Head of Engineering — Donato Perconti
A one-pager on what Head of Engineering means to me, what I am looking for next, and how I think about AI in engineering. Use this to assess fit and share with hiring teams.
Head of Engineering — what it means to me
I see the Head of Engineering as the leader accountable for engineering as a function: teams, technical strategy, culture, and alignment with the rest of the company. That includes hiring and leveling, architecture and delivery, and representing engineering to execs and the board. The role sits between hands-on tech leadership and CTO/VP scope. I have written in more detail about the role and related topics in my Head of Engineering topics and First 90 days playbooks.
What I am looking for
I am interested in Head of Engineering (or equivalent) roles where I can shape teams, technical strategy, and culture. I am a fit for scale-ups and growth-stage companies preparing for or navigating scaling, turnaround, or AI-era leadership challenges. I prefer environments where engineering is a first-class function and there is room to build durable systems and practices. I am open to full-time and fractional or advisory arrangements depending on the opportunity.
How I think about AI in engineering
I treat AI as a tool that augments judgment and ownership; it does not replace them. I care about when to adopt AI tooling, how to measure impact without gaming metrics, and how to keep human dimensions—ownership, collaboration, judgment—at the center of leveling and hiring. I have published a Career Ladders framework adapted for the age of AI and a resource on AI and engineering strategy that spells out this stance in more detail.
Impact and experience
I have led engineering teams and technical strategy in startups and scale-ups, with experience in team building, delivery, technical due diligence, and exec and board communication. For selected impact and examples in practice, see Selected impact. For consulting and fractional work, see Work with me.
Next step
If you have a role or opportunity that fits, I would like to hear from you. Reach out via Work with me or email me directly. You can also explore Resources for frameworks and playbooks, and Blog for more writing on engineering leadership.