VP of Engineering

Job Description

Who We Are

Murmuration is a nonprofit organization that amplifies the power of civic engagement by providing data, digital tools, and research-driven insights to community-focused organizations so that together we can create an America where everyone can lead healthy, free, and dignified lives.

Every day, people are trying to shape our future for the better. Fighting for water that’s safe to drink. Schools that serve students equitably. Gun laws that make sense. And rallying people who care like we do. And yet too often the skillful organizers working to mobilize communities lack access to technology that could supercharge their efforts. Knocking on every door instead of knowing which will open most easily. And going up against outside interests that have half the heart, but twice the tools.

In communities across America, Murmuration’s partners are leveraging our data, tools, and insights to help thousands of organizers orchestrate millions of individual people to do big things together. Demand big things together. To create the world they want. Together.

About the Position

As the Vice President (VP) of Engineering, you’ll play a pivotal leadership role in shaping the technical direction, development, security, and support of Murmuration’s software platforms. You’ll lead a talented team across engineering, technical support, security, IT, and compliance, driving both technical and operational strategy. Your leadership will ensure that our software is scalable, reliable, and innovative, while keeping the needs of our partners and the evolving goals of Murmuration at the forefront. 

In this role, you’ll take charge of managing and developing team members, overseeing the full spectrum of engineering, security, and support systems and processes, and fostering clear communication and alignment both within the team and across the broader organization. You’ll have the exciting opportunity to build a strong foundation for long-term growth, while nurturing a collaborative, innovative, and forward-thinking team culture that drives success.

Job Level: E1

What You’ll Do

• Strategy
• Partner closely with the VP of Product to ensure that we’re building the right product in the most effective way;
• Collaborate with the CTO and senior leadership to ensure the Platform Engineering team’s work supports the organization’s broader objectives and priorities;
• Drive alignment across Engineering and Support teams by setting clear goals and metrics, using them to foster decision-making and accountability;
• Define the technical roadmap in collaboration with senior engineering staff;
• Define the Technical Support strategy in partnership with the Director of Platform Support; and
• Establish the security, IT, and compliance strategy with the Director of Security, IT, and Compliance.
• Operations and Execution
• Oversee engineering execution and delivery, ensuring high-quality outcomes;
• Oversee Technical Support operations, ensuring customer satisfaction and effective issue resolution;
• Oversee Security, IT, and Compliance operations, effectively balancing business needs, risk, and delivery;
• Set and enforce policies and procedures around software quality, standards, testing, security, and support requirements;
• Ensure complex software engineering challenges are being solved effectively, supporting the engineering directors and understanding technical details as needed;
• Administer technology budgets to optimize software development and support costs;
• Select appropriate technologies and vendors to support platform development and support; and
• Lead initiatives to improve our overall team effectiveness such as cost optimization (e.g., calculating cost to serve) and explore innovative opportunities to improve our team effectiveness using AI. 
• People and Team Health
• Provide day-to-day leadership for the Platform Engineering, Technical Support, and Security/IT/Compliance teams;
• Manage Directors within the Platform Engineering, Technical Support, and Security/IT/Compliance teams; 
• Mentor and support principal engineers within Platform Engineering; 
• Offer mentorship and career guidance to direct reports to support their growth and development;
• Identify and address professional development needs across the team at the individual and team level;
• Oversee the recruitment and hiring of key roles within the teams; and
• Foster a high-performing engineering culture and establish an organizational structure that empowers teams to drive their own effectiveness.

Requirements

• 10+ years of experience successfully leading and scaling software engineering teams;
• 15+ years of exceptional technical expertise across various domains, facilitating effective communication with engineers;
• Experience leading technical support teams; 
• Experience leading security, IT, and compliance teams;
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, results-driven environment;
• Proven expertise in implementing modern software development practices and Agile methodologies;
• Knowledge of and experience in high-scale, high-availability Cloud services;
• Demonstrated track record of cultivating successful engineering cultures and enhancing teams and processes;
• Exceptional strategic thinking and problem-solving skills, with a history of delivering successful projects;
• Proven ability to lead and manage remote distributed engineering teams;
• Demonstrated capability to attract, engage, and retain top-tier engineering talent;
• Strategic technical leadership, staying current with industry trends, emerging technologies, and best practices, fostering innovation within the engineering team;
• Proficiency in leveraging data and analytics to make informed decisions and continuously improve engineering processes and outcomes; and 
• Strong decision making, interpersonal and conflict resolution skills, with a focus on maintaining a positive and productive work environment.
  

Nice to Haves

• Experience with B2B SaaS product development; 
• Experience developing technical/backend/data architecture, like APIs or ETL pipelines;
• Experience working with campaigns, advocacy organizations/nonprofits, and/or existing products in the political/civic tech ecosystem;
• Experience developing profile-based systems (like CRMs such as Salesforce, Hubspot, or Copper), especially related to audience segmentation and analysis; 
• Experience with AI/ML initiatives or tools; 
• Experience with data governance; and/or
• Previous startup experience.

Talented Engineering leaders come from all walks of life and career. If you are passionate about civic engagement and technology, please apply, even if you do not check every box!

Benefits

Location and Compensation

The VP of Engineering is a full-time, salaried position with a comprehensive benefits package (more detail below). It is based anywhere in the U.S. The starting salary range for this position is $210,000 - $265,000 and is commensurate with experience. This pay range reflects what the organization expects to offer for this position at the time of posting. In alignment with applicable laws, compensation will be determined based on the applicant's skills, qualifications, experience, and the specific requirements of the role. Please note that the organization may adjust this pay range as needed.

Our Culture of Care

We work hard to create a culture of care to ensure that our staff are best equipped to lead happy, healthy, and balanced lives. To that end, we offer a comprehensive benefits package which includes:

• Health, vision, and dental insurance with 100% of premiums covered for you and qualifying family members;
• Retirement benefits with a 5% employer match;
• A flexible unlimited PTO plan;
• Generous paid parental leave;
• Pre-tax commuter benefits;
• A company laptop;
• A flexible remote work environment;
• A home office setup stipend for all new employees;
• Monthly reimbursement for remote work expenses;
• A yearly professional development fund;
• Mental health and wellness benefits through Calm and Better Help; 
• Yearly in-person staff retreats; and
• A welcoming culture that celebrates diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.

An Equal-Opportunity Employer with a Commitment to Diversity

Murmuration is proud to be an equal opportunity employer, and as an organization committed to diversity and the perspective of all voices, we consider applicants equally of race, gender, color, sexual orientation, religion, marital status, disability, political affiliation and national origin. We reasonably accommodate staff members and/or applicants with disabilities, provided they are otherwise able to perform the essential functions of the job.

Note: Murmuration is two organizations working together to pursue our mission of amplifying the power of civic engagement: Murmuration Research Institute, a 501(c)(3) that conducts research to identify, design, and create the data, tools, and insights that build healthier and more equitable communities; and Murmuration, Inc., a 501(c)(4) that supports organizations working across the country on the nation’s most challenging issues with access to data, tools, and research that build healthier and more equitable communities.