VP of Engineering
Xihelm is developing the first viable automated handwork robot for
greenhouse vegetables - revenue opportunity $13.2B replacing seasonal
migrant labour like-for-like, firstly the $950M spent picking main
tomato varieties - using own AI computer vision platform, initially as
lead in a $1.6M consortium. The CEO worked at Google for 5 years and
studied at Stanford.
We've got real challenges to solve. Building the technology of
robotic gripping and robot path planning, and commercialising that in to
trials and the field. It's a great opportunity to learn more about
cutting edge machine learning and computer vision too.
Leading the engineering team, as employee #11, this is an exceptional
chance to join at the start and help define our culture. You’ll need to
be technically credible - and nothing says credibility like shipped
code.
We need a VP of engineering to:
- Manage the tech teams (researchers, software, hardware integration, product), and further specialities.
- Work directly with the CEO and team leads on hiring, team development, and priorities
- Actively participate in technical strategy and decision-making (with CEO, customers, and stakeholders)
We’re looking for impressive people. Think you can find & hire 5
PhDs in the time most people eat their lunch? Come talk to us.
Responsibilities
We want an exceptionally well-organized, enthusiastic team leader who will:
Work with engineering leads directing and managing on a day-to-day basis
Collaborate with CEO and board on strategic direction for the technology
Define and oversee standards for the engineering department
Take full ownership of technical planning and delivery of our key products - ensuring fit for current and broader needs
Create clear, specific, reasonable timelines for new features
Track progress and do high-quality project planning
Manage, hire and improve a diverse team of top engineers using agile-like methodologies
Be a motivational, positive, energetic leader
Minimum qualifications:
BSc. in a mathematical engineering discipline - e.g. mathematics, computer science, applied statistics, electrical engineering.
Skills
We make use of advanced deep AI Computer Vision, robotics,
autonomous vehicles and Machine Learning technologies, so that any
experience there is a major advantage. Similarly, our work is driven by
statistics-based research, so project experience in those areas would
help enormously. This isn't a hands-on programming role, but you need to
know good code when you see it.
Must have:
- Recent experience managing people (as in directly line managing staff, i.e. compensation and performance)
- Worked in agile, research and with hardware teams and products
- Commercial project management experience from multiple practical perspectives
Should have:
- Worked with, or comfortable in product-risk startups
- Experience with AI, Computer Vision, Robotics, Hardware, agricultural machinery and/or Machine Learning-based products
- Understanding of field operations for machinery hardware deployments
- Customer-facing skills helping to define technical requirements
- Hands on capability with programming (ideally Python), mathematics, AI, Neural Networks, and/or Linux - even if rusty
- Previously helped draft patents, proposals, pitch decks, promotion packs
Please note
You’ll need to be willing to work from our funky office in London.
Sorry, no agencies or consultants - we won’t pay any agency fees.
Location: London
Posting date: TBC
End date: TBC
Salary range: £80,000-£125,000 (TBC)
Equity: 0.75%-1.5%
Otherwise, please do reach out to James Kent - jameskent@xihelm.com
