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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and scale global pre-sales and technical teams in AI-driven solutions.
- Company: Join Windward, a leader in Maritime AI for critical sectors.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, growth opportunities, and impactful work in national security.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in high-stakes environments with cutting-edge technology.
- Qualifications: 7+ years in Solution Engineering or Technical Sales, preferably in SaaS/AI.
- Other info: Dynamic role with a focus on leadership and innovation in AI.
The predicted salary is between 72000 - 108000 £ per year.
Location: London, UK (Mermaid House) or Washington, DC, USA (Rhode Island Ave)
Reports to: Chief Revenue Officer (CRO)
Windward is in growth mode and we’re looking for a VP, Solution Engineering to lead and scale our global pre-sales and forward-deployed technical teams. This leader will bridge sophisticated AI technology with high-stakes operational outcomes across intelligence, national security, law enforcement, critical infrastructure, and highly regulated commercial markets.
Reporting to the CRO, you will build the technical engine that helps customers evaluate, adopt, and realize measurable value from Windward’s Maritime AI™ platform—through world-class discovery, solution design, demonstrations, pilots/POCs, and secure production deployments.
What You’ll Do
- Lead a world-class global Solution Engineering function
- Build and scale a high-performing SE organization with clear operating cadence, quality standards, and measurable impact.
- Develop a repeatable pre-sales methodology that translates customer missions into technical solutions and quantified outcomes.
- Define and optimize coverage models (including AE:SE ratios), enablement, and performance metrics.
- Own technical strategy for complex, mission-critical deals
- Partner with Sales leadership to support strategic opportunities and multi-stakeholder buying groups (mission operators, technical teams, security, procurement, executives).
- Drive rigorous technical discovery, solution architecture, and value-based pilots/POCs with clear success criteria.
- Ensure solutions align with customer security, privacy, compliance, and deployment requirements.
- Lead Forward Deployed Engineering (FDE) for customer success in the field
- Oversee forward-deployed teams building customer-specific workflows, integrations, and secure AI-enabled deployments.
- Establish reusable playbooks, reference architectures, and patterns that balance speed, security, and repeatability.
- Partner with Customer Success to ensure seamless technical handoffs and accelerated time-to-value.
- Strengthen the loop between the field and the product
- Collaborate closely with Product and Engineering to inform roadmap priorities based on customer needs and technical discovery.
- Contribute to technical storytelling—solution briefs, demos, and thought leadership that clearly communicate Windward’s differentiated capabilities.
What Success Looks Like
- A scalable SE/FDE organization with strong leadership bench, clear roles, and consistent execution.
- Improved win rates and POC-to-close conversion through rigorous discovery and repeatable proof points.
- Faster time-to-value for customers through clean handoffs, secure deployments, and standardized implementation patterns.
- A coaching culture that develops talent and raises the bar on technical excellence and customer impact.
Requirements
Experience
- 7+ years of leadership in Solution Engineering, Technical Sales, Professional Services, or Forward Deployed Engineering within high-growth SaaS/AI organizations.
- Proven track record scaling technical teams and operating models through rapid growth.
- Experience supporting complex enterprise and/or government sales cycles; exposure to national security, law enforcement, or critical infrastructure is strongly preferred.
- Experience leading customer-facing technical delivery (FDE, professional services, technical consulting, or implementation teams).
Technical and Strategic Strength
- Strong understanding of modern AI and data platforms (LLMs, agentic workflows, analytics, data fusion, evaluation, and deployment patterns).
- Comfort with integrations and technical architecture (REST APIs; familiarity with Python/SQL is a plus).
- Knowledge of cloud infrastructure and security fundamentals (AWS/GCP/Azure; identity, access, data controls).
- Ability to translate sophisticated technical capabilities into executive-level value narratives and measurable outcomes.
Leadership Attributes
- Builder mindset: thrives in growth mode, creates clarity from ambiguity, and scales teams and processes effectively.
- Strong coach: develops talent, sets a high bar, and drives consistent execution.
- Exceptional communicator: credible with both mission operators and C-level executives.
Why Windward
This is an opportunity to build the technical engine that powers AI adoption where the stakes are real—national security, law enforcement outcomes, protection of critical infrastructure, and the resilience of global trade. If you want to lead a team that delivers measurable mission impact and sets the standard for mission-grade Maritime AI™, we’d love to meet you.
VP Solution Engineering UK in London employer: Windward
Contact Detail:
Windward Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land VP Solution Engineering UK in London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with folks in the industry. Attend events, join online forums, and don’t be shy about reaching out on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for those interviews! Research the company, understand their products, and think about how your experience aligns with their needs. Practice common interview questions and come up with examples that showcase your skills, especially in solution engineering and technical leadership.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your expertise! Create a portfolio or a presentation that highlights your past successes in scaling teams and delivering technical solutions. This will not only impress potential employers but also give you confidence when discussing your achievements.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! We’re always on the lookout for talented individuals who can help us drive innovation. Make sure your application stands out by tailoring it to the specific role and demonstrating your passion for AI and its applications in critical sectors.
We think you need these skills to ace VP Solution Engineering UK in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV speaks directly to the role of VP Solution Engineering. Highlight your experience in leading technical teams and scaling operations, especially in high-growth SaaS/AI environments. We want to see how your background aligns with our mission!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to tell us why you're passionate about AI and how you can bridge technology with operational outcomes. Share specific examples of your past successes that relate to the responsibilities outlined in the job description.
Showcase Your Technical Acumen: Don’t shy away from showcasing your technical skills! Mention your familiarity with modern AI platforms, cloud infrastructure, and any relevant programming languages. We’re looking for someone who can translate complex tech into value-driven narratives.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother application process. It helps us keep track of your application and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates. Plus, it shows you’re keen on joining our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Windward
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you have a solid understanding of AI technologies and how they apply to the role. Brush up on your knowledge of modern data platforms, cloud infrastructure, and security fundamentals. Being able to discuss these topics confidently will show that you're the right fit for leading a technical team.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare examples of how you've successfully scaled technical teams in previous roles. Highlight your experience in building high-performing organisations and your ability to coach and develop talent. This is crucial for a VP position, so be ready to demonstrate your leadership style and impact.
✨Understand the Customer's Needs
Familiarise yourself with the specific challenges faced by customers in national security, law enforcement, and critical infrastructure. Be prepared to discuss how you would translate their missions into technical solutions and measurable outcomes. This will show that you can bridge the gap between technology and customer success.
✨Communicate Effectively
Practice articulating complex technical concepts in a way that resonates with both technical teams and C-level executives. Your ability to tell a compelling story about how Windward’s Maritime AI™ platform delivers value will be key. Think about how you can convey this in your interview.