Role Overview for VP, Software Development, AI with a Cloud Platform – Seattle, WA
JRG Partners is exclusively representing a trailblazing, high-growth technology firm at the forefront of digital innovation. Our client, a leader in creating intelligent, scalable solutions, is seeking a visionary and transformative executive to join their leadership team as the Vice President of Software Development for their AI-powered Cloud Platform. This pivotal role, based in the vibrant tech hub of Seattle, WA, is a rare opportunity to shape the future of an industry-defining product suite that leverages the latest advancements in artificial intelligence and cloud computing.
As the VP of Software Development, you will be the senior-most technical leader responsible for the entire lifecycle of the company’s flagship AI cloud platform. You will command a large, multi-disciplinary organization of talented software engineers, architects, and managers, inspiring them to build robust, scalable, and cutting-edge solutions. Your strategic vision will directly influence the product roadmap, technical architecture, and engineering culture.
You will be tasked with not just managing a department, but with building a world-class engineering powerhouse that consistently delivers excellence and outpaces the competition. This role requires a unique blend of deep technical expertise, strategic thinking, and inspirational leadership. You will be the driving force behind the platform’s evolution, ensuring it remains secure, performant, and capable of supporting exponential growth while integrating novel AI and Machine Learning capabilities that provide unparalleled value to a global customer base.
Success in this role means fostering an environment of creativity, collaboration, and continuous improvement. You will champion engineering best practices, mentor the next generation of technical leaders, and work hand-in-hand with the C-suite to align technology strategy with overarching business objectives. If you are a seasoned engineering executive with a passion for building transformative AI products on a massive scale and a proven track record of leading high-performing teams, we invite you to explore this career-defining opportunity.
Key Responsibilities of VP, Software Development, AI with a Cloud Platform – Seattle, WA
Strategic Technical Leadership
Define and execute a long-term technical vision and strategy for the AI Cloud Platform, ensuring alignment with product goals, market trends, and company objectives. Drive architectural decisions to ensure scalability, reliability, and security for a global, enterprise-grade service.
Team Development and Mentorship
Lead, manage, and scale a world-class software engineering organization. Recruit top-tier talent, mentor senior engineering leaders, and cultivate a high-performance, inclusive, and innovative culture. Foster professional growth and create clear career paths for team members.
Execution and Delivery
Oversee the end-to-end software development lifecycle (SDLC), from conception and design to deployment and operations. Implement and refine agile development methodologies, CI/CD pipelines, and DevOps practices to ensure rapid, high-quality delivery of new features and platform enhancements.
Cross-Functional Collaboration
Serve as a key partner to the executive team, including the CTO, CPO, and CEO. Collaborate closely with Product Management, Data Science, Sales, and Marketing to translate business requirements into technical solutions and ensure a cohesive product strategy.
Technology and Innovation
Act as the primary authority on AI and cloud technologies within the organization. Stay at the forefront of industry trends, evaluating and championing the adoption of new tools, frameworks, and methodologies. Explore the latest advancements in cloud-based machine learning to drive continuous innovation and maintain a competitive edge.
Operational Excellence
Own the operational health and performance of the platform. Establish key performance indicators (KPIs) and engineering metrics to monitor system performance, development velocity, and code quality. Drive a culture of accountability and data-driven decision-making.
Budget and Resource Management
Develop and manage the engineering department’s budget, including headcount planning, infrastructure costs, and tooling investments. Ensure efficient allocation of resources to maximize impact and achieve strategic goals.
Stakeholder Communication
Effectively communicate the technology strategy, project status, and risks to executive leadership, the board of directors, and other key stakeholders. Articulate complex technical concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences.
Requirements for the VP, Software Development, AI with a Cloud Platform – Seattle, WA
We are seeking an exceptional leader with a deep technical background and a history of building and scaling successful software products and teams.
Required Qualifications:
- A minimum of 15 years of experience in the software industry, with at least 8 years in a senior leadership capacity (e.g., Director, Senior Director, VP) managing large, complex engineering teams.
- Demonstrable experience building, shipping, and operating large-scale, distributed systems on a major public cloud provider (AWS, Azure, or GCP).
- Deep, hands-on expertise in the domain of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, including a strong understanding of ML models, data pipelines, and AI-driven product development.
- Proven track record of recruiting, retaining, and developing exceptional engineering talent and building a positive, high-velocity engineering culture.
- Exceptional strategic thinking and problem-solving skills, with the ability to translate high-level business strategy into a concrete technical roadmap and execution plan.
- Strong financial acumen, with experience managing multi-million dollar budgets and performing resource capacity planning.
- Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related technical field.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, capable of inspiring teams and building consensus across an organization.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Master’s Degree or Ph.D. in Computer Science or a related field with a specialization in AI/ML.
- Experience with modern cloud-native architectures, including microservices, containerization (Docker, Kubernetes), and serverless computing.
- Familiarity with modern data platforms and technologies (e.g., Spark, Kafka, Snowflake).
- Experience leading geographically distributed or remote engineering teams.
- A history of thought leadership, such as speaking at industry conferences, publishing technical articles, or contributing to open-source projects.
- Experience in a fast-paced, high-growth SaaS or PaaS environment.
Benefits & Perks Offered
Our client is committed to investing in their employees and offers a comprehensive and competitive benefits package designed to support your well-being and professional growth. This includes:
Comprehensive Health Coverage
Premium medical, dental, and vision insurance for you and your dependents.
Generous Compensation
A highly competitive executive salary, annual performance bonus, and a significant equity/stock option package.
Retirement Planning
401(k) plan with a generous company match to help you save for the future.
Work-Life Balance
Unlimited Paid Time Off (PTO) policy, flexible work hours, and paid company holidays to ensure you have time to recharge.
Family Support
Comprehensive paid parental leave for all new parents.
Professional Development
A substantial annual budget for conferences, training, certifications, and continued education to support your growth.
Wellness Programs
Monthly stipend for gym memberships, fitness classes, mental health apps, and other wellness activities.
Modern Office & Perks
State-of-the-art office in Seattle, complete with catered lunches, a fully stocked kitchen, and collaborative workspaces.
Commuter Benefits
Pre-tax benefits for public transportation and parking.
How to Apply
This is a retained search being conducted exclusively by JRG Partners. If you are a visionary technology leader ready to make a significant impact and drive the future of AI and cloud computing, we want to hear from you. We are looking for an individual who is not just qualified, but who is also passionate, driven, and aligned with our client’s mission of innovation and excellence.
To be considered for this confidential opportunity, please submit your resume and a cover letter detailing your relevant experience and leadership philosophy. Qualified candidates will be contacted by a representative from JRG Partners to schedule an initial discussion. For more information about our expertise in this domain, please visit JRG Partners’ Technology Practice Area. We look forward to reviewing your application and exploring this exciting opportunity with you.
