VP Engineering
Leads the engineering organization: structure, delivery, hiring at scale and operational excellence, in tandem with the CTO.
Why this hire matters.
The VP Engineering exists to solve an equation the CTO alone can no longer hold: making an organization of 30, 60 or 100 engineers ship predictably while growing it. Where the CTO owns the technology vision, the VP Eng owns execution: team structure, delivery processes, hiring plans, retention, manager development. They turn headcount growth into capacity growth — and the two are far from automatic: poorly orchestrated, doubling the team can halve velocity. Hiring one frees the CTO from operations so they can be a strategist again. The sign you're missing one: a roadmap that consistently slips while the team has never been bigger.
Key missions.
- Structure the engineering org (teams, managers, levels)
- Guarantee predictable delivery at scale
- Own the hiring plan and tech employer brand
- Develop and coach Engineering Managers
- Install processes (planning, incident, quality, DORA)
- Manage budget, capacity and prioritization with product
- Retain key talent
Skills.
Technical skills
- Engineering organization at scale
- Delivery processes and metrics
- High-volume tech hiring
- Budget management
Expected qualities
- Leadership of managers
- Executive communication
- Structuring
- Arbitration
Common stack
Salaries 2025-2026
| Level | Experience | Annual gross base |
|---|---|---|
| VP Engineering | 10+ yrs | 120–160 k€ |
Paris market ranges, 2025-2026.
Sources : Licorne Society 2026 (moyenne 120-140k) · Michael Page 2026
Grilles parisiennes souvent maintenues en full-remote
Hiring this profile.
Typical background
Engineering Manager or Director who has scaled organizations, often 12-15+ years of experience. Team-growth track record is the central criterion.
When to hire
When engineering passes 25-40 people across several teams — typically Series B/C. Often the founding CTO's first executive hire.
Career path
VP Engineering → CTO, or VP Eng of a larger organization, or tech COO.