At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a global team to transform engineering with AI and deliver innovative SaaS solutions.
- Company: Join Azur Technology, a forward-thinking company revolutionising insurance tech.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, bonus, health insurance, and flexible working options.
- Other info: Diverse and inclusive workplace with excellent career growth opportunities.
- Why this job: Be at the forefront of AI-driven engineering in a high-impact leadership role.
- Qualifications: Experience in product-led SaaS and strong leadership skills required.
The predicted salary is between 150000 - 185000 £ per year.
Salary: Basic circa £150,000–£185,000 depending on level and experience, plus bonus, benefits and stock options.
The Mission
Azur Technology is evolving into a product‑led, AI‑augmented SaaS provider for the MGA (Managing General Agent) market. Following a successful private funding round, we are reimagining how insurance technology is built. Our flagship product, MGA Connect, is a modern SaaS platform designed to replace legacy, 90s‑era technology with a lean, highly configurable system.
The Role
This is a high‑impact leadership position for a technical strategist who recognises that AI is fundamentally changing the engineering landscape. You will lead a global team of 50+ engineers (headquartered in London, with a significant hub in the Philippines), transitioning the culture from traditional development cycles to a high‑performing, AI‑enabled operation. In addition to engineering leadership, this role expands into CTO‑level accountability – owning platform strategy, technical operations, and security as we scale into a mature SaaS business.
Core Mandate
As we enter a new phase of growth and AI adoption, this role and person will build and run a high‑performing product engineering organisation that delivers reliably, scales efficiently, and supports the transition to a product‑led SaaS model.
Key Responsibilities
- Engineering Leadership & Organisation
- Build and lead a scalable engineering organisation
- Define team structures (squads/pods aligned to product areas)
- Hire, develop, and retain high‑quality engineering talent
- Establish clear ownership, accountability, and leadership layers
- Delivery Excellence & Execution
- Own predictable, high‑quality delivery
- Implement strong planning and estimation practices
- Establish sprint and release discipline
- Introduce delivery tracking and reporting
- Shift the culture from ad hoc delivery to a repeatable execution engine
- Product Engineering Alignment
- Partner closely with Product to align engineering to roadmap and priorities
- Ensure teams are working on reusable, scalable product features
- Drive a mindset shift from client‑specific builds to productised capabilities
- AI‑Enabled Engineering Transformation
- Embed AI into engineering workflows, including:
- Developer productivity (copilots, automation)
- Testing and QA acceleration
- Documentation and knowledge sharing
- Reduce dependency on linear team scaling
- Evolve towards AI‑assisted / agentic delivery models
- Stay abreast of changes in the AI landscape and adopt relevant improvements
- Quality, Standards & Ways of Working
- Establish and enforce an automation‑first testing strategy
- Implement strong CI/CD discipline
- Define and uphold code quality standards
- Improve reliability, maintainability, and release confidence
- Operational Performance & Metrics
- Define and track key engineering metrics, including:
- Delivery predictability
- Cycle time / lead time
- Deployment frequency
- Defect rates / quality
- Use data to drive continuous improvement
- Technical Operations
- Own the reliability, performance, and scalability of the production platform
- Establish best practices across:
- Infrastructure management (cloud, environments, cost optimisation)
- Monitoring, alerting, and incident management
- Disaster recovery and business continuity planning
- Ensure high availability and resilience of customer‑facing systems
- Drive DevOps maturity, including environment strategy and release management
- Partner with Engineering and Product to ensure operational readiness for new features
- Balance performance, cost, and scalability as the platform grows
- Security & Compliance
- Own the overall security posture of the platform and engineering practices
- Ensure compliance with key frameworks and standards (e.g. SOC 2, ISO 27001, GDPR)
- Embed security‑by‑design principles into architecture and development workflows
- Implement secure SDLC practices, including code scanning and vulnerability management
- Define and enforce data protection, access control, and encryption standards
- Lead incident response and ongoing risk management processes
- Support enterprise client requirements for security assurance and audits
- Balance security, compliance, and delivery speed in a scale‑up environment
- Talent & Capability Strategy
- Partner with People team to hire product‑oriented engineers (not a services mindset)
- Balance senior talent with effective use of AI/tools
- In conjunction with the people team, help build a culture of ownership, pragmatism, performance and pace
Key Challenges to Solve
- Lack of delivery predictability and consistency
- Services‑led ways of working vs product mindset
- Scaling output without linearly increasing headcount
- Embedding AI into real engineering workflows (not just experimentation)
- Building enterprise‑grade operational and security maturity
- Career growth paths for development team
Job Requirements
- VP Engineering / Head of Engineering / CTO experience in a product‑led SaaS environment
- Experience taking a company from a services‑led to a product‑led model, and how to do this right
- Strong operator with a focus on delivery, organisational design, and execution, with the ability to demonstrate this
- Track record of growing engineering talent in a high performing culture
- Proven experience transforming teams from services‑led to product‑led
- Comfortable operating with broad CTO‑level accountability
- Pragmatic, metrics‑driven, and AI‑forward
- Excellent communicator, able to simplify complex ideas and build trust with senior stakeholders
- Commercially minded, with an understanding of how technology decisions affect revenue, cost, and operational performance
- Comfortable operating in a fast‑moving, high‑ambiguity scale‑up environment
- Experience with Salesforce, FSC, and core Apex & LWC
- Experience within the insurance / MGA sector or a highly regulated industry
- Experience implementing or scaling security and compliance frameworks (SOC 2, ISO 27001)
Benefits
- Bonus
- Minimum 25 days’ holiday
- Health insurance
- Death in service
- Pension
- Hybrid and flexible working
- Training budget
- Potential stock options after the qualifying period
Equal Opportunities
We are an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. Employment at Azur Technology is based solely on merit and qualifications directly related to professional competence. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, colour, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, non‑disqualifying physical or mental disability, national origin, veteran status, or any other basis covered by applicable law. All employment decisions are based on qualifications, merit, and business need.
VP Engineering / CTO in London employer: Azur Technology Limited
Azur Technology is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment that fosters innovation and growth in the rapidly evolving field of AI-driven SaaS solutions. With a commitment to employee development, competitive benefits including health insurance and stock options, and a culture that values diversity and inclusion, we empower our team to thrive as we redefine the insurance technology landscape from our London headquarters. Join us to lead a global engineering team and make a significant impact in a high-performing, collaborative atmosphere.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land VP Engineering / CTO in London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the tech industry, especially those who are already in leadership roles. A personal introduction can make all the difference when you're aiming for a VP Engineering or CTO position.
✨Tip Number 2
Showcase your expertise! Prepare a portfolio or case studies that highlight your experience in transforming teams and implementing AI-driven solutions. This will help you stand out during interviews and demonstrate your capability to lead.
✨Tip Number 3
Be ready to discuss your vision! When you land an interview, be prepared to talk about how you would bridge the gap between traditional development cycles and AI-enabled operations. Companies want to see your strategic thinking.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! We’re always on the lookout for top talent, and applying directly can give you a better chance of getting noticed. Plus, it shows your enthusiasm for joining our innovative team at Azur Technology.
We think you need these skills to ace VP Engineering / CTO in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV is tailored to the VP Engineering / CTO role. Highlight your experience in product-led SaaS environments and any relevant achievements that showcase your leadership skills and technical expertise.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter should tell us why you're the perfect fit for this role. Share your vision for AI-driven engineering and how you plan to bridge the gap between traditional and modern practices. Be authentic and let your personality shine through!
Showcase Your Achievements:When detailing your past roles, focus on quantifiable achievements. Did you lead a team that improved delivery predictability? Or perhaps you implemented a new strategy that enhanced operational performance? We love numbers and results!
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 this exciting opportunity. Plus, it shows us you’re keen on joining our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Azur Technology Limited
✨Know Your Tech Inside Out
Make sure you’re well-versed in the technologies mentioned in the job description, especially Salesforce and AI-driven development. Brush up on your knowledge of SaaS platforms and be ready to discuss how you can bridge traditional architectures with modern solutions.
✨Showcase Leadership Experience
Prepare examples that highlight your experience in leading engineering teams, particularly in transitioning from services-led to product-led models. Be ready to discuss how you've built high-performing cultures and retained top talent in previous roles.
✨Emphasise Metrics and Delivery
Be prepared to talk about how you’ve used metrics to drive performance and predictability in delivery. Discuss specific strategies you’ve implemented for planning, estimation, and tracking to ensure high-quality outcomes.
✨Understand Security and Compliance
Familiarise yourself with security frameworks like SOC 2 and ISO 27001, as well as best practices for embedding security into engineering workflows. Be ready to explain how you’ve managed compliance in past roles and how you plan to uphold these standards in a scaling environment.
