At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a global engineering team to innovate and transform insurance technology with AI.
- Company: Join Azur Technology, a forward-thinking SaaS provider revolutionising the MGA market.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, bonuses, stock options, and hybrid working model.
- Other info: Opportunity for career growth in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.
- Why this job: Be at the forefront of AI-driven engineering and make a significant impact in a growing company.
- Qualifications: Experience in product-led SaaS, strong leadership skills, and a passion for AI integration.
The predicted salary is between 150000 - 185000 £ per year.
Reporting To: CEO
Location: London, Hybrid
Salary: Basic circa £150,000–£185,000 depending on level and experience, plus bonus, benefits and stock options
Please note: No agency submissions at this time.
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. We are looking for a leader to bridge the gap between our established Salesforce-based architecture and a future defined by AI-driven development efficiencies — while also owning the broader technology strategy as we scale.
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.
Requirements
- Ideal Profile 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
Desirable
- 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)
VP Engineering / CTO employer: Azur Technology
Azur Technology is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment in London that fosters innovation and growth. With a strong focus on AI-driven development and a commitment to building a high-performing engineering culture, employees benefit from competitive salaries, stock options, and opportunities for professional advancement. The hybrid work model promotes flexibility, while the collaborative atmosphere encourages creativity and teamwork, making it an ideal place for those looking to make a meaningful impact in the tech industry.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land VP Engineering / CTO
✨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 casual chat can lead to opportunities that aren’t even advertised yet.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your expertise! Attend industry events or webinars and don’t be shy about sharing your insights. This not only builds your profile but also puts you on the radar of potential employers.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by practising common questions for CTO roles. Think about how you’d tackle challenges like transitioning teams to AI-driven workflows. We want to see your strategic thinking!
✨Tip Number 4
Apply directly through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in joining our team at Azur Technology.
We think you need these skills to ace VP Engineering / CTO
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 lead our team towards a high-performing culture. Be genuine and let your personality shine through!
Showcase Your Achievements:When detailing your past roles, focus on specific achievements that demonstrate your ability to drive change and deliver results. Use metrics where possible to quantify your impact, especially in areas like delivery predictability and team transformation.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. This way, we can ensure your application gets the attention it deserves. Plus, it’s the best way to stay updated on your application status!
How to prepare for a job interview at Azur Technology
✨Know Your Tech Inside Out
As a VP Engineering or CTO, you need to demonstrate a deep understanding of both current technologies and emerging trends, especially AI. Brush up on your knowledge of SaaS platforms, Salesforce, and how AI can enhance engineering workflows. Be ready to discuss specific examples of how you've implemented these technologies in past roles.
✨Showcase Leadership Experience
This role requires strong leadership skills, so prepare to share your experiences in building and leading high-performing teams. Think about how you've transitioned teams from traditional methods to more agile, product-led approaches. Highlight your strategies for hiring and retaining top talent, as well as how you've fostered a culture of accountability and performance.
✨Align with Business Goals
Understand the company's mission and how technology plays a crucial role in achieving it. Be prepared to discuss how your technical decisions can drive business outcomes, such as revenue growth and operational efficiency. This shows that you’re not just a techie but also a strategic thinker who can bridge the gap between engineering and business.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect questions that assess your problem-solving abilities in real-world scenarios. Think about challenges you've faced in previous roles, particularly around delivery predictability and scaling teams. Prepare to discuss how you would approach embedding AI into engineering workflows and improving operational maturity, as these are key challenges for the company.
