MyITPathExplore. Learn. Evolve.
fren
IT Leadership

VP Engineering

Leads engineering at VP level: strategy, org and delivery across the engineering function.

Experience level: ExpertCoding level: MediumTechnical difficulty: 65/100

Leads engineering at VP level: strategy, org and delivery across the engineering function.

Entry

Expert

Coding

Medium

Key skills

Engineering leadershipStrategyStakeholder managementOrg design
Explore career path Compare careers

Career overview

The VP Engineering leads the engineering function at executive level: strategy, organisation design, hiring, delivery and technical vision. They align engineering with business outcomes. The role leads to CTO, VP Technology or CIO.

Main responsibilities

  • Manage an engineering team and its delivery
  • Define strategy and steer long-term direction
  • Coordinate the technical work of the team
  • Mentor junior team members and review their work
  • Manage budget, scope and risks
  • Align stakeholders and report progress
  • Prioritise work and manage competing demands
  • Structure work, resources and governance
  • Ensure delivery of products and programs
  • Keep technical documentation up to date

Technical skills

Engineering leadership95%
Strategy92%
Org design90%
Hiring88%
Delivery at scale90%
Stakeholder management92%
Technical vision88%
Budget85%

Technologies

JiraConfluenceAzure DevOpsGitHubJira AlignPower BIExcelTeamsSlackSharePointPowerPointM365KubernetesTerraformPrometheusGrafanaNotionPlanview

Education level

Education requirements vary depending on the company, country and experience. Professional experience, certifications and technical skills can sometimes compensate for formal education.

High School / Bac

Less common

Bac+2 (2-year degree)

Less common

Bac+3 (Bachelor)

Less common

Bac+5 (Master / Engineering)

Common entry point

Experience & coding level

Experience level

Entry LevelJuniorIntermediateSeniorExpert

Coding level

No codingLowMediumHighVery High
Technical difficulty65%

Useful certifications

Certifications are never mandatory. They are one way among others to prove a skill.

  • SAFe Program Consultant
  • Engineering Leadership
  • TOGAF 9 Certified

Where can this career take you?

Multiple paths are possible. Click a role to open its profile.

Direct progression

VP EngineeringCTO

Possible branches

VP TechnologyCIO
Where Can Your IT Career Take You?

Where can you go next?

Realistic next career moves, with compatibility and a transition roadmap for each.

CTOMedium

Overlap: 49% · Difficulty: Easy

Skills to learn: Innovation, Architecture, Team development

View roadmap
VP TechnologyMedium

Overlap: 52% · Difficulty: Easy

Skills to learn: Architecture & platforms, Innovation, Team development

View roadmap
CIOMedium

Overlap: 50% · Difficulty: Hard

Skills to learn: Governance, Digital transformation, Team development

View roadmap

Where can you go from here?

A typical progression built from real career relationships. Click any role to open its profile.

  1. Engineering Manager
  2. VP Engineering
  3. CTO
  4. CIO
  5. CEO
Soft skills
  • Strategic thinking
  • Leadership
  • Clear communication
  • Stakeholder management
  • Mentoring
  • Decisiveness
  • Big-picture thinking
Common previous careers

Roles that frequently lead into this career.

Engineering ManagerMedium

Overlap: 48% · Difficulty: Medium

Skills to learn: Strategy, Org design, Technical vision

View roadmap
Head of EngineeringHigh

Overlap: 96% · Difficulty: Easy

View roadmap

Related resources

Continue your career exploration

Keep moving: compare roles, follow a roadmap, read a guide or prepare for an interview.

Compare

Compare VP Engineering with other roles

Open comparison

Next step

The path to CTO

View roadmap

Ready to explore your next step?

A documented transition from this role to the next.

VP EngineeringCTO

Explore this career path

Keep exploring

Compare this role with others, or check which career fits you best.

CompareFind My IT Career