VP of Engineering

RoboShadow is a fast-growing UK-based global Cyber Security startup, and we are looking for a hands-on VP of Engineering to help us build, improve, scale, and lead our engineering function.

This is not a traditional corporate VP role where you manage from a distance. We are looking for a true player-coach: someone technically strong, commercially aware, close to the code, and able to lead developers while still getting stuck into the work.

This could suit an experienced Head of Engineering, Engineering Manager, Technical Lead, Principal Engineer, Lead Developer, or early-stage VP of Engineering who is ready for a bigger opportunity.

You will work closely with the founder, leadership team, product, customer teams, and developers to improve delivery, strengthen the platform, raise engineering standards, and help shape the team as we grow.

About RoboShadow

RoboShadow builds enterprise Cyber Security technology across vulnerability management, external attack surface discovery, automated remediation, device monitoring, security benchmarking, compliance reporting, and Microsoft ecosystem integrations.

We are at an exciting stage: the product is live, customers are using it, the opportunity is large, and the engineering function now needs stronger ownership, delivery discipline, technical leadership, and scalable processes.

This Role Is For You If You:

• Love building technology in a fast-moving startup
• Are technically strong and still enjoy getting into architecture, code, bugs, systems, and delivery blockers
• Want a step up into a senior engineering leadership role
• Have experience leading, mentoring, or managing developers
• Can bring structure and focus without slowing the team down
• Understand SaaS products and how engineering, product, customers, support, and commercial teams work together
• Are excited by Cyber Security, cloud platforms, automation, AI tools, Microsoft/Azure environments, and data-heavy systems
• Are hungry, practical, ambitious, and ready to take ownership
• Can work effectively with the RoboShadow team, whether office-based, hybrid, or remote by agreement

What You’ll Own

• Lead the engineering function day to day, helping the team focus, prioritise, make decisions, and deliver high-quality work
• Provide technical leadership across backend, frontend, platform, integrations, data, infrastructure, and product engineering
• Stay close to the work, including reviewing code, supporting architecture decisions, unblocking developers, and improving technical quality
• Improve delivery processes, planning, estimation, testing, releases, documentation, and engineering rhythms
• Help strengthen the reliability, scalability, security, and maintainability of the RoboShadow platform
• Work closely with product and leadership to turn business priorities into clear technical plans
• Support hiring, onboarding, mentoring, performance, team structure, and future engineering leadership
• Build a strong engineering culture around ownership, quality, pace, accountability, and practical problem solving

What We Are Looking For

We are looking for the right person more than a perfect CV.

You do not need to have already been a VP of Engineering at a large company. This role may be ideal for someone ready to step up into that level of responsibility.

You should be able to demonstrate:

• Strong software engineering experience and current technical credibility
• Experience leading, mentoring, or managing engineers
• A hands-on approach to engineering leadership
• Experience shipping SaaS, cloud, or product-based software
• Good judgement around architecture, delivery, quality, security, and technical trade-offs
• Strong communication with both technical and non-technical people
• Comfort working in a startup where priorities move quickly and structure is still being built
• A genuine interest in Cyber Security, automation, cloud platforms, AI tools, data, and SaaS products

Experience That Would Be Helpful

Any of the following would be useful, but not all are essential:

• Experience as a Head of Engineering, Engineering Manager, Technical Lead, Principal Engineer, Lead Developer, Software Development Manager, or VP of Engineering
• Experience in Cyber Security, SaaS, cloud, infrastructure, developer tools, data platforms, or B2B software
• Experience with vulnerability management, attack surface management, scanning systems, endpoint posture, compliance, monitoring, remediation, or security data
• Experience with Microsoft/Azure environments, Microsoft 365, Entra ID, Intune, Active Directory, or related enterprise technology
• Experience improving engineering delivery, code quality, testing, observability, release processes, or incident management
• Experience hiring developers and helping shape engineering teams
• A technical footprint such as GitHub, open-source work, side projects, technical writing, or Cyber Security community involvement would be a bonus

What Success Looks Like

• The engineering team is clearer, more focused, and delivering more consistently
• The platform becomes more reliable, scalable, secure, and maintainable
• Developers feel better supported, better led, and more accountable
• Product and engineering work more closely together
• Technical debt, delivery blockers, and quality issues are actively managed
• RoboShadow is better prepared to hire, onboard, and scale the engineering team
• You grow into the broader VP of Engineering role as the business grows

Why Join RoboShadow?

This is a rare opportunity to step into a senior engineering leadership role and make a real mark in a growing Cyber Security startup.

You will be close to the code, close to the product, close to customers, close to the developers, and close to the decisions that shape the company.

You will help build the engineering function, improve how we work, strengthen the platform, influence product direction, hire great people, and grow with the business.

We are looking for someone ambitious, practical, technical, and hungry. Someone who wants ownership. Someone who can operate in the detail today and grow into a bigger leadership role tomorrow.

Important Application Location Note

This is a full-time role connected to our Shenfield, Essex office.

We would ideally like someone who can spend meaningful time with the team in person, especially during onboarding, planning, key delivery periods, and team-building moments. However, hybrid or remote working will be considered for the right person.

How to Apply

Please email ***email_hidden*** with the following

• Your CV
• A message explaining why you would be a good fit for the role
• Any examples of engineering leadership, technical projects, architecture decisions, code, documentation, team improvements, delivery improvements, Cyber Security work, SaaS products, or relevant projects are appreciated.