SVP, Engineering

Sotheby's; Greater London; On-site; GBP 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Sotheby's in Greater London is seeking an SVP of Engineering to lead the engineering organization, shaping technical strategy for client-facing digital experiences and core operational systems.

The ideal candidate will possess 15+ years of software development experience and excel in communication, strategic vision, and leadership, driving high standards in delivery and innovation.

This role offers the opportunity to work in a dynamic environment while leading a talented team dedicated to technological excellence.

Qualifications

• 15+ years of experience in software development and architecture.
• Experience with one or more general purpose programming languages.
• Experience building highly available systems and operating 24x7 services.

Responsibilities

• Own the engineering organization’s technology vision and strategy.
• Build and lead a high-performing engineering organization.
• Drive delivery of complex, cross-functional programs.

Skills

Software development

Architecture

JavaScript

Python

Agile Development

Communication

Problem resolution

Tools

AWS

Google Cloud Platform

Azure

Job description

About Sotheby's

Established in 1744, Sotheby’s promotes access and ownership of exceptional art and luxury objects through auctions, private sales and retail. Our deep expertise across 70 selling categories is supported by a leading technology platform and a global network of specialists spanning 40 countries. Selling categories include Contemporary Art, Modern and Impressionist Art, Old Masters, Chinese Works of Art, Jewelry, Watches, Wine and Spirits and Design, as well as collectible cars and real estate through RM Sotheby’s and Concierge. Sotheby’s Financial Services is a leading art lender and provides capital solutions for collectors around the world, having originated more than $12 billion in loans since its inception. Sotheby’s new global headquarters is now open at the iconic Breuer building at 945 Madison Avenue in New York City.

THE ROLE

The SVP of Engineering is a senior leadership role responsible for the health, direction, and output of Sotheby’s engineering organization. Reporting into the Head of Product & Technology, you will own the technical strategy underpinning our platforms -- from client-facing digital experiences to the core transactional and operational systems that run the business.

You will lead a team of engineers, engineering managers, and technical leads, setting a high bar for talent, culture, and delivery. The best candidate moves fluidly between setting direction and ensuring it lands -- as comfortable debating architectural tradeoffs with a principal engineer as presenting a multi-year investment case to executive leadership.

You thrive where the problems are genuinely hard and can dig deep: legacy complexity, rapid growth, and a client base with exceptionally high expectations.

Responsibilities

• Own the engineering organization’s technology vision, strategy, and multi-year roadmap -- translating business priorities into a coherent technical direction that enables scalable, client‑centric products and platforms
• Build and lead a high‑performing engineering organization: hire, develop, and retain senior talent; establish clear career paths; and foster a culture of accountability, craft, and continuous improvement
• Drive delivery of complex, cross‑functional programs spanning client‑facing platforms, internal operational systems, and core transactional infrastructure -- with a bias toward shipping and measurable outcomes
• Serve as the senior technical decision‑maker for architecture, platform, and build‑vs‑buy choices, balancing long‑term scalability with pragmatic near‑term execution
• Partner with Product, Data, Design, Infosec and IT leadership to ensure engineering operates as a unified force -- not a downstream order‑taker -- in shaping product and technology decisions
• Establish and uphold engineering standards across code quality, automated testing, security, and operational reliability, including 24×7 availability of production systems
• Champion Agile practices and modern delivery disciplines (CI/CD, iterative planning, trunk‑based development) to maximize team throughput and reduce cycle time
• Represent engineering credibly with executive leadership, the board, and external partners -- communicating tradeoffs clearly and advocating for sustainable investment in the technical foundation

Ideal Experience & Competencies

• 15+ years of experience in software development and architecture
• Experience with one or more general purpose programming languages including but not limited to: JavaScript, Python, Go, or Java
• Experience with front end technologies and/or front‑end frameworks (React preferred)
• Great communicator capable of translating complex technical topics for business stakeholders
• Experience building extremely high volume and highly scalable web services
• Experience building highly available systems and operating 24x7 services
• Extensive Agile Development experience (leading Scrums, iteration planning, managing multiple work streams)
• Experience with continuous deployment and developing CI/CD pipelines
• Familiarity and prior experience with Amazon Web Services, Google Cloud Platform, or Azure technologies
• General experience with API design and enterprise integration patterns
• Experience with HTML5 and CSS3 web standards
• Experience with relational and non‑relational databases
• Experience working with large scale data warehouses for analytics preferred
• Excellent communicator capable of translating complex technical topics for business stakeholders & experience consistently influencing teams to successful outcomes
• Ability to think creatively and critically and thrive in a fast‑paced dynamic, and often ambiguous work environment
• Strong problem resolution and analytical skills; detail‑oriented strategic thinker; solution‑oriented mindset and work approach
• Charisma and a natural ability to connect with others; strong leadership and mentorship skills
• Agile and organized working style to manage and consistently prioritize key initiatives
• Intelligence, Leadership, & Humility

Equal Opportunity Employer

The Company is an equal opportunity employer and considers all applicants for employment without regard to race (including, without limitation, traits historically associated with race, such as natural hair, hair texture, and protective and treated or untreated hairstyles), color, creed, religion, sex, sexual orientation, marital or civil partnership/union status, national origin, age, disability, pregnancy, genetic predisposition, genetic information, reproductive health decision, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, alienage or citizenship status, domestic violence victim status, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state/province or local law. The Company complies with applicable state and local laws prohibiting discrimination in employment in every jurisdiction in which it operates.