At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a dynamic engineering team and oversee product delivery in a fast-paced SaaS environment.
- Company: Join a VC-backed SaaS scale-up poised for transformative growth and innovation.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, remote work flexibility, and exciting team meetups in Manchester.
- Why this job: Shape the future of AI in SaaS while making a real impact in a collaborative culture.
- Qualifications: Deep experience in full-stack development and proven leadership in high-growth environments required.
- Other info: This is a permanent role with opportunities for personal and professional growth.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 85000 £ per year.
Ready to Lead the Future of a VC-Backed SaaS Scale-Up?
Location: Remote-first (Team meetups in Manchester every fortnight)
Salary: Up to £85k + perks
We’re partnering with one of the North West’s most exciting SaaS scale-ups — fresh off new VC investment and on the cusp of a transformative chapter. With big product plans and a rapidly growing user base, the business seeks a Head of Development to lead their engineering team into this next phase of scale and innovation. This is your chance to oversee architecture, product delivery, and team growth in a collaborative, mission-driven environment where you’ll influence both product and culture.
The Opportunity
As Head of Development, you’ll be the technical leader of the business, guiding strategy, scaling the engineering team, and ensuring top-tier delivery across a modern SaaS platform. You’ll lead a growing team of engineers, make technical decisions, drive continuous improvement, and collaborate with Product, Design, and Customer Success to turn ideas into impactful solutions. This role requires proactive leadership — we’re looking for someone ready to roll up their sleeves, set high standards, and build a high-performing engineering culture.
Key Responsibilities include:
- Build, mentor, and inspire a growing engineering team, fostering collaboration and high performance.
- Define and evolve the platform’s architecture to support scalability, performance, and innovation.
- Implement and improve Agile practices, CI/CD pipelines, and QA processes for reliable releases.
- Work closely with product and design teams to translate ideas into functional experiences.
- Lead by example through code reviews, testing, and maintainability standards.
- Stay abreast of emerging technologies and guide their use to drive the business forward.
Core Skills Needed:
- Deep experience in full-stack development with Node.js, React, and TypeScript.
- Strong understanding of cloud platforms (AWS/Azure), DevOps, and modern engineering principles.
- Experience in scaling engineering teams within startup or high-growth SaaS environments.
- Natural leadership and mentoring skills, with a track record of hiring and developing top talent.
- Confident in roadmap ownership, prioritization, and aligning technical strategy with business goals.
- Excellent communication skills — able to engage both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
Why Join?
Join a fast-growing, innovative SaaS company setting new industry standards. Here, you’ll shape the future of AI in SaaS, work with talented teams, and make a lasting impact.
Head of Development employer: The MRJ Group
Contact Detail:
The MRJ Group Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Development
✨Tip Number 1
Network with professionals in the SaaS industry, especially those who have experience in scaling engineering teams. Attend relevant meetups or webinars to connect with potential colleagues and learn about the latest trends.
✨Tip Number 2
Showcase your leadership skills by sharing examples of how you've successfully mentored teams or led projects in previous roles. This will demonstrate your capability to inspire and build high-performing teams.
✨Tip Number 3
Familiarise yourself with the company's product and its architecture. Understanding their current technology stack and challenges will allow you to speak knowledgeably about how you can contribute to their growth.
✨Tip Number 4
Prepare to discuss your experience with Agile methodologies and CI/CD practices. Be ready to share specific examples of how you've implemented these processes to improve product delivery and team efficiency.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Development
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights your experience in full-stack development, particularly with Node.js, React, and TypeScript. Emphasise any leadership roles you've held and your experience in scaling engineering teams.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: In your cover letter, express your passion for leading engineering teams and your vision for fostering a high-performing culture. Mention specific examples of how you've implemented Agile practices or improved CI/CD pipelines in previous roles.
Showcase Technical Leadership: Demonstrate your technical leadership skills by providing examples of how you've guided teams through challenges, made strategic decisions, and influenced product delivery. Highlight your ability to communicate effectively with both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
Research the Company: Familiarise yourself with the company's mission, values, and recent developments. Understanding their product plans and user base will help you tailor your application and show that you're genuinely interested in contributing to their growth.
How to prepare for a job interview at The MRJ Group
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
As a Head of Development, you'll need to demonstrate your leadership capabilities. Prepare examples of how you've built and mentored teams in the past, focusing on collaboration and high performance.
✨Discuss Technical Strategy
Be ready to talk about your experience with full-stack development, particularly with Node.js, React, and TypeScript. Highlight how you've defined and evolved platform architecture to support scalability and innovation.
✨Emphasise Agile Practices
Since the role involves implementing Agile practices, be prepared to discuss your experience with CI/CD pipelines and QA processes. Share specific instances where you've improved these practices for reliable releases.
✨Engage with Stakeholders
Excellent communication skills are crucial. Prepare to explain how you've effectively engaged both technical and non-technical stakeholders in previous roles, ensuring alignment between technical strategy and business goals.