VP of Engineering job description template
If you are hiring for this role, start here. This free template is our detailed definition of the position, with everything you need to find and hire the right person. Copy it, add your own requirements, and post it.
What is a VP of Engineering?
Vice Presidents of Engineering are senior executive leaders responsible for managing the company’s engineering and development operations.
They lead and supervise directors of engineering, engineering managers, and other members of the engineering team and monitor the company’s engineering operations and product development processes.
VPs of Engineering develop and plan engineering projects, implement the strategic direction for the company’s development initiatives, and develop engineering policies, practices, standards, and security measures.
Their job is to ensure their team members reach objectives, goals, and project completion within the budget and time frames.
They also hire and onboard new team members, provide support and guidance, and build cross-department relationships.
The top VP of Engineering skills.
Five things separate a strong hire from a résumé that reads well. Use these as your scorecard criteria.
The job description, ready to post.
Copy it as written, or edit it until it sounds like your company. Both work.
We are hiring a qualified VP of Engineering for our company. In this executive position, your primary job will be to lead and supervise the members of the engineering team and monitor the company’s engineering and product development operations. You will ensure that engineering activities meet current and future company needs and develop, plan, and execute engineering projects.
Additionally, you will be responsible for implementing the strategic direction for engineering and development initiatives, developing engineering policies, practices, and security measures, and ensuring that your team members reach objectives and project completion within budgets and timelines. Ultimately, you will hire and onboard new team members and provide support, motivation, and guidance.
Skills that we are looking for in our new VP of Engineering include exceptional technical knowledge, leadership, communication, project management, and strategic thinking.
Duties and responsibilities
- Lead and supervise directors of engineering, engineering managers, developers, and other members of the engineering team
- Monitor the company’s engineering operations and product development processes
- Ensure development and engineering operations meet current and future company needs
- Develop, plan, and execute engineering projects
- Implement the strategic direction of the company’s engineering and development initiatives
- Identify and implement new technologies to drive and improve the company’s organizational processes
- Develop engineering policies, practices, standards, and security measures
- Participate in strategic planning efforts with product management and other departments
- Participate in the development of technical engineering designs and resource management
- Ensure that the engineering team reaches objectives, goals, and project completion within budgets and timelines
- Collaborate with the CTO to develop the overall technical vision
- Manage the interview, recruitment, and onboarding processes
- Manage and monitor the engineering department’s budgets, including equipment costs, training, development, etc
- Provide support, assistance, and guidance to team members and build cross-department relationships
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in computer engineering, software engineering, electrical engineering, or a related field
- A Master’s degree in an engineering field or MBA
- Extensive professional engineering and leadership experience
- In-depth knowledge of relevant engineering and development practices and processes
- Experience in leading, managing, and motivating team members
- Exceptional communication skills
- Strategic mind
- Project management
Take the template with you
Copy it straight into your job board or ATS, or have it emailed to you with the interview questions for this role.
What education this role needs.
The majority of companies require their VPs of Engineering to have a strong educational background.
Bachelor’s degree in computer engineering, software engineering, computer science, or a related field is usually the minimum requirement for this position.
Also, some employers would prefer their VPs of Engineering with a Master’s degree in an engineering field or MBA.
In addition to their formal education, VPs of Engineering must have extensive professional experience in the technology industry, along with amazing leadership, management, and strategic abilities.
Sample interview questions for a VP of Engineering.
Once you have gathered the applications, work through these in order. Twelve questions across four areas, enough to tell your shortlist apart.
- Could you list some of your strengths and weaknesses?
- Why did you choose to pursue a career in engineering?
- What are your long-term professional goals?
- How long have you been working in the engineering industry?
- Why do you think our company is the best place for your next employment?
- What qualifications make you a better candidate for this position than others?
- Tell us about your experience with learning and motivating members of the engineering team.
- How do you successfully manage budgets and resource allocation within your department?
- What methods did you use to foster cross-department relationships?
- What factors and information should you take into account when developing engineering policies and security measures?
- Can you tell us about your most recent technical challenge and how you overcame it?
- What methods do you use to identify the most suitable strategic direction for the company?
How much to pay when hiring.
Annual pay by percentile. Where you land depends on the size of the cycle they will own, and the 25th percentile is usually where a first analyst hire sits.
Hourly equivalents run from $45 at the 10th percentile to $116 at the 90th.
Candidates may apply under a different name.
Post the title your industry uses and keep the rest of the description. These three roles overlap enough that the same posting usually reaches all of them.
Three titles, one description.
Search behavior varies by industry, so the same job is advertised under several names. If you are unsure which one your candidates search for, run two titles and see which fills.
Director of Engineering
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$199,347 medianEngineering Manager
Chief Engineer
Chief Engineers operate in a wide range of businesses and have the ability to specialize in a variety of fields.
$92,945 medianFrequently asked questions.
What do VPs of Engineering do?
Vice Presidents of Engineering are mainly responsible for leading and managing the engineering team within the company and executing and supervising engineering operations and development processes.
Who do VPs of Engineering report to?
VPs of Engineering typically report directly to the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) or Chief Executive Officer (CEO).
What is a typical engineering career ladder in the corporate world?
The lowest title in the engineering management hierarchy belongs to the engineering manager.
Higher positions include director of engineering, VP of engineering, and Chief Technology Officer, respectively.
What skills are necessary for VPs of Engineering?
VPs of Engineering must have advanced technical knowledge along with exceptional communication, leadership, strategic, and project management skills.
Other job description templates.
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