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VP of Engineering

Nightfall AISan FranciscoR&D
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Salary
$250K - $300K USD
Job type
Full-time
Work mode
Remote
Posted
10 Sept 2026
Status
Open · checked 7d ago

About this role

Nightfall AI is seeking a Vice President of Engineering to direct its entire engineering department in San Francisco and remotely, offering a chance to lead architecture, delivery, and team operations. This hands-on executive position suits a technical builder with a background in software development who can solve complex engineering problems while managing a distributed organization.

Role Overview

As the leader of the engineering department, this individual manages the organization end to end, overseeing architecture, delivery schedules, and daily operations across the Bay Area and Bangalore. The position requires a player-coach who grew up through engineering ranks and retains the ability to dive deep into technical challenges while steering the high-level technology strategy alongside executive leadership.

Key Responsibilities

Guide the engineering group in designing and launching reliable software applications aligned with company goals.
Scale and direct a cross-continental team across Palo Alto and Bangalore, fostering strong collaboration and unified operations.
Establish robust development processes and engineering standards to maintain quality across all projects.
Partner with the CEO and executive staff to formulate and execute overall technology strategies.
Oversee resource planning and budget allocation to guarantee timely project delivery.
Provide direct mentorship, review architectural choices, and help engineers overcome difficult technical hurdles.
Cultivate an innovative engineering culture that spans international offices.
Research and recommend emerging software engineering tools and methodologies.
Coordinate closely with product teams to align engineering output with product roadmaps.
Promote secure software development lifecycle practices, embedding security from design through deployment.
Enforce secure coding principles including zero trust, defense in depth, and least privilege.
Oversee secure handling of sensitive data using encryption, data masking, and tokenization.
Direct technical responses during security incidents and lead root cause analyses to prevent future occurrences.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Software Engineering, Computer Science, or a related discipline; Master's degree or Ph.D. is preferred.
Minimum of 8 total years working in software engineering, with at least 5 years spent in a leadership capacity.
Demonstrated progression from a hands-on technical contributor to an engineering executive.
Prior background joining an early-stage B2B SaaS organization and scaling with it over several years.
Consistent history of shipping quality software solutions within budgetary and time constraints.
Advanced technical expertise in software architecture, design, and development.
Experience overseeing large engineering teams, including direct work with or building teams based in India.
Exceptional interpersonal, communication, strategic thinking, and collaborative abilities.
Strong startup background, showing comfort within a fast-paced Series B environment.
Professional background in data-intensive systems, infrastructure, or security, with direct security engineering experience being advantageous.
Location requirement: Based in the Bay Area with a hybrid work schedule.

Nice to Have

Background working at a data security or cybersecurity SaaS organization.
Familiarity with large-scale data processing systems or data infrastructure.
Proven history of deploying AI and machine learning features into production environments.

Skills and Tools

Software Architecture and Design
Secure Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC)
Zero Trust and Defense in Depth Methodologies
Data Protection, Tokenization, and Encryption
Distributed Team Management

Salary and Benefits

Annual base salary range of $250,000 to $300,000 USD.
Additional components discussed during the offer stage include stock options, bonuses where applicable, and comprehensive perks.

About the Company

Nightfall AI provides an AI-native data loss prevention and insider risk management platform designed to protect sensitive information across email, SaaS apps, GenAI tools, and endpoints. Trusted by prominent financial institutions and AI innovators, the platform automates remediation and security training to prevent data exfiltration at scale. Backed by notable venture capital firms and prominent cybersecurity leaders, Nightfall operates as an equal opportunity employer committed to a diverse workforce.

How to Apply

Interested candidates should submit their application directly on the official Nightfall AI careers page to be considered for this opportunity.

Questions candidates ask

What is the salary range for the VP of Engineering role?

The annual base salary ranges from $250,000 to $300,000 USD, with total compensation potentially including bonuses, stock options, and benefits determined by experience and interview performance.

Where is this job located?

The role is based in San Francisco with a hybrid work rhythm, requiring candidates to be based in the Bay Area while collaborating with a distributed team spanning the US and Bangalore.

What level of experience is required?

Applicants must have at least 8 years of total experience in software engineering, with a minimum of 5 years in a leadership role, ideally including early-stage B2B SaaS or startup experience.

Is this a hands-on technical position?

Yes, it is a hands-on leadership role where the VP of Engineering is expected to review architecture decisions, unblock hard technical problems, and remain close to the code while managing the organization.

How do I apply for this position?

Candidates can apply directly through the official Nightfall AI careers page.

Ready to apply?

The application is on the official Nightfall AI careers page.

Apply on company site