Private Equity Funcast AI-First (Whatever That Means): Hiring Product & Engineering Leaders with Sean Lucq from SPMB
Dec 12, 2025
Sean Lucq, a Partner at SPMB Executive Search, specializes in hiring for tech firms. He dives into the nuances of recruiting senior engineering and product leaders, especially amidst the AI hype. Sean discusses the importance of having a dedicated Head of AI versus integrating it within engineering roles, emphasizing practical applications of AI like code reviews. He also reveals insights into what candidates should communicate to stand out—showing tangible business impacts—and shares entertaining recruiting tales that highlight the unpredictable nature of tech hiring.
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Treat Your Search Firm As A Partner
- When you hire a retained search firm, treat them as a peer and listen to their input.
- Stick with a good search firm to build calibration and faster, better candidate results.
Structure Interviews Around Relevant Evidence
- Plan interviews with topics and planned questions and avoid ad-hoc panels that repeat queries.
- Focus on candidates who can map past experiences to your needs rather than who interview best.
Separate Engineering From AI Leadership
- VP of Engineering and Head of AI are distinct roles with different expectations and hires.
- Expect VPs to apply AI pragmatically while Heads of AI build platforms and disciplines across the org.