VP of Engineering (Stealth PortCo)

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Heretic Ventures is seeking an experienced VP of Engineering to join an early stage generative AI consumer business that Heretic Ventures is launching.

The ideal candidate is a technical leader who has successfully launched a consumer internet application from 0-to-1, demonstrating experience in engineering and scaling technical operations. This individual will play a crucial role in shaping our technology strategy, building a high-performing engineering and operations team, timely and efficient development, and driving all aspects of technology to achieve our business objectives.

This is a unique opportunity to help build a billion-dollar company from the ground up while learning from successful repeat entrepreneurs and a stable of powerful and experienced mentors and advisors. 

This is a hybrid role with the preference for 3 days per week in-person in our sunny Presidio, SF office. The position is compensated with salary, benefits, and equity.  

Heretic Ventures is a San Francisco-based venture studio ideating and launching new businesses in the creator economy, including those that capitalize on AI/ML technology. Heretic is run by Managing Partner Mariam Naficy, who founded and built the pioneering internet companies Minted and Eve.com. Heretic is backed by household names in Silicon Valley (investors and entrepreneurs), who act as the studio’s advisors both in selecting and in advising companies.

Responsibilities

• Leadership and Strategy:
• Provide strategic direction and technical leadership in the development and execution of our technology roadmap.
• Collaborate with the executive team to align engineering goals with overall business objectives.
• Define and implement engineering processes, best practices, and standards to ensure efficient and scalable operations.


• Team Building and Management:
• Recruit, mentor, and manage a top-tier engineering team, fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation, and high performance.
• Empower and develop team members, fostering their professional growth and providing guidance and support.
• Create a positive work environment that encourages creativity, learning, and continuous improvement.


• Technical Architecture and Development:
• Design and implement a robust, scalable, and secure technology platform to support our marketplace operations.
• Lead the end-to-end development lifecycle, from product ideation and design to deployment and maintenance.
• Work closely with AI/ML leadership to incorporate generative AI models & capabilities in the core technology stack
• Go from high-to-low and contribute to engineering development efforts when appropriate


• Cross-Functional Collaboration:
• Foster strong relationships with external partners, vendors, and third-party technology providers.
• Collaborate closely with product management, design, operations, and other stakeholders to ensure alignment and seamless execution of projects.
• Work closely with the executive team to communicate technical strategy, progress, and challenges.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related field (advanced degree preferred).
• Experience at a consumer internet marketplace is required.
• Proven track record of successfully launching a consumer Internet application from 0-to-1 and leading all aspects of engineering and technology operations.
• Extensive experience in software engineering, including architecture design and software development is required.
• Experience ensuring the availability and reliability of consumer-facing production systems (either directly or managing teams) is required.
• Strong leadership skills with the ability to build, motivate and inspire engineering and operations teams, foster collaboration, and drive results.
• Excellent problem-solving and analytical abilities, with a keen attention to detail.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to effectively collaborate with cross-functional teams and stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to thrive in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment.

Nice to haves

• Experience with emerging generative AI technologies