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Harper is a high-performance distributed application platform. It combines a database, in-memory cache, and real-time message broker to allow users to create enterprise-grade solutions with fewer moving parts, fewer lines of code, and a superior developer experience.
We’re looking for a Vice President of Engineering who can scale and inspire our engineering organization while staying close to the technology. This is a hands-on leadership role: you’ll lead the day-to-day operations of the engineering team, managing people, processes, and execution so the SVP of Engineering can focus on long-term vision and technical creativity.
You’ll be coaching world-class engineers, and making sure Harper’s platform evolves ahead of customer needs. You’ll partner with our founders, product, and GTM teams to deliver technology that changes how people think about databases.
What You’ll Do- Own the operational leadership of the engineering organization, including performance reviews, coaching, and setting clear expectations.
- Build and retain a high-performing engineering team by fostering growth, mentorship, and clear career paths.
- Champion best practices in software development, architecture, testing, and deployment.
- Oversee planning, prioritization, and execution of engineering projects to ensure scalable, secure, and high-quality delivery.
- Partner with product management to align technical execution with business priorities.
- Promote accountability, ownership, and empowerment at all levels of the organization.
- Advocate for technical excellence while balancing speed and innovation.
- Collaborate closely with the SVP to translate strategic technical vision into operational reality.
- 10+ years in software engineering, with at least 5 years leading and scaling teams in high-growth environments.
- Proven experience building distributed, cloud-native, or data-intensive systems.
- Deep technical expertise balanced with strong people leadership — you can talk system design one moment and career development the next.
- Track record of hiring, coaching, and developing top engineering talent.
- A builder’s mindset: comfortable rolling up your sleeves and making pragmatic decisions without losing sight of the big picture.
- Strong communicator who can align engineering with product, design, and business priorities.
- Experience in databases, real-time systems, or edge computing.
- Hands-on contributions to open source projects.
- Background in startup or founder-led environments.
- Experience with Harper.
Salary Range: $225,000 - $250,000
Interview Process:
- 1st Stage: 30 minute Zoom screen with Head of People Operations
- 2nd Stage: 60 minute Zoom conversation with SVP of Internal Strategy
- 3rd Stage: 60 minute Zoom conversation with Hiring Manager - SVP of Engineering, and two senior members of the Engineering team
- 4th Stage: 60 minute Zoom conversation with Senior Director of Product Management, and two members of the team
- 5th Stage: 60 minute Zoom conversation with Harper Co-Founders.
Why Join Us:
- Opportunity to be part of a high-growth startup with a collaborative and supportive team culture.
- Flexible work environment with remote work options and a focus on work-life balance.
- Competitive compensation package including base salary, commission, and benefits.
- Room for career advancement and professional development opportunities.
If you are a motivated self-starter who thrives in a fast-paced environment and shares our values of transparency, authenticity, and empowerment, we want to hear from you!
Harper Denver, Colorado, USA Office
HarperDB is in Platte Street Plaza, a community space located at the base of the Highland pedestrian bridge. Near Lohi and Rino neighborhoods, our office is by the gateway to downtown Denver. It’s a perfect spot to enjoy biking and running trails, shops, fitness studios and restaurants after work.
What you need to know about the Colorado Tech Scene
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