At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead engineering teams to deliver innovative digital experiences for our customers.
- Company: Join AJ Bell, a fast-growing investment platform with a people-first culture.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, generous holiday, and professional development opportunities.
- Other info: Hybrid role based in Manchester with a focus on collaboration and team culture.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on how hundreds of thousands invest while shaping engineering strategy.
- Qualifications: Proven leadership in software engineering and strong communication skills required.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.
AJ Bell is seeking a Director of Engineering to set engineering direction and build high performing, product aligned teams delivering secure, reliable and innovative digital experiences that help our customers feel good investing. This is a high impact, hands on leadership role. You will partner with senior leaders, Product and Design to define the engineering strategy, strengthen delivery and operational excellence, and evolve an Agile, outcome focused, backlog led model. Through our Heads of Department, you will create clarity and consistency in standards, security and regulatory compliance, while building a culture of ownership, learning and continuous improvement across our services.
Why this role at AJ Bell
- Lead a modern engineering organisation at scale, with clear executive sponsorship and the ability to influence platform wide direction.
- Work on products that directly impact how hundreds of thousands of customers invest, balancing pace with resilience, security and regulatory expectations.
- Invest in ways of working: data led performance, engineering excellence, developer experience, AI enabled tooling and automation.
- Join a people first culture that values inclusion, development and long-term career growth.
What you will do
- Set the engineering vision, translating AJ Bell's strategy into a clear, measurable roadmap and operating plan.
- Build and sustain high performing teams by coaching engineering leaders, strengthening structure, and creating the conditions for speed, ownership and quality.
- Partner across Product, Design and senior stakeholders to align priorities, manage trade-offs and accelerate outcomes.
- Own delivery outcomes across multiple teams, setting goals, removing blockers, improving predictability and ensuring consistent execution.
- Evolve modern engineering practices, using AI, automation and DevOps to streamline delivery and shorten cycle times.
- Ensure services are reliable, secure and compliant, driving performance, resilience, observability and regulatory adherence.
- Lead key external integrations, partnering with vendors to deliver high quality, well governed capabilities.
What we are looking for
- A strategic, technically credible leader with a track record of building great engineering organisations and delivering complex change.
- Proven experience leading software engineering teams in complex environments; experience within FCA regulated financial services is a plus.
- Strong knowledge of modern platforms and delivery practices (cloud native architectures, DevOps, CI/CD and automated testing).
- Experience shaping technology strategy, running multiple teams, and delivering high quality outcomes through clear prioritisation and governance.
- Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, with the credibility to engage at Board level and explain complex topics clearly to non-technical audiences.
- Demonstrable impact improving operational efficiency, engineering standards and team engagement.
- A passion for outcome driven delivery, continuous improvement and pragmatic innovation.
- Technical expertise we value: .NET, Angular/React/Vue, AWS (or equivalent cloud platforms), test automation, microservices, APIs and object oriented programming.
About AJ Bell
AJ Bell is one of the UK's fastest growing investment platforms, serving over 723,000 customers and managing £108.7 billion in assets. Through our award winning platform, we make investing simple, transparent, and enjoyable, helping people feel good investing. With 1,500+ employees across Manchester, London, and Bristol, we've been recognised as one of the UK's Best 100 Companies to Work For six years running, as well as a Great Place to Work in 2025 and 2026.
What we offer
- Competitive starting salary
- 28 days holiday, increasing to 31 with length of service plus holiday buy/sell scheme
- Pension scheme with up to 8% matched contributions
- Discretionary bonus
- Buy As You Earn (BAYE) share scheme
- PMI, and health cash plan
- Free onsite gym, cycle to work scheme, and travel loans
- Enhanced parental leave (tiered on length of service)
- Employee Assistance Programme
- Professional development, ongoing technical training, and qualification support
- Social calendar including monthly payday drinks, summer party, Christmas party
This is a Manchester-based hybrid role, with a minimum of 50% of working time spent in the office each month. Beyond this, we are looking for someone who is genuinely present in the business, building relationships, understanding our teams, and embedding themselves in our culture. This role will suit someone who values visibility, connection and being close to where decisions and collaboration happen.
Inclusion & diversity
We are committed to creating an inclusive environment where everyone feels respected and able to be themselves at work. We welcome applications from all backgrounds and make hiring decisions based on skills, experience and potential.
Director of Engineering in Salford employer: AJ Bell Business Solutions Limited
AJ Bell is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic and inclusive work culture that prioritises employee development and well-being. As a Director of Engineering, you'll lead a high-performing team in Manchester, driving innovation and operational excellence while enjoying competitive benefits such as a generous holiday allowance, professional development opportunities, and a vibrant social calendar. Join us to make a meaningful impact on how our customers invest, all within a supportive environment that values collaboration and continuous improvement.
Contact Details:
AJ Bell Business Solutions Limited Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Director of Engineering in Salford
✨Join Local Tech Meetups
Get out there and mingle with fellow developers by joining local tech meetups. It’s a fantastic way to meet people who might be working at AJ Bell Business Solutions Limited or know someone who does. Plus, you can pick up some trendy tech skills and trends while you're at it!
✨Contribute to Open Source Projects
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We think you need these skills to ace Director of Engineering in Salford
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show off your coding skills:When applying for a software engineering role, it's super important to showcase your coding skills. Make sure your CV includes your tech stack, any relevant programming languages you’re comfortable with, and examples of projects you've worked on. If you have a GitHub profile, link it up! We love to see code in action.
Tailor your portfolio:For a full-time role, we’d expect to see some solid examples of your work in your portfolio. Make sure to include at least two or three projects that highlight your problem-solving skills and your ability to work with different technologies. Focus on the projects that are most relevant to the position at AJ Bell Business Solutions Limited.
Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at AJ Bell Business Solutions Limited and how your skills align with the role. Show us your passion for software development. We dig enthusiastic candidates who understand the value of collaboration and continuous learning!
Be clear and concise:When it comes to writing your CV and cover letter, clarity is key. Avoid jargon that could confuse us and stick to simple, direct language. Highlight your achievements with quantifiable results where possible, and keep everything easy to read. A well-organised application goes a long way!
How to prepare for a job interview at AJ Bell Business Solutions Limited
✨Brush Up on Your Coding Skills
For a full-time software engineering role, it's crucial that we stay sharp with our coding abilities. Expect technical questions that might involve solving problems on the spot or discussing algorithms. Practise on platforms like LeetCode or HackerRank to get comfortable with the types of questions that often come up.
✨Know Your Tools and Frameworks
Make sure we’re well-acquainted with the tools and technologies listed in the job description. Familiarise ourselves with any specific frameworks or programming languages mentioned. If AJ Bell Business Solutions Limited uses React or Node.js, for instance, be ready to discuss how we’ve used them in previous projects or coursework.
✨Showcase Your Projects
Bring along a portfolio that highlights our best work. This could be code samples, GitHub repositories, or any side projects we’ve built. Make sure we can talk through our thought process for each project, especially the challenges we faced and how we solved them—this shows our problem-solving skills in action.
✨Prepare for Behavioural Questions
While technical skills are key, full-time positions also require cultural fit. Be ready to discuss our previous experiences and how we handle teamwork, conflict, and deadlines. Brush up on the STAR method—Situation, Task, Action, Result—to clearly articulate our past experiences when discussing how we've contributed to a team.
