We are seeking a highly impactful engineering leader to serve as a Vice President, Head of Engineering Practice. This is a player coach role designed for someone who can operate at both strategic and hands-on levels, driving consistency and standardization across backend engineering teams.
This role focuses on building scalable engineering practices, establishing reusable frameworks, and enabling modern development approaches, including AI integration within the software development lifecycle.
Engineering Leadership & Standardization
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Establish and scale consistent backend engineering standards across teams
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Define and enforce API design principles, service patterns, and best practices
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Drive alignment and reduce fragmentation across distributed engineering teams
Framework & Platform Development
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Design and implement reusable frameworks and shared services using Java and Spring Boot
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Promote adoption of common tools, libraries, and engineering patterns
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Ensure scalability and maintainability across backend systems
Hands-On Technical Leadership
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Act as a technical thought leader across engineering teams
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Review architecture, code, and technical designs
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Provide real-time guidance to engineers and contribute to proof-of-concept work when needed
AI / GenAI Enablement
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Integrate AI and generative AI capabilities into engineering workflows
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Enhance developer productivity through AI-enabled tools and processes
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Identify opportunities to embed AI within platform capabilities and the SDLC
Cross-Team Influence
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Partner with architects and senior engineers across the organization
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Drive adoption of standards and frameworks through influence, not authority
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Foster a culture of collaboration, consistency, and engineering excellence
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Strong, recent hands-on experience with Java and Spring Boot
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Proven track record building reusable frameworks or shared services used across multiple teams
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Demonstrated ability to operate as a player coach, balancing leadership with hands-on contributions
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Deep expertise in backend development, including:
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RESTful API design
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Microservices architecture
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SQL and NoSQL databases
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Experience driving engineering standardization across multiple teams or business units
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Strong communication skills with the ability to influence senior engineers and architects
Engineering Standardization
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Establish consistent patterns across backend services
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Reduce duplication and fragmentation across teams
Reusable Frameworks
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Build and scale shared libraries and frameworks
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Ensure adoption across engineering teams
Hands-On Credibility
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Confidently review and guide code and implementation decisions
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Provide real-time technical direction to teams
AI Integration
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Embed AI into development workflows and lifecycle processes
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Drive innovation through emerging technologies
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Experience in regulated industries such as financial services or insurance
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Background as an Architect, Principal Engineer, or senior technical leader
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Experience operating within microservices-based environments
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Demonstrated ability to balance technical depth, influence, and delivery execution
Vaco by Highspring values a diverse workplace and strongly encourages women, people of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, people with disabilities, members of ethnic minorities, foreign-born residents, and veterans to apply.
Vaco by Highspring is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race (including but not limited to traits historically associated with race such as hair texture and hair style), color, sex (includes pregnancy or related conditions), religion or creed, national origin, citizenship, age, disability, status as a veteran, union membership, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, political affiliation, or any other protected characteristics as required by federal, state or local law.
Vaco by Highspring and its parents, affiliates, and subsidiaries are committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, Vaco by Highspring and its parents, affiliates, and subsidiaries will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact [email protected] .
Vaco by Highspring also wants all applicants to know their rights that workplace discrimination is illegal.
By submitting to this position, you agree that you will be giving Vaco by Highspring the exclusive right to present your as a candidate for the foregoing employment opportunity. You further agree that you have represented information about yourself accurately and have not affirmatively misrepresented your qualifications. You also agree to maintain as confidential, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any information you learn from Vaco by Highspring about the position and you will limit disclosure of information about the position only to the extent necessary to perform any obligations in furtherance of your application. In exchange, Vaco by Highspring agrees to exercise reasonable efforts to represent you through all solicitation, job screening and resume dispersal.
Vaco by Highspring and its parents, affiliates, and subsidiaries (“we,” “our,” or “Vaco by Highspring”) respects your privacy and are committed to providing transparent notice of our policies.
- California residents may access Vaco by Highspring HR Notice at Collection for California Applicants and Employees here.
- Virginia residents may access our state specific policies here.
- Residents of all other states may access our policies here.
- Canadian residents may access our policies in English here and in French here.
- Residents of countries governed by GDPR may access our policies here.
Determining compensation for this role (and others) at Vaco by Highspring depends upon a wide array of factors including but not limited to:
- the individual’s skill sets, experience and training;
- licensure and certification requirements;
- office location and other geographic considerations;
- other business and organizational needs.
With that said, as required by local law, Vaco by Highspring believes that the following salary range referenced above reasonably estimates the base compensation for an individual hired into this position in geographies that require salary range disclosure. The individual may also be eligible for discretionary bonuses.
