VP of Engineering

Cambium•San Francisco, CA

1d•$250,000 - $320,000•Hybrid

About The Position

Cambium is the AI-powered platform modernizing the wood economy, and we're looking for a seasoned engineering leader whose business instincts are as sharp as their technical depth. As VP of Engineering, you'll own the architecture, technical roadmap, and engineering team behind a stack that spans logistics optimization, chain-of-custody tracking, fintech and merchant services, inventory management, customer-facing dashboards, and hardware-software integration. This is as much about building well on existing platforms (Netsuite, Hubspot, etc.) as it is greenfield. Some of it is in production; much of it is still 0→1, and you're the kind of leader who moves without waiting for all the answers. You'll partner closely with the CEO and the Senior Director of Product — closely enough that the tension between engineering and product is a feature, not a bug. Product owns the what and the why; you own the how, you stay ahead of the data, and you translate between the two and push back with conviction when it counts. You'll also have the latitude to shape the team to fit where the platform is headed rather than inherit it as-is. This is a role for a decisive leader who'll roll up their sleeves early, bring the discipline to scale, and earn trust through action.

Requirements

15+ years leading engineering teams at scale; Series B or growth-stage experience required.
Deep expertise in complex software architecture: logistics, fintech, hardware-software integration, customer-facing platforms.
Hands-on technical execution experience, with the ability to operate as a player-coach.
Proven ability to move through ambiguity without losing momentum or dropping projects.
Strong backbone: you give and receive direct feedback, push back with conviction, and build trust through honesty.
Strong cross-functional collaboration skills, with the ability to translate complex business requirements into practical technical solutions.
Expertise in modular architecture, API design, data storage, cloud infrastructure, and security.
Proven mentor and team-builder who sets a high bar, shares the credit, and builds cultures where ownership and learning are the norm.
Actively evaluates and stress-tests AI/ML tooling for real workflow integration — not just awareness, but hands-on judgment about what ships and what doesn't, including how it factors into headcount and team structure decisions.
Bachelor's in CS or Engineering; master's preferred.

Responsibilities

Own and defend the technical vision and roadmap across logistics, chain of custody, fintech, inventory, and customer-facing platforms.
Architect scalable, modular, cloud-based infrastructure across hardware-software integration, merchant services, and real-time inventory management — built for long-term growth and flexibility.
Lead the design of systems that integrate hardware and software to support real-time logistics and operational management.
Set and enforce engineering standards across code quality, architectural guidelines, security, and reliability — and drive optimizations in mission-critical areas like logistics and fintech.
Partner directly with the Senior Director of Product and CEO to align technical execution with product strategy and ensure Cambium's technology improves user experience, data transparency, and operational functionality.
Bridge business needs and engineering reality with non-technical stakeholders — clearly, directly, without ego.
Apply AI/ML tooling with intention — enhancing platform capabilities without losing focus on resilience and scalability.
Build, mentor, and scale the engineering team. Culture, craft, and ownership are non-negotiable.