VP of Engineering

About Loyal
Loyal is a clinical-stage veterinary medicine company developing drugs intended to extend the lifespan and healthspan of dogs. Our mission is to help dogs live longer, healthier lives.

We’ve already achieved significant milestones on our path to earning FDA approval for the first lifespan extension drug for any species. We have three products in our pipeline and are on track to bring the first product to market in 2025.

Loyal is a well-funded startup in growth mode. Our team includes scientists, veterinarians, engineers, operators, and creatives. This role will play a key role in supporting our growth strategies.

About the Role
We’re seeking an experienced VP of Engineering to lead our technology team in building the future of veterinary medicines and technologies. You’ll play a key role in shaping our product and engineering strategy to support the launch of the first FDA-approved lifespan extension drug for dogs. In this role, you will drive the creation and execution of technical roadmap, make important technical decisions, and ensuring our software products are delightful, engaging, compliant and scalable to meet the complex demands of both commercial and research needs.

This role will oversee software development, data engineering, technical infrastructure, IT and security, which includes launching our first drug and creating systems that scale for long-term growth. You’ll shape our technology vision, implement an eCommerce platform, enhance data science capabilities, and explore innovative AI opportunities.

As a technology leader, you’ll build and mentor a high-performing team, collaborate across disciplines, and deliver solutions that align with our business goals in a fast-paced, mission-driven, and regulated environment.

You will be reporting to our CEO, with a dotted line to our fractional CPTO.

Your daily work will include:

Define and Execute the Technology Roadmap

• Establish and execute a technology roadmap for a successful launch and scaling of Loyal’s eCommerce platform and brand websites.
• Lead the architecture design, implementation and expansion of the eCommerce platform, ensuring it can support rapid growth, increased demand, and future expansion opportunities.
• Oversee systems integration with partners and distributors to support commercialization and distribution efforts. 

Lead and Grow the Engineering Team

• Recruit, develop, and mentor a high-performing team of engineers, data scientists, and IT professionals.
• Build an innovative and collaborative engineering culture that demonstrates and strengthens Loyal's values.
• Provide hands-on guidance to team members on tackling technical challenges.

Lead End-to-end Software Product Development 

• Partner with product, design, marketing, research, and operations teams to align technical solutions tailored to Loyal’s longevity drug go-to-market and research needs.
• Communicate technical strategies and progress to diverse stakeholders from scientists, operators, marketers to program managers effectively.
• Oversee tools that support drug research, post-market monitoring, and internal operational efficiencies.

Strengthen IT and Security Posture

• Establish and enforce robust IT policies and information security practices to protect company’s intellectual properties and customer data.
• Safeguard data integrity and ensure compliance with industry regulations.

AI and Advanced Technologies

• Explore opportunities to integrate AI and other innovative tools to enhance efficiency across Loyal’s research, eCommerce and operations.
• Advance drug discovery efforts through advanced data engineering and data science capabilities.

About You

• 15+ years of software engineering, with at least 5 years as Head of Engineering, ideally in startups and regulated industries.
• Proven expertise in developing and executing technology roadmaps, particularly in regulated industries such as biotech, pharma, or healthcare.
• Strong background in eCommerce platform implementation, data science, and AI/ML applications.
• Exceptional problem-solving skills and the ability to make strategic technical decisions within a complex and regulated industry in a startup environment.
• Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional teams and foster collaboration to deliver simple solutions for complex problems.
• Outstanding communication skills, with the ability to convey complex technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders.
• Hands-on experience with agile development methodologies and cloud-based technologies, preferably AWS and open source.
• Experience with IT policy development, cybersecurity, and infrastructure management.
• Passion for Loyal's mission to improve the health and lifespan of dogs.

Loyal benefits:

• Full-coverage health insurance — medical, dental and vision — for you and your dependents
• $1,000 home office equipment stipend
• $1,200/year learning budget for books, courses, etc.
• $250/month wellness budget for gym, cleaners, spa, food, etc.
• All 3-day weekends are turned into 4-day weekends 🎉
• Unlimited vacation and paid holidays
• Paw-ternity leave — adopt a dog and get a day off with your new family member 🐶
• Annual company retreat at beautiful locations across the country (recently: Tahoe, Cape Cod)
• Competitive salary
• Company equity options grant for new hires

Salary Range: $216,750 - $293,250

Loyal is founded and led by a first-gen female CEO and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate against applicants based on gender, race or color, ethnicity or national origin, age, disability, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, or any other applicable characteristics protected by law. 

Our values

Lean into moonshots

We don’t settle for incremental change. We have the bravery to take risks and shoot for the impact we want to have.

Opportunity is at the intersection

We lean into combining disciplines, expertises, and perspectives not normally adjacent. We design our organization to facilitate cross-pollination and cross-collaboration. We reject silos.

Expertise without ego

Titles do not determine who has a voice. We work on hard, technical problems and have a ton of fun while at it.

Learning by doing

Our path is novel and many things we are doing have never been done before. We lean into MVPs and are open to unexpected outcomes.

Lead with context

We value leading with context. We equip people with the context and background necessary to make their own decisions and act in the best interest of Loyal. We empower teams to succeed.

Empathy and respect for all life

Our patients are not just numbers. Our work is intentional, thoughtful, and guided by respect for life. We take our responsibility to pets and pet parents seriously.