SVP of Engineering

First Due

18h•Remote

About The Position

This is the top engineering executive under the CTO. The SVP of Engineering is accountable for delivery, quality, productivity, and engineering talent as we scale the platform and the team. The right leader brings the systems thinking to strengthen how engineering operates and the delivery credibility to keep the org shipping through the change.

Requirements

Proven executive with experience running engineering at the SVP or CTO level in a growth-stage SaaS company
Has led a world-wide Engineering team (150+), building a scalable skills and staffing model
Strong engineering foundation (ideally started as a high-performing individual contributor) with meaningful time in senior leadership
Has scaled an engineering org through a similar inflection point (roughly 150+ engineers, multiple product areas, growing complexity)
Running both delivery and systems: has held accountability for shipping while also building the underlying operating model
Building and operationalizing AI-enabled development workflows in a production environment
Improving developer productivity, DevOps and CI/CD maturity, and quality engineering
Leading through senior engineering leaders (directors, VPs), not just managing teams directly
Vertical SaaS, regulated industries, or mission-critical software is a strong plus; public safety experience is an advantage
Working effectively with founder-led executive teams
Executive-caliber leader with judgment, presence, and credibility at the ELT level
Systems-oriented thinker who is also execution-focused
Direct communicator who can partner across functions, push back when needed, and build trust quickly
All applicants must be authorized to work for any US employer in the United States.
Hiring is contingent upon candidates successfully passing a criminal background check.
As part of the I-9 verification of authorization to work in the US, Locality Media participates in E-Verify.

Nice To Haves

Vertical SaaS, regulated industries, or mission-critical software is a strong plus; public safety experience is an advantage

Responsibilities

Accountable for product delivery across all engineering teams
Sets delivery commitments with product leadership and ensures they are met
Directs the VP of Engineering, who runs day-to-day team execution
Resolves cross-team dependencies, resourcing conflicts, and escalations
Defines and standardizes how work flows from requirements to development to QA to release
Reduces friction across teams and improves delivery predictability
Builds the operating rhythm (reviews, planning cadences, decision forums) that keeps the org aligned
Operationalizes AI-enabled development workflows across the engineering org
Integrates structured inputs (EPS, TRD, Task Plan), automation, and validation into the daily flow
Drives AI PDLC repeatable and scalable
Centralizes Cursor rule development and usage standards
Evolves QA into a structured quality engineering function
Owns test coverage strategy, release confidence, and defect feedback loops
Assesses and enhances current CI/CD and deployment processes
Builds out a formal DevOps capability over time
Improves deployment efficiency, environment consistency, and observability
Partners with VP Infrastructure on the underlying platform
Centralizes the currently distributed group of senior platform engineers
Builds platform capability as a force multiplier for product teams
Defines and implements a consistent set of engineering metrics, including cycle time, throughput, defect trends, and delivery predictability
Creates visibility that supports faster, better decision-making at every level of the org
Partners with HR Operations on expectations for engineering roles and signals of strong performance
Builds structured approaches to performance visibility, team effectiveness, and leadership development
Plays an active role in executive hiring, leveling, and succession for the engineering org
Identifies recurring friction points across teams and designs solutions at the root cause
Introduces scalable practices, guardrails, and structural changes the org needs as it grows