VP of Engineering, Wirecutter
The New York Times · New York, NY
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- Hybrid
- Full-time
- $325,000 / year
- New York, NY
Job highlights
- Lead 40+ engineers and drive AI strategy.
- Shape product development and reader experience.
- Scale systems for high-demand moments.
- Mature development platforms with modern tech.
- Collaborate across NYT for innovation.
About the role
VP of Engineering, Wirecutter
The mission of The New York Times is to seek the truth and help people understand the world. That means independent journalism is at the heart of all we do as a company. It’s why we have a world-renowned newsroom that sends journalists to report on the ground from nearly 160 countries. It’s why we focus deeply on how our readers will experience our journalism, from print to audio to a world-class digital and app destination. And it’s why our business strategy centers on making journalism so good that it’s worth paying for.
About The Role
Wirecutter is looking for a seasoned Vice President of Engineering to lead the next chapter of our digital platform evolution in the era of A.I. You'll drive technological innovation and our technical A.I. strategy, shape how we build and ship product, and help millions of readers make smarter decisions about how they shop for and use products every day. Our mission is to be the most trusted recommendation service on the internet — and you'll be central to making that happen.
You will report to the Deputy Publisher. This role can be remote in the US, with a preference for candidates in the New York City area.
Responsibilities
- Lead a world-class team: Manage 40+ engineers and their managers, foster an inclusive culture, and attract and retain talent
- Ship and learn fast: Drive ambitious feature delivery and rigorous experimentation to hit business goals and continuously evolve the reader experience
- Drive our technical AI strategy: Lead Wirecutter's AI ambition, remaining ahead of the curve on AI thinking to fundamentally evolve both our internal processes and the consumer-facing product itself
- Scale for peak moments: Build and maintain systems and team processes that can surge to meet demand — whether that's a product launch, a Black Friday rush, or any moment when readers need Wirecutter most
- Mature the platform: Evolve our development workflows and platforms, incorporating modern technology and tooling, AI capabilities, and Times-wide platforms and standards where appropriate
- Set the vision: Help shape engineering strategy in alignment with the broader organization; contribute to P&L management and overall function performance
- Connect the dots cross-functionally: Partner closely with product, editorial, and technology teams across NYT to build the right solutions, align expectations, and keep strategies in sync
- Champion the mission: Translate Wirecutter's goals into clear purpose and deliverables for your team. Demonstrate support and understanding of our value of journalistic independence and a strong commitment to our mission to seek the truth and help people understand the world
Basic Qualifications
- 10+ years of relevant experience, including time leading multi-layered engineering organizations — managing managers and directors
- Range of experience — you've worked in both fast-moving environments and larger, more structured organizations, and you know how to bring the best of each to a mid-stage team
- A vision for AI-augmented engineering — you have a sharp, evolving point of view on how tools like Claude Code and Cursor are redefining the engineering craft, and how AI-powered product features open new possibilities for what teams can build. You have the technical depth and intellectual honesty to guide their effective use — helping a grown-up startup move boldly to do more and build better
- Strong change management skills — you have the ability to drive the cultural and operational shifts required to evolve how a 40+ person engineering organization builds and ships as AI tools become an essential part of the craft
- Proven delivery instincts — you move fast, run experiments, and know how to balance velocity with quality
- Full-stack technical fluency — experience with some of our stack and an appetite to learn and help make strategic technical decisions for the rest: AWS, JavaScript (React, Next.js), Node.js, Apollo, GraphQL, MySQL, Go, Elasticsearch, PHP/Laravel
- Internal platform acumen — you understand the unique challenges of building and maintaining shared tools and services that multiple teams depend on
- Experience with distributed teams — you know how to lead, connect, and build culture across hybrid and remote environments
- Comfort with complexity — you thrive in large organizations where change takes patience and coalition-building. You know how to advocate strongly for your vision and gracefully recalibrate when the bigger picture calls for it
Key skills/competency
- Engineering Leadership
- AI Strategy
- Team Management
- Agile Methodologies
- Platform Development
- Full-Stack Development
- Change Management
- Cross-functional Collaboration
- Technical Vision
- Distributed Teams
Skills & topics
- VP Engineering
- Engineering Leadership
- AI Strategy
- Software Development
- Team Management
- Digital Platform
- Agile
- Remote
- The New York Times
- Wirecutter
How to get hired
- Tailor your resume: Highlight 10+ years leading engineering teams, AI vision, and change management experience.
- Showcase AI expertise: Detail your understanding of AI tools and their impact on engineering and product.
- Emphasize leadership: Provide examples of managing managers, fostering inclusive cultures, and distributed teams.
- Demonstrate delivery: Prove your ability to balance velocity, quality, and rigorous experimentation.
- Connect your vision: Articulate how your strategic approach aligns with The New York Times' mission.
Technical preparation
Review AWS, JavaScript, Node.js, GraphQL.,Understand AI tools like Claude Code.,Familiarize with internal platform development.,Prepare to discuss full-stack architecture.
Behavioral questions
Describe leading diverse engineering teams.,How do you foster an inclusive culture?,Share experience with change management.,How do you balance velocity and quality?
Frequently asked questions
- What is the salary range for the VP of Engineering role at The New York Times?
- The annual base pay range for the VP of Engineering role at The New York Times is between $300,000 and $325,000 USD. Eligibility for variable pay, such as annual bonuses and restricted stock, may also apply, along with a comprehensive benefits package.
- Is the VP of Engineering position remote or on-site at The New York Times?
- The VP of Engineering position at The New York Times is a remote role within the US, with a preference for candidates in the New York City area. This allows for flexibility while maintaining a connection to the company's hub.
- What are the key technical skills required for the VP of Engineering role?
- The VP of Engineering role requires full-stack technical fluency, including experience with AWS, JavaScript (React, Next.js), Node.js, Apollo, GraphQL, MySQL, Go, Elasticsearch, and PHP/Laravel. An understanding of internal platform acumen is also crucial.
- How does The New York Times approach AI strategy for this role?
- The New York Times expects the VP of Engineering to drive Wirecutter's AI ambition, staying ahead of AI developments. This includes evolving internal processes and consumer-facing products, and guiding the effective use of AI tools like Claude Code and Cursor.
- What is expected in terms of leadership experience for the VP of Engineering position?
- The ideal candidate for the VP of Engineering role will have over 10 years of experience, including managing managers and directors within multi-layered engineering organizations. Experience in both fast-moving and structured environments is valued.
- What kind of impact can a VP of Engineering have at The New York Times?
- The VP of Engineering at The New York Times will lead technological innovation, shape the digital platform's evolution, and influence how millions of readers make purchasing decisions. They will also play a key role in defining the company's AI strategy.
- Are there specific opportunities for professional development for this role?
- Yes, The New York Times offers professional development programs as part of its benefits package for this role, supporting continuous learning and growth for its employees.
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