As the Senior Vice President (SVP) of Engineering at Opus 2, you will lead the transformation of our engineering organization, modernizing delivery practices and scaling a high-performing, AI-first technology team. Reporting to the CPTO, you will oversee engineering, QA, DevOps, release, security, and architecture, driving speed, quality, and operational excellence. This role is hands-on in leadership and transformation, acting as a trusted second-in-command to the CPTO while building a culture of modern engineering, commercial alignment, and continuous improvement.
What you'll be doing
Engineering Transformation & Modernization
- Lead the transition from legacy systems to modern, automated, CI/CD-driven engineering.
- Embed DevOps, continuous testing, and autonomous QA practices to improve velocity and reliability.
- Champion AI-first engineering, leveraging automation and LLM capabilities to accelerate the SDLC.
Cross-Functional Engineering Leadership
- Oversee engineering, QA, DevOps, release, security, and architecture functions.
- Partner closely with your Head of DevOps, Architect, and VP of Engineering to raise team performance.
- Assess and refine leadership structure, including decisions on Delivery and Test leadership roles.
Execution & Delivery Excellence
- Drive predictable, high-quality releases that meet business outcomes.
- Establish best-in-class engineering practices, toolchains, and KPIs for productivity, reliability, and speed.
- Ensure security and scalability are built into products and infrastructure.
Cultural & Organizational Leadership
- Act as a change agent, inspiring and aligning legacy teams with modern engineering culture.
- Mentor and upskill engineering leadership, creating a succession-ready organization.
- Champion a collaborative, outcomes-driven culture with product and design peers.
Strategic & Commercial Partnership
- Serve as a trusted second-in-command to the CPTO, providing strategic input on tech investments and trade-offs.
- Align engineering priorities with product strategy and business outcomes, including cost-to-serve and innovation ROI.
- Support AI-first product initiatives by ensuring the platform and teams are ready to deliver.
Core Competencies We Value
- Engineering Transformation Leadership: Proven success modernizing engineering organizations.
- AI-Driven Delivery: Experienced in embedding AI across the SDLC for tangible gains.
- Cross-Functional Oversight: Capable of managing all engineering subfunctions, from DevOps to QA to security.
- Change & Culture Leadership: Skilled at shifting org mindset, uplifting teams, and navigating resistance.
- Strategic Partnering: Acts as a reliable and commercially aware second-in-command to the CPTO.
Requirements
- 15+ years in software engineering leadership, including SVP/VP roles in SaaS or platform companies.
- Track record of modernizing engineering orgs, implementing CI/CD, DevOps, and automated QA.
- Experience applying AI and automation to accelerate engineering velocity and quality.
- Strong technical depth and commercial judgment, with ability to align engineering with business goals.
- Proven success leading org change and cultural transformation in complex environments.
- Comfortable working in-office (Edinburgh) 3+ days per week to drive transformation and coach leaders.
Benefits
Opus 2 is a global leader in legal software and services, trusted partner of the world’s leading legal teams. All our achievements are underpinned by our unique culture where our people are our most valuable asset. Working at Opus 2, you’ll receive:
- Contributory pension plan.
- 33 days annual holidays, hybrid working, and length of service entitlement.
- Health Insurance.
- Enhanced Maternity and Paternity.
- Employee Assistance Programme.
- Electric Vehicle Salary Sacrifice.
- Cycle to Work Scheme.
- Calm and Mindfulness sessions.
- A day of leave to volunteer for charity or dependent cover.
- Accessible and modern office space and regular company social events.