At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and evolve a high-performing engineering team in a fast-paced fintech environment.
- Company: Rapidly scaling fintech with a focus on AI-driven innovation.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, leadership opportunities, and a chance to shape engineering culture.
- Other info: Join a pivotal stage of growth in a dynamic and innovative company.
- Why this job: Make a significant impact on AI-driven software development practices.
- Qualifications: 8+ years in software engineering leadership, with experience in scaling teams.
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 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 strong focus on employee growth, you will have the opportunity to lead a large, high-performing engineering organisation while collaborating across functions in a fast-paced environment. This role not only allows for significant influence over technical strategy but also fosters a culture of accountability and continuous improvement, making it an exceptional place for those looking to make a meaningful impact.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Vice President of Software Engineering
✨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, especially for high-level roles like VP of Software Engineering.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for those interviews by brushing up on your technical skills and leadership experiences. Be ready to discuss how you've scaled teams and implemented AI-driven practices in your previous roles. We want to see that you can walk the talk!
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your thought leadership! Consider writing articles or sharing insights on platforms like LinkedIn about modern engineering practices or AI in software development. This not only highlights your expertise but also gets you noticed by potential employers.
✨Tip Number 4
Don't forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets the attention it deserves. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive about their job search!
We think you need these skills to ace Vice President of Software Engineering
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV reflects the specific skills and experiences mentioned in the job description. Highlight your leadership roles, technical expertise, and any experience with AI-driven engineering practices to show us you’re the perfect fit.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Use your cover letter to tell us your story! Explain why you’re passionate about this role and how your background aligns with our needs. Don’t forget to mention your vision for leading a high-performing engineering team.
Showcase Your Technical Skills:Since this role requires deep technical credibility, make sure to include specific examples of your hands-on experience with modern architectures and AI tools. We want to see how you’ve influenced technical decisions in your previous roles.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates during the process!
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 AI-assisted development tools. Be prepared to explain how you've influenced technical decisions in previous roles.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Journey
This role requires proven leadership at scale, so share specific examples of how you've developed senior engineering leaders and scaled teams in high-growth environments. Highlight your experience managing large teams and how you've fostered a culture of accountability and innovation.
✨Align with Their Vision
Understand the company's goals and how they plan to leverage AI in their engineering practices. Be ready to discuss how you can contribute to their roadmap and drive measurable business outcomes. Show that you’re not just a fit for the role, but also aligned with their mission.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect questions that assess your problem-solving mindset and ability to operate in fast-moving environments. Think of examples where you've tackled complex challenges or iterated on solutions. This will showcase your adaptability and innovative thinking, which are crucial for this position.