VP of Engineering Applications, Artificial Intelligence

Next Step Systems - National IT Recruiting Firm

. Own the application engineering strategy and execution across backend, mobile, and desktop .

Posted 9/22/2026full-timeRemote • California • United StatesLead💰 $225,000 - $275,000 per yearWebsite

Core Competencies

Role fit

Core Competencies

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Demonstrates expertise in leading application engineering strategies across backend, mobile, and desktop platforms, with a strong focus on integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI) capabilities into product workflows. Proven ability to make high-impact technical decisions while ensuring production readiness and system quality.

Highest-signal resume keywords

Artificial Intelligence (AI) ExperienceBackend Systems DevelopmentSystem Design SkillsTechnical Decision-MakingTeam Leadership

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills

Application EngineeringBackend DevelopmentAPI DesignMachine Learning IntegrationSystem Architecture

Soft Skills

Strong JudgmentLow EgoBias Toward ShippingIteration and Learning

Tools & Technologies

Observability ToolsMonitoring Systems

Industry Keywords

Product EngineeringComplex SystemsClient IntegrationsUser ExperienceProduction Readiness

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Own the application engineering strategy and execution across backend, mobile, and desktop
Lead and grow a small, senior applications team, including backend, mobile, and desktop engineers
Set the architectural direction for Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered product workflows, APIs, and client integrations
Ensure AI capabilities are integrated into the product with clear abstractions, predictable behavior, and graceful failure modes
Partner closely with Machine Learning leadership to translate model capability into shippable product features
Make high-impact decisions across latency, cost, reliability, security, and user experience
Establish clear ownership boundaries across backend, mobile, and desktop to prevent architectural drift
Ensure production readiness through observability, monitoring, retries, fallbacks, privacy, and cost controls
Balance speed and discipline by shipping quickly without compromising long-term system quality

Requirements

What you’ll need

Significant experience leading application or product engineering for complex systems
Artificial Intelligence (AI) experience required
Strong hands-on background building and shipping backend systems used in production
Experience delivering Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered products, with a deep understanding of model integration trade-offs
Excellent system design skills across services, APIs, clients, and data flows
Comfort operating across backend, mobile, and desktop platforms, even if your depth is in one
Proven ability to make high-impact technical decisions under ambiguity
A strong bias toward shipping, iteration, and learning from real-world usage
Low ego, strong judgment, and the ability to raise the technical bar for the entire applications organization
Must be willing to take a 60 minute coding assessment

Benefits

Comp & perks

Medical insurance
Dental insurance
Vision insurance
Savings Plan Options
PTO