VP of Engineering

Paladin builds autonomous drone response technology to respond to emergencies. When someone dials 911, our systems take flight — providing real-time intelligence to first responders and helping save lives within 90 seconds or less.

We build the software and infrastructure powering Drone-as-First-Responder (DFR) programs nationwide. From Watchtower, our command-and-control platform, to EXT, our AI and connectivity module, and ADS-B, our aircraft detection layer, Paladin’s technology integrates seamlessly across hardware and software partners to deliver reliable, scalable autonomy for public safety.

The Role

The VP of Engineering leads the entire engineering organization at Paladin — spanning software, hardware, robotics, systems, and QA. You’ll own the technical architecture, develop the team structure, and drive execution for field-reliable, mission-critical systems that operate every day in live emergencies.

You’ll work closely with the executive team to align technical direction with company strategy, product goals, and operational realities. As both a strategic leader and a deeply technical systems thinker, you’ll ensure Paladin’s technology remains best-in-class while scaling the engineering organization to meet future growth.

Responsibilities

• Technical Leadership:
  Define and maintain the architectural vision across autonomy, communications, data, and control systems. Ensure technical decisions support scalability, interoperability, and long-term reliability.
• Team Management:
  Lead and mentor the leaders of Software, Hardware, Robotics, Systems, and QA. Establish strong management layers, clear accountability, and processes for execution and growth.
• Organizational Scale:
  Design and build an engineering structure capable of scaling from a hands-on team to a 40+-person organization. Recruit, onboard, and develop high-performing engineers and managers.
• Execution & Delivery:
  Oversee planning, sprints, and cross-team delivery for all engineering projects. Ensure on-time releases that meet safety, performance, and reliability standards required in public safety.
• Reliability & Systems Quality:
  Implement processes for testing, validation, and continuous improvement. Drive incident-reduction and improve uptime across active deployments.
• Cross-Functional Partnership:
  Collaborate with Product, Operations, Sales, and Customer Success leadership to translate field insights into architecture and roadmap decisions.
• Culture & Mentorship:
  Build an engineering culture rooted in accountability, humility, and craftsmanship. Coach leaders and individual contributors to own their domains and grow into new challenges.
• Long-Term Vision:
  Lay the technical foundation for scalable autonomy and AI-driven systems that power the next generation of emergency response technology.

What Success Looks Like

• Clear, unified system architecture spanning all Paladin platforms
• A scalable org structure and strong leadership bench across disciplines
• Engineering org grown from ~25 to 40+ with high retention and productivity
• 99.5%+ reliability across field deployments
• Predictable release cadence and measurable quality improvements
• A culture that balances innovation with reliability and operational discipline

Qualifications

• 10+ years of engineering experience, with 5+ years leading multi-disciplinary teams
• Strong background in robotics systems, IoT, autonomy, or mission-critical software
• Experience building and scaling technical organizations (preferably in a startup or high-growth environment)
• Deep understanding of systems integration, hardware-software interaction, and real-world deployment challenges
• Proven ability to architect and deliver reliable distributed systems and field-operated robotics
• Strong leadership, communication, and organizational design skills
• Passion for building technology that directly impacts public safety and real-world outcomes

Nice to Have

• Experience in robotics integration, autonomy, or real-time communications
• Familiarity with FAA, BVLOS, or public safety technology ecosystems
• Exposure to high-reliability or safety-critical systems