At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and mentor engineering teams while driving product development and quality.
- Company: Join a forward-thinking tech company focused on impactful software solutions.
- Benefits: Enjoy remote work flexibility, competitive salary, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Why this job: Shape a culture of excellence and innovation while making a real-world impact.
- Qualifications: Bachelor’s in Computer Science, 5+ years managing teams, strong programming skills required.
- Other info: Ideal for strategic thinkers who thrive in dynamic environments.
The predicted salary is between 72000 - 108000 £ per year.
Remote NI
The Role
As Director of Software Engineering, you’ll operate as a hands-on leader—both coaching and developing talent, while staying close to the technology. You’ll be responsible for building and scaling engineering teams, delivering against a product roadmap, and ensuring engineering quality and consistency. You’ll lead a group of 14–20 engineers, shaping a culture of excellence, feedback, and growth. Working cross-functionally, you’ll drive agile practices and accelerate time-to-value across a portfolio of products and services.
Responsibilities
- Attract, develop, and retain exceptional engineering talent.
- Build nimble, high-performing full-stack development teams.
- Lead engineering, architecture, DevOps, and database practices with a focus on simplicity, scalability, and innovation.
- Promote a culture of transparency, collaboration, and ownership.
- Partner with executive leadership and cross-functional stakeholders to align on business and product objectives.
- Champion agile methodologies to drive efficiency, reduce complexity, and increase delivery velocity.
- Mentor engineers and new leaders, supporting their career development and technical growth.
- Identify and eliminate blockers while improving tooling, automation, and development workflows.
- Promote operational excellence through effective monitoring, alerting, and process improvement.
- Coordinate cross-team initiatives and ensure successful delivery of complex features.
Requirements:
- Passionate about building products that make a real-world impact.
- Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or a related field.
- 5+ years of experience managing software development teams.
- 1+ years in a Director-level (or equivalent) role, leading 10+ engineers.
- Strong communication skills and the ability to lead remote or distributed teams.
- Comfortable working through ambiguity and solving complex problems with autonomy.
- Strong background in object-oriented programming (Java, C#, or C++).
- Experienced in mentoring new engineering leaders and building productive teams.
- Deep familiarity with Lean, Agile, or Kanban methodologies.
- Strategic thinker who balances innovation with execution.
- Confident working alongside senior leadership and managing stakeholder expectations.
- Strong project management and delivery skills.
Director of Software Engineering employer: Hayward Hawk
Contact Detail:
Hayward Hawk Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Director of Software Engineering
✨Tip Number 1
Network with professionals in the software engineering field, especially those who are already in leadership roles. Attend industry meetups or webinars to connect with potential colleagues and learn about their experiences at similar companies.
✨Tip Number 2
Showcase your leadership skills by sharing examples of how you've successfully built and scaled engineering teams in the past. Be prepared to discuss specific challenges you faced and how you overcame them during interviews.
✨Tip Number 3
Familiarise yourself with the latest trends in agile methodologies and be ready to discuss how you've implemented these practices in previous roles. This will demonstrate your commitment to efficiency and innovation.
✨Tip Number 4
Prepare to articulate your vision for fostering a culture of excellence and collaboration within a remote team. Think about strategies you've used to mentor engineers and promote transparency in your previous positions.
We think you need these skills to ace Director of Software Engineering
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights your experience in managing software development teams, particularly in a Director-level role. Emphasise your leadership skills, technical expertise, and any relevant methodologies like Agile or Lean that you've implemented.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: In your cover letter, express your passion for building impactful products and your vision for leading engineering teams. Mention specific examples of how you've attracted and developed talent, and how you’ve driven efficiency in past roles.
Showcase Your Technical Skills: Include details about your programming background, especially in languages like Java, C#, or C++. Highlight any experience you have with DevOps practices and your approach to promoting operational excellence within teams.
Demonstrate Leadership Experience: Provide examples of how you've mentored engineers and new leaders in your previous roles. Discuss your approach to fostering a culture of transparency and collaboration, and how you've successfully managed cross-functional initiatives.
How to prepare for a job interview at Hayward Hawk
✨Showcase Your Leadership Style
As a Director of Software Engineering, it's crucial to demonstrate your leadership approach. Be prepared to discuss how you have successfully built and scaled teams in the past, focusing on your coaching methods and how you foster a culture of excellence and collaboration.
✨Highlight Your Technical Expertise
Make sure to emphasise your technical background, especially in object-oriented programming languages like Java, C#, or C++. Discuss specific projects where you've applied these skills and how they contributed to the success of your team or product.
✨Discuss Agile Methodologies
Since the role involves championing agile practices, be ready to share your experiences with Lean, Agile, or Kanban methodologies. Provide examples of how you've implemented these practices to improve efficiency and delivery velocity in previous roles.
✨Prepare for Cross-Functional Collaboration
The ability to work cross-functionally is key in this role. Prepare to discuss how you've partnered with executive leadership and other stakeholders to align on business objectives, and how you’ve navigated complex projects that required collaboration across different teams.