VP of Engineering

VP of Engineering - Ephemera (XMTP + Convos)Build the Future of Private CommunicationEphemera is building the future of messaging—secure, decentralized, and private.Our open protocol (XMTP) powers the next generation of communication, whileConvos brings that vision to life as a privacy first chat app.We’re hiring a Vice President of Engineering to build and lead our engineeringorganization from the ground up. This is a foundational leadership role responsiblefor driving organizational structure, technical strategy, and team performanceacross both the XMTP protocol and Convos app.We're looking for a seasoned technical leader who can think strategically abouthow to structure teams for speed and quality, make smart architectural decisions,and hold a high bar for execution and accountability. You should have deepexperience navigating technical trade-offs, leading protocol or infrastructureteams, and inspiring engineers through clarity, mentorship, and decisiveness.You’ll report directly to the CEO and be a key partner in shaping product direction,culture, and roadmap execution.Key ResponsibilitiesStrategic Planning and VisionDefine and evolve our engineering strategy in alignment with company goalsShape and execute on technical product roadmapChampion technical excellence while making pragmatic decisions for velocity and scaleOrganizational LeadershipDesign and grow the engineering org from early stage through intentional growthHire and manage top-tier engineering talent across protocol and appDevelop a culture of ownership, quality, and high performanceExecution and DeliveryEnsure consistent, high-velocity delivery of complex projectsOversee technical roadmap execution with a focus on resilience, speed and qualityBuild and enforce strong QA and testing practicesTechnical LeadershipProvide architectural direction, particularly on protocol and backend infrastructureGuide trade-off discussions, balancing short-term needs with long-term maintainabilityBe the voice of engineering in product and company strategy conversationsCommunication and CollaborationAct as the primary liaison between engineering and executive leadershipCommunicate priorities, progress, and blockers with clarity and transparencyFoster cross-functional collaboration across Product, Design, Protocol, and OpsWhat We’re Looking ForMinimum of 10+ years of engineering experience, including 5+ years leading and scaling high-performing teamsExperience building and growing an engineering org from early stage to 50+ peopleDeep understanding of technical trade-offs, protocol design, and system architectureStrong preference for leaders with experience in developer infrastructure, developer tools, or protocols (e.g., Cloudflare, Datadog, GitHub, Vercel, Buf, etc.)Comfortable overseeing both protocol-level complexity and consumer app executionProven track record of shipping production-grade software in complex environmentsSkilled at creating clarity from ambiguity and driving execution across teamsHigh EQ leadershipNice-to-HavesExperience with secure messaging, cryptography, or open-source protocol developmentContributions to open-source developer platforms or infrastructureBackground as a founder or early technical leader in a fast-growing startupFamiliarity with React Native, Swift, Go, Rust, or KotlinWhy This Role MattersYou’ll be responsible for architecting how our entire engineering function operates - from how we hire and onboard, to how we plan and execute.You’ll work on technologies that touch millions of users and help define what privacy and interoperability look like in the next era of communication. Your leadership will shape the standards others adopt and the team culture that drives us forward.You Might Be a Fit If...You’ve led protocol, infrastructure, or developer tool teams through growth and changeYou care deeply about high-quality engineering practices and user trustYou understand how to structure teams for speed and scaleYou can operate in ambiguity and make confident, high-leverage decisionsYou’re passionate about privacy, open systems, and durable architectureCompensation & BenefitsBase Salary: $280–300K USDEquity: Competitive ownership in a high-conviction, early-stage companyBenefits:Fully paid Medical, Dental, and VisionParental LeaveMonthly wellness + lifeIT equipment + WFH setupPersonal assistant supportUnlimited time offRemote-first team, with semi-annual IRL gatheringsOur StackReact Native, Swift, KotlinTypescript, Go, RustXMTP ProtocolOnchain identity + wallet-based authSecure messaging, E2E encryptionApply Now: #J-18808-Ljbffr