At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and evolve a high-performing engineering organisation in a rapidly scaling fintech.
- Company: Join a dynamic fintech at a pivotal growth stage.
- Benefits: Significant influence on AI-driven practices and competitive compensation.
- Other info: Opportunity for career growth in a fast-paced, innovative environment.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on software development and innovation.
- Qualifications: 8+ years in software engineering leadership, with strong technical and managerial skills.
The predicted salary is between 120000 - 150000 € per year.
Our client, a rapidly scaling fintech, is seeking an exceptional Vice President of Software Engineering to lead and evolve a large, high-performing engineering organisation. This role sits at the intersection of technical leadership, organisational scale, and AI-driven innovation. You will take ownership of an engineering function of 100–120 Software Engineers, supported by 6 Software Engineering Managers, and play a central role in shaping both capability and culture during a critical growth phase. This is a true player-coach position—requiring deep technical credibility alongside proven leadership at scale.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead, develop, and scale a multi-layered engineering organisation, ensuring strong leadership at every level
- Own delivery against a complex product roadmap, driving measurable business outcomes
- Define engineering strategy, architecture, and organisational design aligned to growth objectives
- Maintain hands‑on technical engagement, contributing to high-level design and decision-making
- Champion AI‑first engineering practices, building on an environment where 80–90% of code is AI-generated, with a roadmap to 95%+
- Embed modern engineering excellence (CI/CD, trunk‑based development, observability, and automated testing)
- Partner cross-functionally across Product, DevOps, Security, and Platform teams
- Build a high-performance culture grounded in accountability, innovation, and continuous improvement
Your profile
Our client is specifically seeking a candidate with a highly credible blend of leadership experience, technical depth, and modern engineering exposure:
Leadership & Scale
- 8+ years in software engineering leadership roles, with at least 3+ years operating at VP level (or equivalent)
- Proven experience leading large-scale engineering organisations (minimum 50+ engineers)
- Demonstrated success as a manager of managers, including developing senior engineering leaders
- Track record of scaling teams and capabilities in high-growth environments, ideally within startups or SME organisations
Technical Expertise
- Strong hands‑on engineering background with the ability to remain technically engaged
- Deep technical fluency across modern architectures and polyglot environments (including .NET/C#, with exposure to other languages such as Java or Ruby)
- Experience defining architecture and engineering strategy at scale
- Ability to challenge, guide, and influence technical decisions at all levels
- Proven experience working in an AI-enabled or AI-first engineering environment
- Hands‑on use of AI-assisted or agentic development tools (e.g. Claude or similar)
- Clear understanding of how AI can accelerate delivery, improve quality, and reshape engineering workflows
- Experience driving adoption of AI tooling across teams and embedding it into the development lifecycle
Delivery & Engineering Excellence
- Strong background in continuous delivery environments, where software is shipped to production frequently or daily
- Expertise in modern practices including: Trunk‑based development, Automated testing strategies, Observability and system reliability
- Proven ability to use engineering metrics to drive performance and continuous improvement
Organisational Design & Methodologies
- Experience designing and evolving engineering organisations using modern frameworks (e.g. Lean, Scrum, Kanban, XP)
- Strong understanding of team topologies (stream-aligned, platform, enabling teams)
- Ability to align organisational structure to product and delivery needs
Leadership Mindset & Approach
- Excellent communication skills with the ability to influence executive stakeholders
- Comfortable operating in ambiguous, fast-moving environments
- Strong problem-solving mindset with a willingness to experiment and iterate
- Values transparency, continuous learning, and candid feedback
- Demonstrates curiosity, innovation, and the ability to identify novel solutions to complex challenges
Why This Role?
- Opportunity to lead a large, complex engineering function at scale
- Significant influence over the evolution of AI-driven software development practices
- Join a high-growth fintech at a pivotal stage of its journey
- Work in an environment where engineering excellence and innovation are core to success
If you are a technically credible engineering leader with experience scaling teams, embedding AI into development, and delivering at pace, this is a rare opportunity to make a significant impact.
Vice President of Software Engineering in Edinburgh employer: Eden Scott
Join a rapidly scaling fintech that prioritises innovation and engineering excellence, offering a dynamic work culture where your leadership can shape the future of AI-driven software development. With a commitment to employee growth, you will have the opportunity to lead a large, high-performing engineering organisation while fostering a collaborative environment that values accountability and continuous improvement. This role not only allows for significant influence over technical strategy but also provides a unique chance to make a meaningful impact during a pivotal growth phase.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Vice President of Software Engineering in Edinburgh
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the fintech space and let them know you're on the lookout for opportunities. A personal recommendation can go a long way in landing that VP role.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your leadership chops! When you get the chance to chat with potential employers, share specific examples of how you've scaled engineering teams and driven innovation. They want to see your impact!
✨Tip Number 3
Stay current with AI trends! Since this role is all about AI-driven practices, make sure you can discuss how you've integrated AI into engineering workflows. It’ll show you’re not just keeping up, but leading the charge.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! We’ve got a streamlined process that makes it easy for you to showcase your skills and experience. Plus, it’s a great way to ensure your application gets the attention it deserves.
We think you need these skills to ace Vice President of Software Engineering in Edinburgh
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV speaks directly to the role of Vice President of Software Engineering. Highlight your leadership experience, technical expertise, and any AI-driven projects you've led. We want to see how you can scale teams and drive innovation!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to tell us about your journey in software engineering and how you've successfully managed large teams. Share specific examples that demonstrate your ability to lead and innovate in fast-paced environments.
Showcase Your Technical Skills:Don’t hold back on your technical skills! Mention your hands-on experience with modern architectures and AI tools. We’re looking for someone who can not only lead but also engage technically, so let us know how you’ve done this in previous roles.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother application process. It helps us keep track of your application and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates. Plus, we love seeing applications come in directly!
How to prepare for a job interview at Eden Scott
✨Know Your Tech Inside Out
As a candidate for the Vice President of Software Engineering, you need to demonstrate deep technical fluency. Brush up on modern architectures and be ready to discuss your hands-on experience with languages like .NET/C#, Java, or Ruby. Be prepared to share specific examples of how you've influenced technical decisions in previous roles.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Style
This role requires strong leadership skills, so think about how you can convey your management philosophy. Prepare anecdotes that highlight your experience in scaling teams and developing senior engineering leaders. Discuss how you've built high-performance cultures grounded in accountability and innovation.
✨Emphasise AI-Driven Practices
Since the company is focused on AI-first engineering, be ready to talk about your experience with AI-assisted development tools and how you've driven their adoption in past roles. Share insights on how AI can enhance delivery and reshape workflows, as this will show your alignment with their strategic goals.
✨Prepare for Cross-Functional Collaboration
The role involves partnering with various teams, so think about how you can illustrate your ability to work cross-functionally. Prepare examples of successful collaborations with Product, DevOps, Security, and Platform teams, and how these partnerships have led to measurable business outcomes.
