VP of Engineering

Home Chef (Internal Employees); Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 250,000 - 290,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

401k program

Paid holidays, sick time, and vacation time

Job summary

Home Chef is seeking a VP of Engineering in Chicago, Illinois, to oversee its Engineering and Business Analytics teams. This role involves setting the strategy, managing a substantial budget, and leading a talented team.

The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in a senior technical role, strong leadership capabilities, and a commitment to fostering a culture of innovation. Home Chef offers a competitive salary and comprehensive benefits, including healthcare and retirement plans.

Qualifications

• 5+ years experience in a senior technical role.
• Experience leading a large team (10+ team members).
• Experience overseeing large software budgets.

Responsibilities

• Oversee the Engineering & Business Analytics team strategy.
• Provide strategic direction in software and data architecture.
• Recruit, hire, and retain top engineering talent.

Skills

Team Leadership

Technical Strategy

Budget Management

Agile Methodologies

Job description

The VP of Engineering oversees Home Chef’s Engineering & Business Analytics Teams, which are responsible for developing thoughtful technology solutions that help achieve our company goals and also provide a great user experience. This team supports technology that spans the entire business – from our customer‑facing website and mobile app, to internal tools that support our supply chain and operations teams, as well as data pipelines and products that enable better decision‑making for the organization. At Home Chef, we pride ourselves on being great thought‑partners and problem‑solvers, and are always driving towards making an impact.

Detailed Responsibilities

• Oversee the Engineering & Business Analytics team strategy and roadmap supporting Home Chef’s company goals and business objectives
• Continually assess current technology systems, identify areas for improvement, and set goals for future growth and development
• Drive a culture of continuous improvement, fostering innovation and experimentation
• Oversee $1M+ software budget

Technical Leadership

• Provide strategic direction and hands‑on leadership in software & data architecture, development methodologies, and technology stack selection
• Drive process best practices including code quality, testing, scalability, and security
• Stay current with industry trends and emerging technologies, evaluating their potential impact on the business and recommending adoption where appropriate

Project Management

• Partner with product leadership & stakeholders to align team efforts with overall business strategy and objectives
• Provide technical & architectural leadership on large projects, establishing clear team ownership lanes and reasonable deadlines
• Communicate technical vision, progress, and challenges to stakeholders across the organization
• Implement and refine development processes to streamline workflows and increase productivity
• Build strong relationships with internal partners as well as external vendors to drive collaboration and innovation

Team Management

• Recruit, hire, and retain top engineering talent, building a high‑performing team capable of delivering on ambitious goals
• Set clear goals and performance standards for team members
• Provide training, coaching, and professional development opportunities
• Regularly assess team structure to ensure it effectively supports company goals and strategy
• Foster a culture of continuous learning, collaboration, and innovation

Key Traits and Behaviors

Taking Ownership: We do whatever is necessary to get the job done – no job is too big or too small. We are willing to do any task at any level and get our hands dirty. We work with speed, setting realistic but aggressive timelines. We do not let perfectionism hold us back.

Pragmatic, Next‑level Thinker: We explore new methodologies and strategies without being constrained by conventional thinking. We take calculated risks to learn and innovate quickly, using data and insights to drive practical decisions in our fast‑paced environment.

Humble Team Player: We work collaboratively and effectively with colleagues, always putting company and team needs ahead of personal achievement. We are open to different points of view and involve diverse perspectives in decision making.

This position requires flexibility to travel < 5% of time.

Qualifications

The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability needed for this role. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities.

• 5+ years experience in a senior technical role
• Experience leading a large team (10+ team members; manufacturing/operations/food environment a plus)
• Experience overseeing $1M+ software budgets
• Availability to respond to work‑related on‑call inquiries, including some scheduled nights and weekends

More About Us

• Candidates can experience Home Chef as a customer – enter promo code PEOPLE30 for $30 off your first order!
• Medical, dental, vision, life and disability insurance available
• Paid holidays, sick time and vacation time
• 401k program
• Flexible spending accounts for qualified medical, dependent care, parking, or transit expenses

How We Work Together

We are humble team players: We are warm and gracious with team members and customers, seek feedback to improve ourselves, and respectfully listen to and accept input.

We are pragmatic next‑level thinkers: We come up with novel and unique ideas, exploring new strategies to avoid being constrained by conventional thinking.

We take ownership: We approach ambiguous problems, prepared to dive in, get curious, and learn more. We are results‑driven, always challenging ourselves to exceed goals.

We all show up authentically at Home Chef. Our team includes individuals with a variety of identities, backgrounds, and perspectives. You can trust that you’ll be able to bring your whole self to an inclusive and enjoyable workplace.

We welcome people of all races, colors, religions, national origin or ancestry, sex (including sexual identity), age, physical or mental disabilities, pregnancy, veteran or military status, unfavorable discharge from military service, genetic information, sexual orientation, marital status, order of protection status, citizenship status, arrest record or expunged/sealed convictions, or any other legally recognized protected basis under federal, state, or local law.

Home Chef is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, Home Chef will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact our People team at [e-mail].

Home Chef offers the base salary range as posted below, with the exact offer depending on factors such as geographic location, experience, skills, and internal equity. While compensation is within the provided range, it is not typical for offers to be made at the upper end. In addition to base salary, Home Chef provides a comprehensive benefits package, including healthcare coverage, 401k match, and paid time off.

$250,000 - $290,000 USD

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