VP, Software Engineering

Job Description

About the Job

The Vice President of Engineering - Engagement will be responsible for leading a talented engineering team dedicated to enhancing user engagement across all our digital platforms. This role requires a strategic thinker with a deep understanding of digital media, user experience, and cutting-edge technology.

The ideal candidate will have a proven track record of leading engineering teams, developing innovative solutions, and driving measurable improvements in user engagement. Deep technical experience paired with a passion for design and user experience is essential, as this role will partner closely with product and design teams to create compelling and intuitive digital experiences that captivate and engage our global, diverse audience. This is a key position in further strengthening the senior technology leadership team, helping build an innovative, entrepreneurial culture for their group and broader organization. This role reports into the CNN Digital CTO.

About the Team

CNN is a 40+ year storied brand that has been on the forefront of the major news events of our time. We reach audiences around the world, with millions of people coming to CNN to understand events around them.

The CNN Technology team is a growing, vibrant team full of passionate, collaborative technologists. Our mission is to help make CNN essential every day for our customers, by creating world class products to deliver news and information that helps people live a better life, no matter where they are in the world.

The Engagement team is focused on all the surfaces that our audience engages with from CNN.com and the Mobile apps (iOS, Android), to Connected TV devices. This group is passionate about marrying high performing, technically robust, responsive experiences with smooth, intuitive UX that delights and engages our users.

The Daily
• Develop and execute an engineering strategy to drive user engagement across all digital platforms including mobile, web and connected TV.
• Lead, mentor, and inspire a high-performing engineering team, fostering a culture of innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams, including product, design and editorial, to align engineering efforts with business goals and exceed user needs.
• Ability to bring teams together across a large organization to solve problems and improve processes.
• Oversee the development and implementation of scalable, high-performance solutions that enhance user engagement and experience.
• Designs and implements best practices in software development, testing, and deployment in partnership with teams across the organization.
• Stay abreast of emerging technologies and industry trends, integrating relevant advancements into the company's technology stack.
• Work closely with the analytics and data science teams to measure and analyze user engagement metrics to inform solutions and experiences.
• Identify opportunities to improve user engagement through innovative features, personalized experiences, and data-driven insights.
• Drive the implementation of A/B testing, user feedback loops, and other methodologies, using data to continuously inform and optimize user engagement.
• Oversee project timelines, resource allocation, and budget management to ensure timely and efficient delivery of engineering initiatives.
• Implement agile methodologies and frameworks to streamline development processes and enhance team productivity.
• Monitor project progress, identify potential risks, and implement mitigation strategies to ensure successful project outcomes.
• Develop and execute strategies to attract, hire, and retain top engineering talent.
• Build a diverse and inclusive team by sourcing candidates from different backgrounds and experiences.
• Foster a culture of continuous learning and professional development, providing opportunities for team members to grow and excel in their roles.

The Essentials
• 12+ years of experience in software engineering, with at least 5 years in a leadership role.
• Ability to think holistically and contribute to broader strategic discussions balanced with nimbleness and getting things done quickly.
• Proven expertise in front-end technologies (e.g., JavaScript, HTML, CSS, React, Angular) and a strong understanding of UX principles and best practices.
• Proven track record of driving user engagement through innovative engineering solutions.
• Demonstrated commitment to web accessibility standards and best practices, ensuring inclusive design for all users.
• Well-rounded understanding of digital media, content management systems, and user experience design.
• Experience using data analytics, A/B testing, and user feedback methodologies.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills equally comfortable discussing complex technical concepts with a team or presenting to executive leadership.
• Ability to effectively collaborate within the team, across stakeholders and partners, and leading through influence.
• Ability to nurture and develop emerging leaders within the engineering team, fostering a culture of mentorship and professional growth.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment and manage multiple priorities effectively.
• Knowledge of design thinking principles to foster innovation.
• Leads by example, building trust through every interaction.

The Nice to Haves
• Participation in and/or contributions to open-source projects.
• Comfort with public speaking and presenting at conferences, webinars, or industry events.
• Exposure to different industries and their unique technological challenges.
• Experience working with global teams or on international projects.
• A broad professional network within the tech industry.

Excited about this opportunity but worried you don't have all the experience we're asking for? We'd still love to hear from you! Please apply and show us what makes you a great fit!

Championing Inclusion at WBD
Warner Bros. Discovery embraces the opportunity to build a workforce that reflects the diversity of our society and the world around us. Being an equal opportunity employer means that we take seriously our responsibility to consider qualified candidates on the basis of merit, without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, mental or physical disability, and genetic information, marital status, citizenship status, military status, protected veteran status or any other category protected by law.

In compliance with local law, we are disclosing the compensation, or a range thereof, for roles in locations where legally required. Actual salaries will vary based on several factors, including but not limited to external market data, internal equity, location, skill set, experience, and/or performance. Base pay is just one component of Warner Bros. Discovery's total compensation package for employees. Pay Range: $343,000.00 - $637,000.00 salary per year. Other rewards may include annual bonuses, short- and long-term incentives, and program-specific awards. In addition, Warner Bros. Discovery provides a variety of benefits to employees, including health insurance coverage, an employee wellness program, life and disability insurance, a retirement savings plan, paid holidays and sick time and vacation.

Jobcode: Reference SBJ-rbk3q6-3-141-201-95-42 in your application.