VP of Engineering – what does this role look like in 2022?
The role of VP of Engineering has certainly changed over the years. In a tech-driven world, there are so many different areas in a team that work towards one company objective. A VP of Engineering (or VPE) is responsible for a large chunk of these areas.
It’s not just about the skills – it’s about leadership and knowing how to manage many personality types within the team. In 2022, with so much remote working and leadership, this landscape has changed.
What does a VP of Engineering do?
A VPE is often responsible for creating a technical road map for a company that aligns with the vision of the business. This road map should be in line with the technical framework to achieve that vision. As such, a VPE will have a thorough understanding of engineering processes.
The role is challenging and varied, with many responsibilities that include…
- Working closely with the CTO to develop technical strategies and processes
- Solid leadership and mentorship of the team, particularly engineers and technical staff
- Encourage regular collaboration to create a supportive culture that gets the work done
- Work across multiple departments, like marketing and business development, to develop cohesive product and company strategies
- Identifying technological developments and also inefficiencies that can be improved
- Budget management, so projects are prepared and optimised when it comes to costs
The most important traits and skills of a VPE
As with any senior executive, leadership traits should be prioritised in order to maximize business growth. For VPE’s, what traits should a company look for?
- Decisive action: Waiting for more data or results to make informed decisions isn’t always an option in fast moving industries. A great VPE will know this and be able to make tough but correct decisions under time pressure.
- A thorough understanding of engineering processes: The ability to create or fix processes does not happen overnight. A VPE should have a proven track record of this. Are new processes needed or can the existing ones be built upon?
- Leveraging the data and tools at your disposal: A great VPE will know to look beyond the leaders of their teams. They will tap into the knowledge of the whole team so they get the bigger picture, not a narrow version of it.
- An eye for talent: Experience in recruiting engineers is integral. Knowing what skills are required and having an eye for top engineering talent will mean the VPE is building a solid team with success in mind.
- Soft skills: As you know, every role requires important soft skills. What are the most important to you? Communication, attention to detail and knowledge of industry trends are important in the engineering world.
- Technical skills: A degree in engineering is a given. Furthermore, experience in software design and development of customer focused platforms are required. Experience with DevOps teams and agile architecture should come naturally to a VPE.
Looking for a new VP of Engineering opportunity?
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