VP of Engineering

Runwise is looking for a VP of Engineering to lead the teams building the technology that will reshape how cities run. You’ll own the engineering vision, drive our cross-disciplinary roadmap, and scale an organization responsible for both our software platform and the hardware that powers it.

Runwise already operates in 10,000+ buildings, acting as the operating system for a city’s most critical systems — heating, cooling, water, and more. Our platform eliminates the equivalent of 100,000 cars’ worth of emissions annually and is on track to reduce the cost of living in major cities by over $1B in the next five years. The impact is real, measurable, and accelerating.

If you want to build technology that directly improves people’s lives, dramatically cuts carbon, and defines the future of urban infrastructure, this role gives you the runway, scale, and mission to do exactly that.

Responsibilities Technical Vision & Strategy

- Own the long-term technical vision for Runwise’s platform, spanning software, hardware, and control systems.

- Build a clear, multi-year engineering roadmap aligned with company goals.

- Drive architectural decisions that balance speed, stability, and scalability.

Team Leadership & Organizational Effectiveness

- Lead and grow engineering managers, ICs, and hardware engineers.

- Build an engineering organization optimized for velocity, ownership, and cross-functional alignment.

- Champion a culture of continuous improvement and transparent communication.

Building Processes & Systems

- Establish scalable processes and systems across multiple teams without slowing engineering velocity.

- Ensure clear handoffs, dependencies, and accountability across software and hardware groups.

- Implement lightweight practices that support rapid delivery while maintaining quality and reliability.

Hands-On Engineering & Technical Depth

- Maintain technical credibility by staying active in the codebase, reviewing architecture, and guiding implementation.

- Contribute where needed to software projects, especially complex systems or high-impact areas.

- Deep experience with Golang, Python, React, and TypeScript, as well as AWS services (DynamoDB, SQS, Lambda, EC2, CloudFormation).

- Passion for building products and systems at scale while mentoring engineers on best practices.

Execution & Delivery

- Ensure consistent, high-quality delivery across software and hardware initiatives.

- Introduce lightweight processes that increase velocity without unnecessary overhead.

- Set and monitor engineering KPIs around output, reliability, and operational excellence.

Cross-Functional Partnership

- Work closely with Product to shape the roadmap and align engineering efforts.

- Partner with Hardware, Operations, and Field Teams to ensure seamless integration and strong performance across thousands of buildings.

- Navigate competing priorities across Sales, CS, and Operations with clarity and decisiveness.

Operational Reliability & System Performance

- Oversee reliability, security, and performance across the full platform.

- Lead response to complex technical issues, outages, and root-cause processes.

- Ensure hardware and firmware integrate smoothly with software systems.

Hiring & Talent Development

- Lead hiring across software, hardware, and engineering leadership.

- Develop talent, improve performance, and elevate engineering standards throughout the organization.

Who You Are

- 10+ years of engineering experience, with 5+ years leading managers or multi-disciplinary teams.

- Strong technical foundation and experience guiding architectural and product-level decisions.

- Experience with hardware, IoT, or control systems strongly preferred.

- Proven ability to scale teams and systems in a high-growth environment.

- Exceptional communicator who can simplify complexity and align diverse stakeholders

- 5+ years of hands-on experience writing in Golang and/or Python, SQL.

Compensation Target Salary: $250,000-$280,000 + stock options (based on experience)

What You Believe

- No job is too small.

- Sincerity builds trust.

- Setbacks fuel progress.

- Efficiency is vital.

Benefits

- Medical, dental, and vision insurance

- HSA & FSA options

- Paid Parental Leave

- Access to Talkspace & Health Advocate

- Flexible PTO

- Commuter Benefits

- 401K

- Company-paid life insurance

- Voluntary supplemental life insurance

- Free in-office lunch on Wednesdays

- Hybrid work environment

- Summer Fridays

- Monthly L&D Series

- Employee Resource Groups (e.g. DEIB Committee, Run Club)

This is an excellent opportunity to join a fast-growing company, one of the true leaders within energy efficiency in the Northeast. You will be surrounded by talented people, including working very closely with our co-founder and sales leader. Your success will also make a tangible im