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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and scale engineering and product development across EMEA and APAC.
- Company: Fast-growing SaaS company transforming enterprise communication with top-notch security.
- Benefits: Remote work, competitive salary, and the chance to shape the future of communications.
- Other info: Work with global teams and drive innovation in a fast-paced setting.
- Why this job: Join a visionary company and make a significant impact in a dynamic environment.
- Qualifications: 10-15+ years in engineering leadership, with experience in scaling B2B SaaS platforms.
The predicted salary is between 120000 - 180000 £ per year.
We are hiring on behalf of a client for a VP of R&D to lead and scale engineering and product development across EMEA and APAC. This is a senior leadership role reporting directly to the CEO, with ownership over technical strategy, architecture, delivery, and team scaling in a fast-growing, enterprise SaaS environment focused on secure and compliant communications.
Our client is a fast-growing SaaS company transforming enterprise communication by integrating consumer messaging platforms with enterprise-grade security and compliance. They are recognized as a Visionary in Gartner’s Magic Quadrant and are trusted by leading global institutions.
Role Overview
- Lead engineering and product development across EMEA and APAC
- Own delivery, architecture, and technical strategy
- Scale high-performing engineering teams
- Partner with global stakeholders across product, customer, and commercial teams
- Ensure compliance with enterprise-grade security and regulatory standards
Key Responsibilities
Technical Strategy & Architecture
- Define and execute regional R&D roadmap aligned with global strategy
- Oversee system architecture for scalability, security, and reliability
- Drive engineering excellence across CI/CD, DevOps, SRE, and observability
- Lead AI-driven innovation initiatives
Delivery & Execution
- Own quarterly and annual engineering OKRs
- Ensure predictable release cycles and enterprise-grade SLAs
- Improve development velocity while maintaining compliance and quality
Leadership & Talent
- Build and scale engineering teams across Backend, Frontend, QA, and DevOps
- Develop senior leaders including Directors and Engineering Managers
- Drive hiring strategy across UK and EU markets
- Establish strong engineering culture and succession planning
Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Partner with Product, Customer Success, Security, and Sales Engineering teams
- Support enterprise deals requiring deep technical involvement
- Engage with strategic customers on architecture and roadmap discussions
Governance & Compliance
- Ensure alignment with data privacy and financial regulatory standards
- Strengthen SOC2, ISO, and enterprise security posture
Requirements
- 10–15+ years of engineering leadership experience
- 5+ years at VP or Director level
- Experience scaling B2B SaaS platforms in fintech, compliance-tech, communications, or cybersecurity
- Strong expertise in distributed systems and cloud-native architecture (AWS, Azure, or GCP)
- Experience building and managing teams of 70 engineers
- Exposure to regulated industries (financial services preferred)
- Experience operating across US, EMEA, and APAC regions
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience working across multiple time zones
- Background in fast-paced, high-growth SaaS environments
- Track record of driving operational and engineering improvements
Role Details
- Location: UK, Israel, France, Germany, Switzerland, Netherlands, Spain
- Work Setup: Remote
- Employment Type: Full-time
VP of R&D employer: Pro5.ai
Contact Detail:
Pro5.ai Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land VP of R&D
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the industry and let them know you're on the lookout for a VP of R&D role. Personal recommendations can make all the difference, so don’t be shy about asking for introductions.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for those interviews by researching the company inside out. Understand their products, culture, and recent news. This will help you tailor your responses and show that you’re genuinely interested in leading their engineering and product development.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your leadership style! Be ready to discuss how you've built and scaled teams in the past. Use specific examples to illustrate your experience in driving engineering excellence and fostering a strong engineering culture.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we’re here to support you every step of the way in landing that dream job in a fast-growing SaaS environment.
We think you need these skills to ace VP of R&D
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV reflects the specific skills and experiences that align with the VP of R&D role. Highlight your leadership experience in engineering and product development, especially in SaaS environments.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Use your cover letter to tell your story! Explain why you're passionate about leading engineering teams and how your background in fintech or compliance-tech makes you a perfect fit for this role.
Showcase Your Achievements: Quantify your successes! Whether it’s scaling teams or improving delivery cycles, use numbers to demonstrate your impact in previous roles. This will help us see the value you can bring to our client.
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 ensure it gets the attention it deserves. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take the initiative!
How to prepare for a job interview at Pro5.ai
✨Know Your Technical Stuff
As a VP of R&D, you'll need to demonstrate your deep understanding of technical strategy and architecture. Brush up on the latest trends in distributed systems and cloud-native architecture, especially AWS, Azure, or GCP. Be ready to discuss how you've driven engineering excellence in previous roles.
✨Showcase Leadership Experience
This role requires strong leadership skills, so prepare examples of how you've built and scaled high-performing engineering teams. Talk about your experience developing senior leaders and driving hiring strategies across different regions. Highlight any successes in fostering a strong engineering culture.
✨Understand Compliance and Security
Given the focus on secure and compliant communications, make sure you can speak knowledgeably about data privacy and regulatory standards. Familiarise yourself with SOC2 and ISO requirements, and be prepared to discuss how you've ensured compliance in past projects.
✨Engage with Cross-Functional Teams
Collaboration is key in this role, so think of examples where you've partnered with product, customer success, and sales engineering teams. Be ready to explain how you’ve engaged with stakeholders to drive successful outcomes and support enterprise deals requiring deep technical involvement.