At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead engineering strategy and modernise supply chain platforms with cutting-edge technology.
- Company: Fast-growing enterprise AI company transforming industries with innovative solutions.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, remote work options, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Join a collaborative team driving innovation in AI and supply chain solutions.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by bridging legacy systems with modern engineering in a dynamic environment.
- Qualifications: 12+ years in software engineering, with leadership experience and strong technical skills.
The predicted salary is between 100000 - 150000 £ per year.
About SymphonyAI
SymphonyAI is one of the fastest-growing enterprise AI companies in the world, building purpose-built AI solutions for the retail, CPG, financial services, manufacturing, and supply chain sectors. Backed by founder Dr. Romesh Wadhwani, SymphonyAI operates at the intersection of deep domain expertise and cutting-edge artificial intelligence, serving many of the world’s largest retailers, manufacturers, and consumer goods companies.
The Supply Chain Division
Our platform spans demand forecasting, inventory optimization, warehouse management, transportation planning, supplier collaboration, and end-to-end supply chain visibility — all unified by a modern, cloud-native intelligence layer.
This is a critical leadership position responsible for driving the engineering strategy, platform evolution, and delivery excellence of a global supply chain product. You will lead a team operating at the intersection of deep legacy systems (Pro*C, Oracle, PL/SQL) and modern architecture (APIs, event-driven systems, cloud, AI). The mandate is to stabilize, modernize, and progressively transform the platform into a more scalable, real-time, and intelligent system. This is a hands-on leadership role, requiring both technical depth and strategic vision, with direct impact on enterprise customers and product direction.
Core Technology Landscape
- Legacy core: Pro*C (embedded SQL), Oracle Database, PL/SQL packages and procedures
- Application layer: Java (primarily Java 1.8, with backward compatibility needs)
- Modernization layer: REST APIs, event-driven architecture (Kafka and other brokers)
- Cloud: Oracle OCI (primary) and Microsoft Azure
- Emerging areas: AI-driven data enrichment, intelligent workflows, platform integrations
Key Responsibilities
- Engineering leadership: lead and scale a high-performing engineering team across France and potentially broader EMEA; establish strong ownership, accountability, and execution rigor while driving delivery predictability, system reliability, and engineering quality.
- Platform ownership: own the end-to-end architecture and engineering execution of the supply chain platform; ensure stability and performance of mission-critical enterprise systems; manage the balance between legacy system sustainability and modernization investments.
- Modernization strategy: define and execute the roadmap toward an API-first architecture, event-driven data streaming (Kafka-based ecosystem), and cloud optimization (OCI and Azure); drive incremental transformation without disrupting existing customers.
- Innovation & AI integration: embed AI and emerging technologies into the platform; partner with product and architecture teams to introduce next-generation capabilities; build a culture of continuous innovation within engineering.
- Cross-functional & client alignment: partner closely with product leadership, architecture teams, and customer-facing stakeholders; translate engineering work into business impact for supply-chain use cases; support client discussions where deep technical context is required.
What this role solves: bridge the gap between legacy platform complexity and modern engineering expectations; drive controlled transformation versus disruptive rewrite; ensure the platform evolves into a real-time, API-driven, intelligent system.
Experience & Qualifications
Required Qualifications
- 12+ years in software engineering with 5+ years in leadership roles.
- Proven experience managing enterprise-scale engineering teams.
- Track record of working with legacy systems and modernizing them successfully.
Technical Depth
- Strong understanding of C/C++ or Pro*C environments, Oracle database and PL/SQL ecosystems, Java-based application layers.
- Experience with REST API architecture, event-driven systems (Kafka preferred), and cloud platforms (OCI, Azure, or similar).
Leadership Capability
- Ability to operate in complex, evolving environments.
- Strong decision-making under ambiguity.
- Focus on execution, accountability, and outcomes.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience in supply chain, retail, or enterprise SaaS platforms.
- Exposure to AI/ML applications in enterprise systems.
- Experience integrating legacy platforms with modern architectures.
- Background working with global or distributed teams.
Domain Expectation
- Strong understanding of supply-chain processes and best practices is highly valued.
- Ability to connect engineering decisions to business outcomes (planning, optimization, operations).
Location
Preferred: France (strong R&D ecosystem, French language beneficial).
VP of Engineering in London employer: SymphonyAI
Contact Detail:
SymphonyAI Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land VP of Engineering in London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the industry, especially those who work at SymphonyAI or similar companies. A friendly chat can open doors and give you insights that might just land you an interview.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for the technical deep dive! Brush up on your knowledge of legacy systems and modern architectures. Be ready to discuss how you can bridge the gap between them during interviews, showcasing your strategic vision.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your leadership skills! Be prepared to share examples of how you've successfully managed engineering teams and driven innovation. Highlight your ability to foster a culture of continuous improvement and collaboration.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows you're genuinely interested in being part of the SymphonyAI team. Don’t miss out on this opportunity!
We think you need these skills to ace VP of Engineering in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV reflects the specific skills and experiences that align with the VP of Engineering role. Highlight your leadership experience and technical expertise in legacy systems and modern architectures, as these are key for us.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to tell us why you're the perfect fit for this role. Share your vision for engineering leadership and how you plan to bridge the gap between legacy systems and modern solutions. Be genuine and let your personality shine through!
Showcase Relevant Projects: Include examples of past projects where you've successfully managed enterprise-scale engineering teams or modernised legacy systems. This will help us see your hands-on experience and strategic thinking in action.
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’re considered for the role. Plus, it shows us you’re proactive and keen to join our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at SymphonyAI
✨Know Your Tech Inside Out
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of Pro*C, Oracle, PL/SQL, and Java. Be ready to discuss how you've successfully modernised legacy systems in the past, as this will be crucial for the role.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare examples that highlight your experience in leading engineering teams. Talk about how you've fostered accountability and execution rigor while driving delivery predictability and system reliability.
✨Understand the Business Impact
Be ready to connect your engineering decisions to business outcomes, especially in supply chain contexts. Think about how your technical strategies can translate into real-world benefits for enterprise customers.
✨Emphasise Innovation and AI Integration
Discuss your experience with embedding AI and emerging technologies into platforms. Share ideas on how you would drive continuous innovation within the engineering team and align with product leadership.