At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead engineering teams to develop AI-powered SaaS applications and drive project delivery.
- Company: Accelerant, a data-driven risk exchange transforming the insurance industry.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, career growth opportunities, and a supportive work environment.
- Other info: Dynamic role with a chance to mentor and develop talent in a collaborative setting.
- Why this job: Join a pioneering team and shape the future of AI in insurance technology.
- Qualifications: 5-7 years in engineering management with a focus on SaaS and AI technologies.
The predicted salary is between 90000 - 120000 € per year.
About Accelerant
Accelerant is a data-driven risk exchange connecting underwriters of specialty insurance risk with risk capital providers. Accelerant was founded in 2018 by a group of longtime insurance industry executives and technology experts who shared a vision of rebuilding the way risk is exchanged – so that it works better, for everyone. The Accelerant risk exchange does business across more than 20 different countries and 250 specialty products, and we are proud that our insurers have been awarded an AM Best A- (Excellent) rating. For more information, please visit www.accelerant.ai.
About the Role
Accelerant is seeking an experienced Director of Engineering to lead one of our full stack engineering teams within the Product & Technology group. This role combines people management with strong project management discipline and Agile practices. You will be responsible for developing engineering talent, managing cross team dependencies, and enabling your team to build high quality, impactful SaaS applications.
Core Responsibilities
- AI & Data Science Product Development: Lead projects that surface Data Science model outputs and GenAI capabilities into product features. Partner with data science, architects, and data teams on integration, implementation, and delivery of AI-powered product capabilities.
- AI Tooling & Adoption: Champion the adoption of AI tools and practices within the team. Evaluate and implement AI assisted development tools, establish best practices for AI augmented workflows, and drive measurable improvements in developer productivity.
- Project Planning & Execution: Own end to end project delivery. Define scope, create realistic timelines, identify risks early, break down initiatives into milestones, and track progress against commitments.
- Team Development & Mentorship: Invest in your team members by promoting continuous growth, offering guidance and support, and fostering a positive and inclusive work environment.
- Agile Process Ownership: Serve as the Agile champion for your team. Ensure consistent execution of Scrum ceremonies, track sprint metrics, and refine processes to improve predictability.
- Stakeholder & Dependency Management: Build relationships with business stakeholders, Product Management, Design, and partner engineering teams. Communicate status, manage expectations, flag risks early, and coordinate across teams to prevent blockers.
- Technical Roadmap Ownership: Partner with the team Architect on technical direction and design decisions. Contribute to quarterly planning and OKR definition. Balance technical debt reduction with feature delivery.
- Engineering & Operational Excellence: Drive engineering best practices and scalable solutions. Own production reliability, lead incident response and postmortems, and improve system stability.
- Performance Management: Monitor and guide the performance of your team members, providing regular feedback and helping each individual reach their career potential.
Technical Requirements
- Full Stack SaaS Understanding: A solid understanding of full stack SaaS applications and best practices is necessary to effectively support and guide teams.
- API Integration Experience: Strong experience consuming external APIs and integrating third party services. Understanding of API contracts, versioning, health monitoring, and production readiness requirements.
- GenAI Development Expertise: Demonstrated experience building production features using LLMs and GenAI technologies, including prompt engineering, model integration, RAG patterns, agentic workflows, and guardrails. Ability to define and measure quality, accuracy, and observability metrics for GenAI features in production.
- Machine Learning & Data Science Knowledge: Solid understanding of machine learning concepts, model deployment, and inference APIs. Ability to evaluate model accuracy and performance and collaborate effectively with Data Science teams with enough depth to challenge approaches and drive solutions.
- Data Platform Familiarity: Familiarity with data pipelines and modern data platforms. Experience with Snowflake, data warehousing concepts, or similar technologies is a plus.
- Familiarity with the Stack: Familiarity with our stack, which includes TypeScript (for both frontend and backend), Svelte, Node.js/Nest.js, AWS, and Infrastructure as Code (IaC), is preferred, though experience with similar technologies is also valuable.
- Agile Tooling: Proficiency with Agile project management tools such as Jira, including workflow configuration, reporting, and dashboard creation.
Qualifications
- Experience: 5 to 7 years as an engineering manager, ideally leading cross functional teams in a SaaS environment. Track record of delivering complex software projects on time, including customer facing GenAI or ML powered features.
- Agile Expertise: Deep understanding of Agile principles and Scrum methodology. Scrum Master or similar certification is a plus.
- Cross Team Collaboration: Proven experience working with data teams, whether Data Science, Data Engineering, or Analytics. Ability to bridge technical discussions across different engineering disciplines.
- Operational Mindset: Comfortable with on call responsibilities and production support.
- Leadership Skills: Proven track record of effective team leadership, performance management, and fostering a positive, growth-oriented environment.
- Strategic Mindset: Strong analytical skills, able to make data driven decisions, and balance between hands on support and strategic planning.
Director of Engineering (Platform Intelligence) employer: Accelerant Re Ltd.
Accelerant is an exceptional employer that fosters a dynamic and inclusive work culture, where innovation meets collaboration. As a Director of Engineering, you will have the opportunity to lead talented teams in a cutting-edge environment focused on AI and data science, while benefiting from robust professional development and mentorship programmes. With a commitment to employee growth and a strong emphasis on Agile practices, Accelerant empowers its workforce to thrive and make a meaningful impact in the specialty insurance industry.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Director of Engineering (Platform Intelligence)
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the industry, attend meetups, and engage with professionals on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its culture. Understand their products and how they use technology. This will help you tailor your responses and show that you're genuinely interested in being part of their team.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! Be ready to explain your experience and how it aligns with the role of Director of Engineering. Highlight your leadership skills and any successful projects you've led, especially those involving AI and data science.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take the initiative to connect directly with us.
We think you need these skills to ace Director of Engineering (Platform Intelligence)
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV reflects the skills and experiences that align with the Director of Engineering role. Highlight your experience in leading cross-functional teams and delivering complex software projects, especially those involving GenAI or ML features.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Use your cover letter to tell us why you're passionate about the role and how your background makes you a perfect fit. Share specific examples of your leadership style and how you've fostered growth within your teams.
Showcase Your Technical Expertise:Don’t forget to mention your familiarity with full stack SaaS applications and any relevant technologies like TypeScript, Node.js, or AWS. We want to see how your technical skills can contribute to our engineering excellence.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it shows us you’re keen on joining our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Accelerant Re Ltd.
✨Know Your Tech Stack
Make sure you’re well-versed in the technologies mentioned in the job description, like TypeScript, Node.js, and AWS. Brush up on your understanding of full stack SaaS applications and be ready to discuss how you've used these technologies in past projects.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Style
Prepare examples that highlight your leadership skills, especially in managing cross-functional teams. Think about times when you’ve successfully mentored team members or navigated complex project deliveries, and be ready to share those stories.
✨Emphasise Agile Experience
Since this role requires a strong grasp of Agile practices, come prepared to discuss your experience with Scrum methodologies. If you have any certifications, mention them, and be ready to explain how you’ve implemented Agile processes in your previous roles.
✨Prepare for Technical Questions
Expect technical questions related to AI, data science, and API integrations. Brush up on your knowledge of GenAI technologies and machine learning concepts, and be ready to discuss how you’ve tackled challenges in these areas in your past work.
