VP Engineering
About the Company
Rang is building the rewards platform for schools. Our mission is simple: improve student outcomes.
Rang helps schools reinforce positive academic behaviors by connecting students and families to digital rewards funded by corporate sponsors. Schools get a powerful tool to improve attendance and engagement. Sponsors get measurable social impact tied directly to student outcomes.
About the Role
As VP Engineering, you will architect and scale the technology behind Rang’s platform as we grow nationally.
You will oversee Engineering, Product, Data, IT, and Cybersecurity, ensuring our platform is secure, scalable, and insight-driven.
This is a hands-on leadership role. You will sit on the executive team defining long-term technical strategy while remaining deeply involved in architecture and development. The VP Engineering will have full ownership of Rang’s technology vision, architecture, and technical culture as we scale the company nationally.
You will lead a high-performing team to build a world-class platform that schools rely on every day to drive student success.
We are looking for a builder who wants to help create the defining platform for behavior-based incentives in education.
Responsibilities
- Define and execute Rang’s long-term technology roadmap.
- Architect a scalable platform capable of supporting rapid growth across districts and school networks.
- Lead engineering, product, and data teams while actively contributing to system design and development.
- Ensure best-in-class cybersecurity and student data privacy (FERPA/COPPA compliance).
- Build robust data infrastructure powering insights for educators and administrators.
- Recruit and mentor top-tier technical talent.
- Partner closely with leadership to translate school needs into high-impact product features.
What Success Looks Like in the First 6 Months
- Develop a deep understanding of school workflows and Rang’s platform.
- Strengthen platform architecture to support rapid user growth.
- Implement strong engineering processes and security standards.
- Build a high-performing engineering and product team.
- Deliver product improvements that measurably impact student outcomes.
Competencies and Qualifications
- 10+ years of software engineering experience, including leadership roles at high-growth startups.
- Deep expertise in backend systems (Node.js, Python, Go), cloud infrastructure (AWS/GCP), and distributed systems.
- Experience managing security compliance (SOC2, NIST frameworks).
- Strong product intuition and ability to translate user needs into technical solutions.
- Experience building and scaling data infrastructure and analytics platforms.
- Hands-on technical leadership — you still enjoy building.
- Passion for improving student outcomes through technology.
- Strong communication and leadership skills with a collaborative mindset.
Why This Role Is Special
This is an opportunity to build a category-defining company at the intersection of technology, education, and measurable social impact.
Rang has:
- Explosive early traction
- Insatiable demand from schools
- Significant mission-driven capital backing
- The chance to solve one of the most important problems in education
As VP Engineering, you will help define the platform, the team, and the technical culture.
About Our Supporters
Rang is backed by the Lefkofsky Family, Lightbank, and the Charter School Growth Fund. The Charter School Growth Fund is a leading national investor in K12 education. Lightbank is a leading venture firm behind companies such as Groupon, Tempus, Echo Global Logistics, InnerWorkings, and Mediaocean. Through these partnerships, Rang benefits from deep venture-building expertise and an unmatched national network.
Role Details
Compensation is commensurate with experience and includes meaningful equity participation. This role is preferably based in Chicago, IL (2–3 days in office). Learn more at www.Rang.com.
To apply, please email your resume or LinkedIn and a short note about why you’re interested to [email protected].
Skills Required
- 10+ years of software engineering experience
- Experience in leadership roles at high-growth startups
- Deep expertise in backend systems (Node.js, Python, Go)
- Experience with cloud infrastructure (AWS/GCP) and distributed systems
- Security compliance management experience (SOC2, NIST)
- Strong communication and leadership skills
What We Do
Rang is building the rewards platform for schools. Our mission is simple: improve student outcomes. Rang helps schools reinforce positive academic behaviors by connecting students and families to digital rewards funded by corporate sponsors. Schools get a powerful tool to improve attendance and engagement. Sponsors get measurable social impact tied directly to student outcomes.
Why Work With Us
This is an opportunity to build a category-defining company at the intersection of technology, education, and measurable social impact. Rang has: Explosive early traction Insatiable demand from schools Significant mission-driven capital backing The chance to solve one of the most important problems in education
