineering

✨Tip Number 1

Familiarise yourself with Moonpig's core values and ways of working principles. During your interactions, whether in interviews or networking, demonstrate how your leadership style aligns with their emphasis on trust, collaboration, and delivery.

✨Tip Number 2

Showcase your experience with cloud-native technologies, particularly AWS, as this is crucial for the role. Be prepared to discuss specific projects where you've successfully implemented scalable solutions and how they contributed to business objectives.

✨Tip Number 3

Highlight your ability to foster a culture of engineering excellence. Share examples of how you've mentored teams, promoted best practices, and driven innovation in previous roles, as this will resonate well with Moonpig's focus on high-performing teams.

✨Tip Number 4

Prepare to discuss your strategic vision for technology in e-commerce. Think about how you can leverage emerging technologies like AI and data analytics to enhance customer experiences, as this aligns with Moonpig's mission of personalisation.

We think you need these skills to ace VP of Engineering

Strategic Technology Vision
Cloud-Native Architecture
DevOps Practices
Agile Methodologies
Stakeholder Management
Budget Management
Cross-Functional Collaboration
Leadership and Team Development
Data-Driven Decision Making
Scalable Software Delivery
Technical Communication
Performance Management
Continuous Improvement
Security Best Practices

Some tips for your application 🫡

Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights your extensive experience in software engineering and leadership roles. Focus on your achievements in managing large teams and delivering scalable platforms, as these are crucial for the VP of Engineering position.

Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: In your cover letter, express your passion for Moonpig's mission and how your strategic technology vision aligns with their goals. Mention specific examples of how you've driven innovation and improved delivery in previous roles.

Showcase Leadership Skills: Emphasise your ability to attract, hire, and retain top engineering talent. Provide examples of how you've built diverse teams and fostered a culture of engineering excellence, as this is key for the role.

Highlight Cross-Functional Collaboration: Demonstrate your experience in working closely with product management and other departments. Use examples that show your ability to communicate complex technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders, which is essential for effective collaboration at Moonpig.

How to prepare for a job interview at Moonpig

✨Understand Moonpig's Values

Before the interview, take some time to familiarise yourself with Moonpig's core values and ways of working. This will help you align your answers with their culture and demonstrate that you share their commitment to personal connections and flexibility.

✨Showcase Your Leadership Experience

As a VP of Engineering, you'll need to highlight your extensive experience in leading large engineering teams. Be prepared to discuss specific examples of how you've attracted, hired, and retained top talent, as well as how you've fostered a culture of innovation and excellence.

✨Demonstrate Strategic Thinking

Moonpig is looking for someone who can define and drive a technology strategy aligned with business goals. Prepare to discuss your approach to developing multi-year engineering strategies and how you've successfully balanced long-term innovation with short-term delivery needs.

✨Prepare for Technical Questions

Expect to be asked about your knowledge of cloud technologies, DevOps practices, and your experience with AWS. Brush up on modern software development best practices, including CI/CD, automated testing, and security measures, as these will likely come up during the technical portion of the interview.

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