At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a major platform migration and integrate AI into engineering workflows.
- Company: Join Crystal Intelligence, a leader in blockchain analytics and compliance.
- Benefits: Remote work, competitive salary, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Dynamic role with a focus on accountability and measurable impact.
- Why this job: Be at the forefront of AI-driven innovation in a rapidly evolving industry.
- Qualifications: 10+ years in engineering with leadership experience in platform migrations.
The predicted salary is between 120000 - 150000 € per year.
About Crystal
Crystal Intelligence is a blockchain analytics and compliance intelligence company serving exchanges, financial institutions, regulators, and law enforcement across 100+ blockchains. Our customers depend on us for low-latency, high-availability risk and transaction intelligence that powers operational decisions. Crystal is entering the most consequential platform shift in its history: a full migration from our current data architecture to a new, AI-native data pipeline that will define the company's next decade of scale, speed, and product capability. This is the role that owns it.
Role summary
Crystal's engineering organization has grown organically. The current architecture serves a large and loyal customer base, but it is reaching the limits of what feature-driven growth can sustain. In parallel, we have built a new data pipeline architecture led by a dedicated platform team. The strategic priority for 2026 is to migrate Crystal end-to-end from the legacy stack to the new pipeline - without disrupting customer SLAs, while continuing to ship the product roadmap, and while rebuilding engineering management discipline. The VP of Engineering will own this migration.
The mission is concrete: deliver the new pipeline into production behind every Crystal product, restore platform-grade latency and reliability, and convert the existing organization into one that ships predictably and uses AI as a productivity multiplier.
What You’ll Do
- Own the platform migration end-to-end
- Lead the integration of the new data pipeline into all Crystal products: Crystal Expert, Crystal Foresight, Monitor, Risk Check API, Data Intelligence, and Crystal Light
- Sequence the migration to preserve revenue and customer trust: no SLA regressions, no rollback drama, no surprise downtime
- Drive the architectural decisions and trade-offs that the legacy-to-new transition requires, including data model alignment, service-by-service cutover, and parallel-run validation
- Hold engineering, product, and customer success aligned on a single migration roadmap with clear customer-impact gates
- Restore platform foundations
- Bring API and core platform latency back to target: 1,000 RPS at sub-two-second latency, scaling toward 10k RPS
- Reduce database load, fix stability regressions exposed by recent releases, raise release velocity to multiple deployments per week
- Lead the multi-chain platform with discipline across 100+ chains: predictable integration timelines, accountable squad ownership, clear SLAs to commercial partners
- Rebuild the engineering management layer
- Partner with the existing engineering leadership to establish clear accountability across squad leads, engineering managers, and platform teams
- Set the standard for what good engineering management looks like at Crystal: predictable delivery, transparent planning, technical depth, people development
- Make the hiring, performance, and structural decisions required to bring the organization to the level the platform demands
- Drive AI into engineering as a productivity lever
- Build shared infrastructure for AI-assisted engineering: code generation, automated testing, agent-based migration tooling, internal knowledge systems
- Move Crystal from individual AI tool usage to organization-wide AI productivity, with measurable impact on delivery throughput
- Reduce OpEx-to-revenue through architectural improvements, automation, and reduction of manual operational load
- Partner with the business
- Work directly with product, GTM, customer success, and finance to translate engineering investments into customer outcomes and revenue
- Communicate trade-offs, risks, and progress clearly to the executive team and board
- Own the engineering budget, hiring plan, and vendor decisions
What Success Looks Like (12 Months)
- New data pipeline architecture is in production powering Crystal's core products
- Customer SLAs are met or exceeded throughout the migration; no customer churn attributable to platform instability
- Latency restored and improved; release cadence shifted from monthly to weekly or faster
- Engineering management layer operating with clear accountability and predictable delivery
- AI-assisted engineering infrastructure deployed and measurable productivity gains realized
- OpEx-to-revenue ratio meaningfully reduced toward target
Requirements
- 10+ years engineering experience, with 5+ years leading platform, data, or infrastructure organizations as VP Engineering, Head of Engineering, or equivalent
- Led at least one major platform migration or large-scale rebuild, with continuous customer service maintained throughout
- Operated low-latency, high-availability distributed systems with multi-tenant SaaS workloads at production scale
- Production experience integrating AI into engineering workflows, including agent-assisted development and AI-driven automation
- Strong product partnership instincts - you have shaped what gets built and how it ships
- Track record of building accountable, high-ownership engineering organizations
- Direct experience in one or more relevant domains: blockchain or crypto, fintech, payments, fraud or risk platforms, regulatory technology, or large-scale data platforms
VP of Engineering (Remote) in London employer: Crystal Intelligence
Crystal Intelligence is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic remote work environment that fosters innovation and collaboration. With a strong focus on employee growth, the company provides opportunities to lead transformative projects in blockchain analytics while leveraging cutting-edge AI technologies. The supportive work culture encourages transparency and accountability, ensuring that every team member can contribute meaningfully to the company's mission of delivering high-quality, reliable products to its diverse clientele.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land VP of Engineering (Remote) in London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to folks in your industry on LinkedIn or at events. A personal connection can often get you a foot in the door faster than any application.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for those interviews! Research Crystal and its products inside out. Knowing the ins and outs of their new data pipeline will show you're genuinely interested and ready to contribute.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your leadership skills! Be ready to discuss how you've successfully led teams through transitions before. Highlighting your experience with platform migrations will resonate well with the role.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re keen on being part of the Crystal team!
We think you need these skills to ace VP of Engineering (Remote) in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to highlight your experience with platform migrations and AI integration. We want to see how your background aligns with our mission at Crystal!
Showcase Your Leadership Skills:As a VP of Engineering, your leadership experience is crucial. Share specific examples of how you've built accountable teams and managed successful projects in the past. We love seeing real-world impact!
Be Clear and Concise:When writing your application, keep it straightforward. Use clear language to describe your achievements and how they relate to the role. We appreciate directness and clarity in communication!
Apply Through Our Website:Don’t forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensure you’re considered for this exciting opportunity at Crystal.
How to prepare for a job interview at Crystal Intelligence
✨Know Your Tech Inside Out
Make sure you’re well-versed in the technologies and methodologies relevant to the role. Brush up on your knowledge of low-latency systems, AI integration, and blockchain analytics. Be ready to discuss how you've successfully led platform migrations or large-scale rebuilds in the past.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Style
As a VP of Engineering, your leadership approach is crucial. Prepare to share specific examples of how you've built accountable teams and fostered a culture of predictable delivery. Highlight your experience in managing engineering layers and how you’ve set standards for good engineering management.
✨Align with Business Goals
Understand how engineering decisions impact customer outcomes and revenue. Be prepared to discuss how you’ve partnered with product, customer success, and finance teams in previous roles. This will show that you can translate technical investments into business value.
✨Prepare for Scenario Questions
Expect scenario-based questions that test your problem-solving skills. Think about challenges you might face during the migration process and how you would address them without disrupting customer SLAs. This will demonstrate your strategic thinking and ability to manage risks effectively.
