Vice President, Software Engineering – Digital Banking Platform
Are you a transformative engineering leader poised to redefine the future of digital banking? Do you thrive on scaling technology, teams, and culture in a hyper-growth environment? JRG Partners has been exclusively retained by a well-funded, innovative digital banking platform to identify a visionary Vice President of Software Engineering to join their executive team in the vibrant tech hub of Salt Lake City, Utah.
Our client is on a mission to democratize financial services, building a next-generation platform that provides accessible, intuitive, and secure banking for millions of users. As a key member of the senior leadership team, you will be instrumental in shaping the technological foundation and strategic direction of the company. This is a rare opportunity to own the engineering function of a rapidly scaling FinTech organization, making a tangible impact on the product, the team, and the industry. You will be at the forefront of innovation within the burgeoning ‘Silicon Slopes’ of Utah, a community known for its dynamic technology scene and exceptional quality of life.
Role Overview for VP, Software Engineering with a Digital Banking Platform – Salt Lake City, UT
The Vice President of Software Engineering is a pivotal executive position responsible for leading the entire software development organization. This is not merely a management role; it is a strategic leadership post that demands a blend of deep technical expertise, inspirational leadership, and sharp business acumen. Reporting directly to the Chief Technology Officer (CTO), you will be the driving force behind the platform’s technical execution, scalability, and long-term architectural vision. You will inherit and grow a talented team of engineers, fostering a world-class culture of innovation, collaboration, and accountability. Your leadership will directly enable the company to scale its user base, expand its product offerings, and solidify its position as a market leader. You will be a key voice in strategic planning, ensuring that the technology roadmap is perfectly aligned with the company’s ambitious business objectives and that the engineering organization is a powerful engine for growth.
Key Responsibilities of VP, Software Engineering with a Digital Banking Platform – Salt Lake City, UT
Strategic Technical Leadership & Vision
You will partner with the CTO, CPO, and other executive stakeholders to define and execute a compelling multi-year technology strategy. This includes making critical decisions about architecture, technology stacks, and infrastructure to support massive scale, high availability, and uncompromising security. You will translate ambitious business goals into a clear and actionable technical roadmap that empowers your teams to deliver exceptional products.
Team Building & Cultural Development
As the leader of the engineering organization, you will be responsible for attracting, hiring, mentoring, and retaining top-tier engineering talent. You will cultivate a high-performance, inclusive, and collaborative culture that values continuous learning, psychological safety, and a passion for craftsmanship. You will implement career ladders, performance management systems, and professional development programs to ensure your team members are growing and thriving.
Execution & Delivery Excellence
You will oversee the entire software development lifecycle (SDLC), from ideation and planning to deployment and operations. Your mandate is to optimize engineering processes for both velocity and quality. You will champion and refine Agile methodologies, instill a robust DevOps culture, and implement key metrics to monitor and improve team performance, predictability, and product quality.
Architectural Oversight & Scalability
You will guide the evolution of our client’s platform, ensuring it remains scalable, reliable, and maintainable as the company grows. This involves leading discussions on microservices architecture, data strategy, cloud infrastructure (AWS/GCP/Azure), and API design, ensuring that today’s technical choices enable tomorrow’s business ambitions.
Cross-Functional Collaboration
Act as a primary technology partner to leaders across the organization, including Product, Design, Security, and Operations. You will foster strong relationships and clear communication channels to ensure seamless execution and alignment on product launches and strategic initiatives.
Financial & Operational Management
You will own the engineering department’s budget, including headcount planning, vendor relationships, and infrastructure costs. You will be responsible for making sound financial decisions that optimize for both short-term execution and long-term strategic investment.
Security & Compliance Leadership
You will be a steward of the platform’s security and integrity. In the highly regulated world of financial services, you will ensure that the engineering team adheres to the highest standards of security best practices and compliance protocols, successfully navigating the complex regulatory landscape of modern FinTech to protect customer data and maintain trust.
Requirements for the VP, Software Engineering with a Digital Banking Platform – Salt Lake City, UT
Extensive Leadership Experience
A minimum of 15 years of experience in software engineering, with at least 7-10 years in a senior leadership capacity (e.g., Director, Senior Director, VP) managing and scaling teams of 50+ engineers. Proven success in a high-growth startup or technology company is essential.
Deep FinTech Domain Expertise
A strong, demonstrable background in the financial technology, digital banking, or payments industry is a firm requirement. You must be fluent in the concepts of core banking systems, payment rails (ACH, FedWire), card processing, and KYC/AML regulations.
Proven Technical Acumen
While this is a leadership role, you possess deep technical credibility. You have a strong background in designing, building, and operating complex, large-scale distributed systems. Hands-on experience with modern cloud environments (AWS preferred), microservices architecture, containerization (Docker, Kubernetes), and CI/CD pipelines is expected.
Inspirational Leadership & Mentorship
You are a servant leader with a passion for developing people. You have a track record of building diverse, high-performing teams and have exceptional emotional intelligence, communication, and interpersonal skills. You lead with empathy, clarity, and conviction.
Strategic & Business-Oriented Mindset
You have the ability to think beyond the code and understand how technology decisions impact the broader business. You are adept at resource planning, budget management, and communicating complex technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders.
Educational Background
A Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related technical field is required.
Benefits & Perks Offered
Our client is committed to providing a compensation and benefits package that attracts and retains the very best talent. The comprehensive package for this executive role includes:
- Highly competitive base salary and executive performance bonus
- Significant equity/stock option package with high upside potential
- Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance for you and your dependents with low premiums
- 401(k) retirement plan with a generous company match
- Generous Paid Time Off (PTO) policy and company-paid holidays
- Relocation assistance package for candidates moving to the Salt Lake City area
- A dedicated budget for professional development, conferences, and continued learning
- State-of-the-art office located in the heart of Salt Lake City’s tech corridor
- Flexible, hybrid work environment that values work-life balance
- Wellness programs and stipends to support your physical and mental health
How to Apply
This is a confidential search being conducted by JRG Partners. If you are a visionary engineering executive with a passion for building transformative financial technology, we invite you to apply. Please submit your resume for consideration. All inquiries and applications will be handled with the utmost discretion. JRG Partners is an equal opportunity recruiter, and we are proud to partner with clients who are committed to building diverse and inclusive teams. To learn more about our expertise in placing top tech leaders, please visit our Technology Executive Search Practice page. We look forward to connecting with you and exploring this exciting opportunity.
