At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead engineering strategy and build high-performing teams to deliver innovative tech solutions.
- Company: Join Sotheby’s, a historic leader in art and luxury, now embracing cutting-edge technology.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, inclusive culture, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Be part of a global team driving innovation in a fast-paced, creative industry.
- Why this job: Shape the future of art and luxury through technology in a dynamic environment.
- Qualifications: 15+ years in software development, strong leadership, and excellent communication skills.
The predicted salary is between 100000 - 150000 £ per year.
ABOUT SOTHEBY'S Established in 1744, Sotheby’s promotes access and ownership of exceptional art and luxury objects through auctions, private sales and retail. Our deep expertise across 70 selling categories is supported by a leading technology platform and a global network of specialists spanning 40 countries. Selling categories include Contemporary Art, Modern and Impressionist Art, Old Masters, Chinese Works of Art, Jewelry, Watches, Wine and Spirits and Design, as well as collectible cars and real estate through RM Sotheby’s and Concierge. Sotheby’s Financial Services is a leading art lender and provides capital solutions for collectors around the world, having originated more than $12 billion in loans since its inception.
THE ROLE The SVP of Engineering is a senior leadership role responsible for the health, direction, and output of Sotheby's engineering organization. Reporting into the Head of Product & Technology, you will own the technical strategy underpinning our platforms -- from client-facing digital experiences to the core transactional and operational systems that run the business. You will lead a team of engineers, engineering managers, and technical leads, setting a high bar for talent, culture, and delivery. The best candidate moves fluidly between setting direction and ensuring it lands -- as comfortable debating architectural tradeoffs with a principal engineer as presenting a multi-year investment case to executive leadership. You thrive where the problems are genuinely hard and can dig deep: legacy complexity, rapid growth, and a client base with exceptionally high expectations.
RESPONSIBILITIES
- Own the engineering organization's technology vision, strategy, and multi-year roadmap -- translating business priorities into a coherent technical direction that enables scalable, client-centric products and platforms.
- Build and lead a high-performing engineering organization: hire, develop, and retain senior talent; establish clear career paths; and foster a culture of accountability, craft, and continuous improvement.
- Drive delivery of complex, cross-functional programs spanning client-facing platforms, internal operational systems, and core transactional infrastructure -- with a bias toward shipping and measurable outcomes.
- Serve as the senior technical decision-maker for architecture, platform, and build-vs-buy choices, balancing long-term scalability with pragmatic near-term execution.
- Partner with Product, Data, Design, Infosec and IT leadership to ensure engineering operates as a unified force -- not a downstream order-taker -- in shaping product and technology decisions.
- Establish and uphold engineering standards across code quality, automated testing, security, and operational reliability, including 24x7 availability of production systems.
- Champion Agile practices and modern delivery disciplines (CI/CD, iterative planning, trunk-based development) to maximize team throughput and reduce cycle time.
- Represent engineering credibly with executive leadership, the board, and external partners -- communicating tradeoffs clearly and advocating for sustainable investment in the technical foundation.
IDEAL EXPERIENCE & COMPETENCIES
- 15+ years of experience in software development and architecture.
- Experience with one or more general purpose programming languages including but not limited to: JavaScript, Python, Go, or Java.
- Experience with front end technologies and/or front-end frameworks (React preferred).
- Great communicator capable of translating complex technical topics for business stakeholders.
- Experience building extremely high volume and highly scalable web services.
- Experience building highly available systems and operating 24x7 services.
- Extensive Agile Development experience (leading Scrums, iteration planning, managing multiple work streams).
- Experience with continuous deployment and developing CI/CD pipelines.
- Familiarity and prior experience with Amazon Web Services, Google Cloud Platform, or Azure technologies.
- General experience with API design and enterprise integration patterns.
- Experience with HTML5 and CSS3 web standards.
- Experience with relational and non-relational databases.
- Experience working with large scale data warehouses for analytics preferred.
- Excellent communicator capable of translating complex technical topics for business stakeholders & experience consistently influencing teams to successful outcomes.
- Ability to think creatively and critically and thrive in a fast-paced dynamic, and often ambiguous work environment.
- Strong problem resolution and analytical skills; detail-oriented strategic thinker; solution-oriented mindset and work approach.
- Charisma and a natural ability to connect with others; strong leadership and mentorship skills.
- Agile and organized working style to manage and consistently prioritize key initiatives.
- Intelligence, Leadership, & Humility.
SVP, Engineering in London employer: the company
Sotheby’s is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment at its new global headquarters in the iconic Breuer building on Madison Avenue, New York City. With a strong emphasis on employee growth, the company fosters a culture of accountability and continuous improvement, providing opportunities for senior talent to thrive in a collaborative and innovative engineering organisation. Employees benefit from competitive compensation, a commitment to diversity and inclusion, and the chance to work on complex, high-impact projects that shape the future of art and luxury markets.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land SVP, Engineering in London
✨Join Local Tech Meetups
Get out there and mingle with fellow developers by joining local tech meetups. It’s a fantastic way to meet people who might be working at the company or know someone who does. Plus, you can pick up some trendy tech skills and trends while you're at it!
✨Contribute to Open Source Projects
Show off your coding chops by jumping into open-source projects. Not only does this give you practical experience, but it also gets you noticed in the dev community. You'll create a killer portfolio that speaks volumes about your skills to the company.
✨Tap into Online Developer Communities
Don’t underestimate the power of online developer communities like GitHub, Stack Overflow, and even Reddit. Participate in discussions, share your projects, and build your visibility. We can often find opportunities through these channels that can lead to a full-time gig at companies like the company.
✨Explore Job Boards Specifically for Tech Roles
Keep your eyes peeled on job boards that focus on tech roles. Sites like TechCareers or Stack Overflow Jobs can often have listings for companies like the company that might not show up on broader job sites. Make it a habit to check these regularly, and don’t hesitate to apply directly through our website!
We think you need these skills to ace SVP, Engineering in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show off your coding skills:When applying for a software engineering role, it's super important to showcase your coding skills. Make sure your CV includes your tech stack, any relevant programming languages you’re comfortable with, and examples of projects you've worked on. If you have a GitHub profile, link it up! We love to see code in action.
Tailor your portfolio:For a full-time role, we’d expect to see some solid examples of your work in your portfolio. Make sure to include at least two or three projects that highlight your problem-solving skills and your ability to work with different technologies. Focus on the projects that are most relevant to the position at the company.
Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at the company and how your skills align with the role. Show us your passion for software development. We dig enthusiastic candidates who understand the value of collaboration and continuous learning!
Be clear and concise:When it comes to writing your CV and cover letter, clarity is key. Avoid jargon that could confuse us and stick to simple, direct language. Highlight your achievements with quantifiable results where possible, and keep everything easy to read. A well-organised application goes a long way!
How to prepare for a job interview at the company
✨Brush Up on Your Coding Skills
For a full-time software engineering role, it's crucial that we stay sharp with our coding abilities. Expect technical questions that might involve solving problems on the spot or discussing algorithms. Practise on platforms like LeetCode or HackerRank to get comfortable with the types of questions that often come up.
✨Know Your Tools and Frameworks
Make sure we’re well-acquainted with the tools and technologies listed in the job description. Familiarise ourselves with any specific frameworks or programming languages mentioned. If the company uses React or Node.js, for instance, be ready to discuss how we’ve used them in previous projects or coursework.
✨Showcase Your Projects
Bring along a portfolio that highlights our best work. This could be code samples, GitHub repositories, or any side projects we’ve built. Make sure we can talk through our thought process for each project, especially the challenges we faced and how we solved them—this shows our problem-solving skills in action.
✨Prepare for Behavioural Questions
While technical skills are key, full-time positions also require cultural fit. Be ready to discuss our previous experiences and how we handle teamwork, conflict, and deadlines. Brush up on the STAR method—Situation, Task, Action, Result—to clearly articulate our past experiences when discussing how we've contributed to a team.
