Vice President, Engineering at Flagship Pioneering, Inc.
About the role
Flagship Pioneering is seeking a Vice President of Engineering to lead a talented team of Principal Software Engineers. This role is pivotal in establishing a nurturing environment where senior engineers can thrive while also shaping the technical direction and architectural strategy of our AI and digital platform. The ideal candidate will balance leadership with hands-on technical involvement, ensuring that the team remains innovative and aligned with the company's goals.
Key facts
Location: Cambridge, MA, USA Engagement: Full-time Team: Pioneering Intelligence
What you'll do
Lead and mentor a team of approximately five Principal Software Engineers, each dedicated to specific product domains, fostering their career development and technical excellence.
Establish the overarching technical strategy and architectural guidelines for the AI and digital platform, making critical decisions regarding system design and evaluating build-vs-buy options.
Stay actively engaged in technical tasks, participating in architectural evaluations and the design of complex systems to ensure high standards are met.
Attract and recruit exceptional engineering talent, supporting their career advancement and cultivating a culture of high performance within the team.
Serve as the engineering liaison to product leadership and senior stakeholders, ensuring that technical strategies are in sync with business objectives and market needs.
Oversee resource distribution across various teams and projects, working closely with product and strategy leaders to optimize project outcomes.




Facilitate the successful delivery of projects by identifying and resolving challenges, ensuring that deliverables are met on time and to a high standard.
Advocate for an engineering culture centered on AI, leveraging tools such as Claude Code to boost team productivity and efficiency.
Requirements
Extensive experience in leading teams of senior engineers or principal-level contributors, preferably in a fast-paced, agile environment.
Proven technical expertise in managing complex, production-level systems, with a hands-on approach to tackling engineering challenges.
Experience in scaling engineering teams within dynamic and uncertain settings, ideally in startup environments or autonomous teams.
Familiarity with collaborating alongside scientific or domain experts to create products that meet the needs of researchers and end-users.
A successful history of hiring and mentoring principal or staff-level engineers, consistently enhancing the technical capabilities of the team.
Robust communication skills, capable of articulating technical concepts clearly to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
Nice to have
Experience in AI-driven product development, particularly in environments that require rapid iteration and innovation.
Background in working with cross-functional teams,



integrating engineering with product management and business strategy.
Familiarity with modern software development methodologies and best practices, including Agile and DevOps.
Previous involvement in developing or managing large-scale AI systems or platforms.
A network of industry contacts that can assist in talent acquisition and partnership opportunities.
Skills & tools
Deep technical knowledge at the system design level, with the ability to evaluate architectural decisions and identify potential risks in complex designs.
A clear and decisive leadership style, capable of setting a strategic direction and making informed decisions with minimal need for consensus.
Expertise in building and nurturing effective teams, with a focus on attracting top talent and fostering an environment conducive to growth and innovation.
Proficiency in AI-centric engineering practices, with comfort in utilizing tools like Claude Code as essential components of the engineering workflow.
Strong writing abilities for producing clear strategy documents, architectural evaluations, and hiring criteria that require little follow-up.
Practical notes
The salary range for this role is between $313,000 and $400,000, with compensation determined by the candidate's qualifications, skills, and experience. Pioneering Intelligence provides comprehensive healthcare benefits, an annual incentive program, retirement plans, and various additional perks. This information reflects the company's best estimate at the time of posting and is subject to change.
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📌 Vice President, Engineering (Western Australia)
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