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# VP, Software Development with a FinTech Unicorn – San Francisco, CA


Role Overview for VP, Software Development with a FinTech Unicorn – San Francisco, CA
JRG Partners has been exclusively retained to identify a transformative Vice President of Software Development for one of the most exciting and rapidly scaling FinTech unicorns in the world. Based in the heart of innovation, San Francisco, CA, our client is fundamentally reshaping the financial landscape with its revolutionary platform. They have achieved remarkable growth, secured significant funding from top-tier venture capitalists, and are now poised for their next stage of hyper-growth. This is a rare opportunity to join a mission-driven leadership team and build the future of financial technology.
As the VP of Software Development, you will be a cornerstone of the executive technology team, reporting directly to the Chief Technology Officer (CTO). You will be entrusted with leading, scaling, and mentoring a world-class, multi-disciplinary engineering organization. This role is not just about managing teams; it’s about setting the technical vision, fostering a culture of engineering excellence, and ensuring the delivery of a robust, scalable, and secure platform that serves millions of users.
You will be the driving force behind the company’s technical execution, translating ambitious business goals into tangible, high-quality software products. Your leadership will directly impact the company’s ability to innovate, outpace competitors, and solidify its position as a market leader. We are seeking a leader who thrives in a dynamic, fast-paced environment, who is passionate about building both great products and great teams, and who possesses the strategic foresight to navigate the complexities of a high-growth technology company in a regulated industry.
Key Responsibilities of VP, Software Development with a FinTech Unicorn – San Francisco, CA
Strategic Technical Leadership
Partner with the CTO and executive team to define and articulate the company’s overarching technical vision and long-term strategy. Develop and maintain a comprehensive technology roadmap that aligns with product goals, business objectives, and market opportunities. Champion technical innovation and advocate for strategic investments in new technologies, platforms, and processes that will provide a competitive advantage.
Engineering Team Scaling and Management
Lead and scale a globally distributed engineering organization of 100+ developers, testers, and managers. Attract, hire, and retain top-tier engineering talent. Implement robust career development frameworks, mentorship programs, and performance management systems to foster professional growth and build a strong leadership pipeline within the engineering department.
Cultivate Engineering Excellence
Foster a world-class engineering culture centered on collaboration, ownership, quality, and continuous improvement. Champion best practices in software development, including code reviews, automated testing, continuous integration/continuous deployment (CI/CD), and robust monitoring. Ensure the team consistently delivers high-quality, reliable, and maintainable code.
Execution and Delivery Oversight
Drive the execution of the product and technology roadmap, ensuring timely and predictable delivery of complex projects. Implement and refine project management processes, leveraging agile software development methodologies to optimize for speed, quality, and stakeholder transparency. Establish key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure and improve engineering efficiency, product quality, and system performance.
Architectural Stewardship
Oversee the architectural design and evolution of the company’s software platforms. Ensure that the architecture is scalable, secure, resilient, and capable of supporting rapid growth and product iteration. Guide teams in making critical technology and design decisions, balancing short-term needs with long-term strategic goals. Provide hands-on guidance when necessary to resolve complex technical challenges.
Cross-Functional Collaboration
Build strong, collaborative relationships with leaders in Product Management, Design, Data Science, Information Security, and Operations. Ensure seamless communication and alignment between engineering and other departments to deliver a cohesive and exceptional user experience. Act as the primary technical voice in strategic product discussions.
Budget and Operations Management
Develop and manage the annual engineering budget, including headcount, tools, infrastructure costs, and professional development. Optimize resource allocation to maximize impact and ensure financial prudence. Report on engineering progress, challenges, and financial performance to the executive team and board of directors.
Security and Compliance
Uphold the highest standards of security and data privacy in all development practices. Ensure the platform adheres to relevant financial regulations and compliance standards (e.g., PCI DSS, SOC 2, GDPR). Partner with the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) to integrate security into every stage of the software development lifecycle (DevSecOps).
Requirements for the VP, Software Development with a FinTech Unicorn – San Francisco, CA
Executive Leadership Experience
A minimum of 15 years of experience in the software industry, with at least 7-10 years in a senior engineering leadership capacity (e.g., VP, Senior Director, Head of Engineering). Demonstrable experience scaling an engineering organization through a significant growth phase (e.g., from 50 to 200+ engineers).
FinTech Domain Expertise
Deep, hands-on experience within the FinTech sector is mandatory. Expertise in areas such as payments processing, digital banking, lending platforms, investment technology, or blockchain is highly desirable. A thorough understanding of the unique security, regulatory, and scalability challenges in financial services is critical.
Technical Credibility
A strong technical foundation with a background in hands-on software development. Expertise in modern, cloud-native architectures (AWS, GCP, or Azure), microservices, event-driven systems, and building highly available, distributed systems. While this is a leadership role, you must be able to command the respect of a highly technical team and engage in deep architectural discussions.
Proven Team Builder
A track record of attracting, developing, and retaining exceptional engineering talent. Experience managing managers and building a multi-layered engineering organization. A passion for mentorship and a commitment to fostering a diverse, inclusive, and psychologically safe team environment.
Strategic and Business Acumen
The ability to think strategically and connect technology decisions to business outcomes. Experience working closely with C-level executives and contributing to the overall company strategy. Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with a data-driven approach to decision-making.
Exceptional Communication Skills
Superior verbal, written, and presentation skills. The ability to articulate a compelling technical vision and complex concepts clearly and concisely to a wide range of audiences, from individual engineers to the board of directors.
Educational Background
A Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related technical discipline is strongly preferred.
Benefits & Perks Offered
Our client believes in investing in their people and has curated a benefits package designed to support employees’ health, well-being, and professional growth. As a key member of the leadership team, you will enjoy:
Highly Competitive Compensation
A lucrative base salary, performance-based bonus, and a significant equity package in a pre-IPO unicorn with massive upside potential.
Comprehensive Health and Wellness
Premium medical, dental, and vision insurance for you and your dependents, with the majority of premiums covered. Access to mental health resources and a generous wellness stipend.
Retirement Planning
A 401(k) plan with a generous company match to help you plan for your future.
Flexible Time Off
An unlimited Paid Time Off (PTO) policy, encouraging you to take the time you need to rest and recharge.
Family Support
Comprehensive and generous paid parental leave for all new parents.
Professional Development
A substantial annual budget for conferences, courses, certifications, and other learning opportunities to keep you at the forefront of technology and leadership.
Modern Office Environment
A beautiful, collaborative office space in San Francisco, complete with catered lunches, a fully stocked kitchen, and state-of-the-art equipment.
Commuter and Relocation Support
Commuter benefits to ease your travel to the office and comprehensive relocation assistance for qualified candidates.
How to Apply
JRG Partners is the exclusive recruitment partner for this confidential and critical leadership search. We are seeking a visionary and execution-focused leader who is ready to make a lasting impact on the future of finance. If you possess the experience, passion, and strategic mindset required to excel in this role, we invite you to apply.
Please submit your resume and a brief cover letter outlining why you are the ideal candidate for this opportunity. For more information on our specialized recruitment services and expertise in placing top technology executives, please visit our Technology Executive Search practice area. We look forward to reviewing your application.