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Agent guide: [/agents.md](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/agents.md). --- # Vp of engineering - **Company:** Rotterdam Innovation City - **Location:** Leiden, Netherlands - **Experience:** Expert - **Contract:** Permanent contract - **Skills:** Artificial Intelligence, Microsoft Azure, Codecs, Continuous Integration, DevOps, Embedded Software, AI Infrastructure - **Published:** August 8, 2026 - **Apply:** https://clk.platform.jobster.com/?at=1786094848&b=&c=df29ac45-dcb8-4fd9-bc87-9df19656aaad&co=014bbda6-f346-47ec-b6bd-a7aebadd2953&cu=9d19ad1d-25d0-4b84-a20f-8340b86a47b4&cw=7&dt=o&fc=a&gc=a&i=9698d2ee-bc92-42d1-9cc9-408fa7011225&ic=NL&mf=c&p=47b4ebce-5907-42d5-9b5e-b30908a42d08&pm=c&po=5f8e30d1-709e-45e1-83c8-a466772a8ebf&pr=1r&r=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.jobleads.com%2Fregistration%2Fjob%3FcampaignId%3D118%26jmId%3D2377%26jobId%3De8e520435d0d5f4110c44b611613f1bc8%26jobLocation%3D1877148285%26utm_campaign%3Djobs%26utm_content%3Djobmarket-id%253D2377%257Clandingpage-id%253Dn%252Fa%257Cjob-id%253D8e520435d0d5f4110c44b611613f1bc8%257Cjob-workarea%253D09-17%257Cjob-hierarchy%253D7%257Cjob-salary-benchmark%253D6%257Cjob-industry%253D%257Cjob-location%253Dleiden%257Cjobtitle%253Dvp-of-engineering%26utm_medium%3Djob-external%26utm_source%3Djobster%257Cr-jb%257C__Liplyn%2BIG__%257Cc-nl&s=mp&t=cl&u=ip-c96c6b498870b75e67af1437c04c5e8c&v=f475a412-8a33-4a92-86a5-2536bedff6d0&sig=fb874f47bbab92b0f014ebe80678afb075d17ce930f9794c45b76b24 ## About the Role * 10+ years in software/AI engineering, 5+ years in leadership (Head/Director/VP) in deep-tech, ML/AI, audio/speech, or real-time media. * Proven track record shipping SDKs, developer platforms, or embedded software to OEMs or B2B partners (mobile, PC, chipset, or similar). * Hands-on background in at least one of: speech/audio ML, DSP, real-time communications, or on-device/edge AI. * Experience working with or around OEM/chipset/platform ecosystems (e.g., Android or PC OEMs, Qualcomm/MediaTek/ARM, etc.). * Demonstrated ability to build and scale high-performing engineering teams in a startup or high-growth environment. * Nice-to-have * Experience in assistive tech, accessibility, telco, or similar regulated environments. * Familiarity with low-bitrate codecs, secure communications, or connectivity-constrained environments (automotive, industrial, satellite). * Exposure to IP/patent creation and privacy/AI regulation constraints., * Mission-driven and excited about giving people their voices back and creating a new privacy/protection layer for spoken communication. * Comfortable operating from architecture to execution: from high-level strategy to unblocking SDK integration issues. * Pragmatic, collaborative, and low-ego, with a strong quality bar and a bias for shipping. ## Description We are now scaling from research and PoCs into product-driven, SDK-first implementations of our technology to drive, build and grow a technology licensing business. As VP of Engineering, you will: * Own delivery of our Whisper-to-Speech (W2S) SDK (Android first, then PC/other platforms) to GA, including licensing server and integration tooling. * Build and lead a multidisciplinary engineering organisation (ML/speech, DSP/audio, SDK/platform, infra/DevOps, QA, and Testing). * Support conversion of flagship PoCs into NRE and license agreements by making Whispp a reliable, OEM-grade technology partner., * Translate our 2026-2029 roadmap (latency improvements, SDK and codec versions, IP creation) into executable engineering plans and milestones. * Work closely with the CAIO to take models from research to production: mobile CPU/NPU implementations, noise robustness, multi-lingual support, personalization, and bone-conduction input. * Ship OEM-ready SDKs and codecs: performance-optimised, secure, well-documented, with strong integration UX for device and platform partners. * Build and scale the engineering team and practices: hiring, org design, CI/CD, testing, performance benchmarking, cost-efficient AI infrastructure (OVH * GCP/Azure). * Partner with Sales/BD on PoCs and NREs (PC and smartphone OEMs, AAC vendors) including scoping, estimates, and technical commitments. * Contribute to Whispp's IP strategy and help us reach our goal of 3-5 core patents in the near term. ## Related Videos - [Developer Tools for Microsoft Azure](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/450-developer-tools-for-microsoft-azure) - [From DevOps to Scaled DevOps: How We’re Rebuilding Continuous Delivery as a Platform](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/100018-from-devops-to-scaled-devops-how-we-re-rebuilding-continuous-delivery-as-a-platform) - [Can You Touch the Internet? A Journey in Remote Touch With Edge Computing and Haptic Coding](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/1463-can-you-touch-the-internet-a-journey-in-remote-touch-with-edge-computing-and-haptic-coding) - [Unlocking the potential of Digital & IT at Vodafone](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/602-unlocking-the-potential-of-digital-it-at-vodafone) - [Develop enterprise-ready applications for Microsoft Teams with Azure resources on modern web technologies](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/187-develop-enterprise-ready-applications-for-microsoft-teams-with-azure-resources-on-modern-web-technologies) - [DevOps Maturity Check – a way to balance autonomy and alignment](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/58-devops-maturity-check-a-way-to-balance-autonomy-and-alignment) ## Related Articles - [Navigating the AI Shift](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/629-navigating-the-ai-shift) - [Dev Digest 121 - AI goes offline](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/456-dev-digest-121-ai-goes-offline) - [Dev Digest 120 - Apple and peers](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/455-dev-digest-120-apple-and-peers) - [Dev Digest 137 - AI'm not sure about this](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/485-dev-digest-137-ai-m-not-sure-about-this) - [Stephan Gillich - Bringing AI Everywhere](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/489-stephan-gillich-bringing-ai-everywhere) - [How software is steering vehicle technology](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/515-how-software-is-steering-vehicle-technology)