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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead engineering teams to develop innovative audio software and hardware products.
- Company: Join Native Instruments, a pioneer in music technology for over 25 years.
- Benefits: Enjoy remote work options, flexible hours, and 25 days holiday plus healthcare perks.
- Why this job: Make a significant impact on the future of music creation and empower artists globally.
- Qualifications: 10+ years in engineering leadership with expertise in software development and audio technology.
- Other info: Embrace a diverse and inclusive culture while working with cutting-edge technologies.
The predicted salary is between 72000 - 108000 £ per year.
About Us
For over 25 years, Native Instruments has been at the forefront of sonic innovation. Guided by our mission to inspire and enable creators to express themselves, we develop integrated audio hardware and software solutions for musicians, producers, engineers, and DJs of all genres and levels of experience.
Native Instruments embraces diversity and a respect for all people.We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer and we believe the foundation of our dynamic and pioneering spirit starts with a fair and inclusive culture. At Native Instruments we value teamwork and passion, deliver inspiring experiences, continuously innovate and empower our communities, while also serving our planet.
All applicants will receive equal consideration for employment at Native Instruments and we encourage everyone to apply – regardless of gender identity, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or any other characteristic protected by law.
Help us reach our goal in making the future of music diverse, inclusive and exciting! We encourage you to submit your application without the requirement for a photograph, identifying factors or personal status information.
About The Team
Native Instruments is seeking an experienced and visionary VP of Engineering to lead the development of our industry-leading products like Kontakt, Maschine, Traktor, and our extensive range of virtual instruments, synths, and creative effects.
In this central leadership role, you will be responsible for the overall technical strategy, execution, and delivery of our iconic software and hardware. You will report directly to the Chief Product and Technology Officer and will lead a talented and diverse team of engineers, fostering a culture of technical excellence, innovation, cross-functional collaboration, and continuous improvement.
This is a fantastic opportunity for a proven engineering leader to have a significant impact on the future of music creation and performance, shaping the technology that empowers countless artists globally, and accelerates business growth
Your Contribution
Strategic & Technical Leadership
- Define and execute an engineering strategy that\’s aligned with company objectives and product vision.
- Track and apply new technologies – especially AI – for both internal efficiency and customer benefit, ensuring our products remain at the forefront of audio technology.
- Make hard decisions to modernise, simplify, and rationalize our technology estate.
- Hold teams accountable for building high-quality, high-performance products at scale.
Organizational Leadership
- Lead, inspire, and develop a multi-disciplinary team of engineering managers, software engineers, and QA professionals.
- Build an engineering culture grounded in accountability, collaboration, and a growth mindset.
- Hire and retain world-class technical talent. Proactively address underperformance.
- Manage budgets responsibly, balancing short term execution needs with long-term organisational health.
Cross-Functional Partnership
- Work collaboratively with Product, Product Design, Sound Design, Marketing, and other stakeholders to align on roadmaps, priorities, and delivery timelines.
- Be an active partner to your peers the Extended Leadership Team – solving problems and enabling innovation across not only the Product Creation organisation, but also Marketing, Sales, IT, Finance and others.
Delivery
- Own the timely delivery and quality of new releases and features across multiple product lines and platforms.
- Promote agile practices including regular delivery of working software, and iterative development.
- Drive improvements in engineering velocity through adoption of processes and tools including AI, test automation, observability, and codebase modernisation.
- Set and monitor key metrics for performance, delivery, reliability, and team health.
- Manage the timely delivery and quality of 3rd party developers who build for our platforms, or who integrate our technology.
Our Ideal Candidate
Domain Expertise:
- Desktop Software Development : Building, shipping, and maintaining C++ applications for Windows and macOS.
- Audio/Music: Familiarity with music creation tools, digital audio technology, and realtime systems.
- DSP & Realtime Systems : Experience delivering performant, low-latency systems – ideally in audio processing, plugin development, or interactive creative tools.
- Web/Cloud Integration : Familiarity with hosted services powering modern creative tools, including identity and login services, recommendation and personalization systems, analytics and instrumentation, A/B testing, feature flagging, and progressive rollout infrastructure.
- AI-powered Features : Demonstrated experience integrating AI/ML into real-world user-facing products – e.g. intelligent recommendations to generative tools, or assistive workflows.
Leadership Experience:
- 10+ years leading multi-product software engineering teams at VP or senior director level, ideally in a product-led technology company.
- Demonstrated success managing teams of 50+ engineers across multiple functional disciplines.
- Strong technical foundation in software engineering – you\’ve shipped complex products developed by multiple teams and understand the iron triangle tradeoffs deeply.
- Experience growing and scaling engineering teams, systems, and practices in high-growth or transformation contexts.
- Track record of building inclusive, high-performing cultures where people feel they can do the best work of their careers.
- Experience collaborating closely with Product, Design and Marketing to deliver cohesive, customer-centric solutions.
Our Benefits
- Remote First: We offer a range of options that allow you to work in a way that suits your lifestyle, either at one of our workspaces, a hybrid arrangement, or fully remote.
- Shared workspace in London: Landmark Spaces
- Workation: Work remotely anywhere in the world for up to 4 weeks per year
- Flexible work model from one of our entity locations
- Trust-based working hours
- Holidays: 25 days paid holiday per year which increases with tenure
- Healthcare: Public health care with NHS supplemented with Simply Health. This involves contributions for dental and optical healthcare, for example
- Pension: Employees can choose an auto enrolment scheme or can bring their own SIPP with them
- Free software downloads and reduced prices on hardware
- Employee Assistance Program for your well-being
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VP of Engineering employer: Native Instruments
Contact Detail:
Native Instruments Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land VP of Engineering
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with Native Instruments' products and their technology. Understanding the intricacies of their software and hardware will not only help you in interviews but also demonstrate your genuine interest in the role.
✨Tip Number 2
Network with current or former employees of Native Instruments on platforms like LinkedIn. Engaging in conversations about their experiences can provide valuable insights into the company culture and expectations for the VP of Engineering role.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your leadership style and experience in fostering inclusive teams. Given their emphasis on diversity and collaboration, be prepared to discuss how you've built high-performing cultures in your previous roles.
✨Tip Number 4
Stay updated on the latest trends in audio technology and AI integration. Being knowledgeable about these areas will position you as a forward-thinking candidate who can contribute to Native Instruments' mission of innovation.
We think you need these skills to ace VP of Engineering
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights relevant experience in software engineering leadership, particularly in desktop software development and audio technology. Use specific examples that demonstrate your ability to lead large teams and deliver high-quality products.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: In your cover letter, express your passion for music technology and how your vision aligns with Native Instruments' mission. Highlight your experience with AI integration and your approach to fostering an inclusive engineering culture.
Showcase Leadership Experience: Detail your leadership roles and the impact you've had on previous teams. Include metrics or achievements that illustrate your success in managing multi-disciplinary teams and driving innovation in product development.
Emphasise Collaboration Skills: Since the role requires cross-functional partnership, mention any experiences where you successfully collaborated with product, design, and marketing teams. Provide examples of how you aligned roadmaps and priorities to achieve common goals.
How to prepare for a job interview at Native Instruments
✨Showcase Your Technical Expertise
As a VP of Engineering, it's crucial to demonstrate your deep understanding of software engineering principles, especially in C++ and audio technology. Be prepared to discuss your past projects and how you've integrated new technologies, particularly AI, into your work.
✨Emphasise Leadership Experience
Highlight your experience in leading large teams and fostering a culture of collaboration and accountability. Share specific examples of how you've developed talent and addressed underperformance within your teams.
✨Align with Company Values
Native Instruments values diversity and inclusion, so make sure to express your commitment to these principles. Discuss how you've built inclusive teams and created environments where everyone can thrive and contribute their best work.
✨Prepare for Cross-Functional Collaboration
Be ready to talk about your experience working with other departments like Product, Design, and Marketing. Provide examples of how you've successfully aligned engineering goals with broader company objectives and facilitated innovation across teams.
