Director of Technology - Data

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.

You’ll 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’ll create clarity and consistency in standards, security and regulatory compliance, while building a culture of ownership, learning and continuous improvement across our services.

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.

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. 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.

We’re 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. Demonstrable impact improving operational efficiency, engineering standards and team engagement. .NET, Angular/React/Vue, AWS (or equivalent cloud platforms), test automation, microservices, APIs and object oriented programming.

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.

• 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

This is a Manchester-based hybrid role, with a minimum of 50% of working time spent in the office each month. Beyond this, we’re looking for someone who is genuinely present in the business, building relationships, understanding our teams, and embedding themselves in our culture.

Inclusion & diversity