Vice President, Software Development

Job Description

The Vice President of Software Development is responsible for leading the strategy, execution, and continuous improvement of the company’s software development and engineering initiatives. This role oversees application architecture, software engineering, and agile development processes, ensuring that the company delivers scalable, secure, and high-performing software solutions that align with business goals. The VP will collaborate closely with product management, IT, and business stakeholders to drive innovation, streamline development workflows, and implement best practices in cloud computing, AI-driven applications, microservices, and automation. 

This position is open to candidates in the Seattle area. You will have a hybrid remote/in-office schedule, working from our casual, pet-friendly office at least three days a week. 

Key Responsibilities:

Software Development Strategy & Leadership 

• Define and execute the company’s software development roadmap, ensuring alignment with business objectives. 
• Oversee end-to-end software development lifecycle (SDLC), including planning, coding, testing, deployment, and maintenance. 
• Lead initiatives in cloud-native applications, microservices architecture, API-driven development, and AI/ML integration. 
• Ensure software development teams deliver high-quality, scalable, and maintainable solutions using modern development methodologies. 

Engineering Excellence & Technical Innovation 

• Drive adoption of agile, DevOps, and CI/CD pipelines to enhance development speed, reliability, and efficiency. 
• Lead architecture modernization efforts, including cloud migration (AWS, Azure, GCP), serverless computing, and edge computing. 
• Establish best practices for coding, testing, security, and performance optimization. 
• Implement AI-driven automation, data-driven decision-making, and software intelligence to optimize development processes. 

Product Development & Business Collaboration 

• Work closely with product management, UX/UI design, and business teams to translate requirements into technical solutions. 
• Ensure software development aligns with customer needs, market trends, and emerging technologies. 
• Optimize workflows for B2B and B2C software products, SaaS platforms, mobile applications, and enterprise applications. 
• Enhance customer experience by implementing personalized, AI-driven, and data-rich applications. 

Team Leadership & Talent Development 

• Lead, mentor, and grow a high-performing software development team, including engineers, architects, and DevOps specialists. 
• Foster a culture of innovation, collaboration, and continuous learning. 
• Attract, retain, and develop top engineering talent through training, mentorship, and career development programs. 
• Implement engineering metrics and KPIs to track development team performance and efficiency. 

Vendor & Stakeholder Management 

• Manage relationships with technology vendors, cloud service providers, and third-party development partners. 
• Ensure efficient use of resources, budgets, and software development tools. 
• Align with executive leadership to drive technology investments and business growth initiatives. 

Qualifications & Experience: 

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or related field. 
• 12+ years of experience in software development with 5+ years in leadership roles, most recent experience as a VP level or higher
• Deep expertise in C# and .NET development
• Proven experience leading large-scale software development teams and complex enterprise software projects. 
• Deep expertise in cloud computing (Azure, AWS), microservices, API-first architectures, and DevOps. 
• Strong understanding of agile development, CI/CD, and modern software engineering practices. 
• Experience in AI, machine learning, big data analytics, or automation technologies is a plus. 
• Strong background in software security, compliance (SOX, GDPR, NYDFS, PCI DSS), and secure development practices. 
• Excellent leadership, communication, and cross-functional collaboration skills. 

Preferred Qualifications: 

• Experience developing SaaS, PaaS, or enterprise applications. 
• Familiarity with design thinking, user experience (UX), and human-centered design principles. 

Compensation: 

• The pay range for this position is $190K-$220K, on a full-time schedule. 
• Along with base salary, Trupanion employees may be eligible for monthly bonuses. 
• We want all