Head of Software Engineering in London
Head of Software Engineering

Head of Software Engineering in London

London Full-Time 72000 - 108000 £ / year (est.) No home office possible
B

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead software engineering teams and drive innovation in a dynamic environment.
  • Company: Join a leading specialist insurance provider in the London Market.
  • Benefits: Hybrid work, competitive salary, and opportunities for professional growth.
  • Why this job: Shape the future of engineering and make a real impact on technology transformation.
  • Qualifications: Proven leadership in software engineering and experience in complex environments.
  • Other info: Be part of a collaborative culture focused on continuous improvement and innovation.

The predicted salary is between 72000 - 108000 £ per year.

Location: London (Hybrid)

Reporting to: Chief Technology Officer

Bateman Collins are partnering with a leading specialist insurance provider in the London Market to appoint a Head of Software Engineering. This organisation operates across complex commercial and specialty risks and is widely regarded as a high-performing and forward-thinking market participant. With strong executive sponsorship and significant investment in modern technology, the business is focused on delivering innovative, scalable and resilient digital solutions to support continued growth.

The Opportunity

This is a senior leadership role within a value-driven and collaborative technology function. As Head of Software Engineering, you will lead the evolution of the software engineering capability, driving best practice, innovation and delivery across a portfolio of critical business platforms and integrations. You will work closely with senior stakeholders across technology, product and the wider business to deliver measurable commercial value and improve operational efficiency.

You will be responsible for shaping the future direction of the engineering function, including organisational design, hiring strategy, capability development and budget ownership. The role will involve leading and developing a growing, distributed team of engineers across multiple locations, fostering a high-performance culture and supporting ongoing transformation initiatives. This role will suit a strategic yet hands-on technology leader who is passionate about modern engineering practices, continuous improvement and enabling teams to deliver high-quality, customer-focused outcomes.

Key Responsibilities

  • Provide strategic and technical leadership across the software engineering function, ensuring high-quality and reliable delivery
  • Contribute to the broader technology and business strategy as a member of the leadership team
  • Partner with Product and Business leaders to align engineering capability with business priorities and value streams
  • Own organisational design, hiring, retention and development of engineering talent
  • Line manage senior engineering leaders and drive performance, engagement and succession planning
  • Establish and embed engineering standards, governance and best practices aligned to industry trends
  • Support modernisation initiatives, including cloud adoption and legacy platform transformation
  • Promote innovation and the use of emerging technologies, including AI and automation
  • Oversee the controlled and risk-aware deployment of change into production
  • Manage key technology vendors and delivery partners
  • Ensure appropriate risk, security and operational resilience frameworks are in place
  • Represent the function within senior governance forums and leadership groups

Skills & Experience

  • Proven experience leading high-performing software engineering teams within complex, regulated environments
  • Strong technical background across modern software development, cloud architecture and DevSecOps
  • Experience delivering large-scale transformation programmes with measurable business impact
  • Track record of building engineering capability, culture and organisational structure
  • Experience operating in agile, product-led environments
  • Ability to communicate effectively with both technical teams and senior business stakeholders
  • Experience managing legacy systems and leading modernisation initiatives
  • Commercial awareness and strong stakeholder management
  • Knowledge of the insurance sector or London Market is advantageous but not essential

Personal Attributes

  • Strategic thinker with a pragmatic, delivery-focused mindset
  • Confident and articulate communicator
  • Collaborative and empowering leadership style
  • High emotional intelligence and strong interpersonal skills
  • Passion for innovation, continuous improvement and team development
  • Comfortable operating in fast-paced, evolving environments

This is an excellent opportunity to join a well-established and growing organisation at a pivotal stage of its technology journey, with significant scope to shape engineering strategy and build a high-performing function.

Head of Software Engineering in London employer: Bateman Collins

Bateman Collins is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic and collaborative work culture that prioritises innovation and employee growth. As a leading specialist insurance provider in the London Market, we invest significantly in modern technology and foster a high-performance environment where strategic leaders can thrive. With hybrid working options and a commitment to continuous improvement, this role provides a unique opportunity to shape the future of software engineering while making a meaningful impact on the business.
B

Contact Detail:

Bateman Collins Recruiting Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫

We think this is how you could land Head of Software Engineering in London

✨Network Like a Pro

Get out there and connect with people in the industry! Attend meetups, conferences, or even online webinars. Building relationships can open doors to opportunities that aren’t even advertised.

✨Show Off Your Skills

Don’t just talk about your experience; demonstrate it! Create a portfolio showcasing your projects or contributions to open-source software. This gives potential employers a tangible sense of what you can bring to the table.

✨Ace the Interview

Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its culture. Practice common interview questions and think about how your skills align with their needs. Remember, it’s not just about answering questions but also about showing your passion for the role!

✨Apply Through Our Website

When you find a role that excites you, apply directly through our website. It shows your enthusiasm and makes it easier for us to track your application. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive!

We think you need these skills to ace Head of Software Engineering in London

Strategic Leadership
Technical Leadership
Software Development
Cloud Architecture
DevSecOps
Agile Methodologies
Stakeholder Management
Organisational Design
Team Development
Performance Management
Innovation Promotion
Risk Management
Operational Resilience
Communication Skills
Emotional Intelligence

Some tips for your application 🫡

Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV reflects the skills and experiences that align with the Head of Software Engineering role. Highlight your leadership experience, technical expertise, and any relevant projects that showcase your ability to drive innovation and deliver results.

Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to tell us why you're the perfect fit for this role. Share your passion for modern engineering practices and how your strategic mindset can contribute to our collaborative technology function. Don't forget to mention your experience in leading high-performing teams!

Showcase Your Achievements: When detailing your past roles, focus on measurable outcomes. We want to see how you've made an impact in previous positions, especially in complex environments. Use numbers and specific examples to illustrate your success in driving transformation and improving operational efficiency.

Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. This ensures your application gets to the right people quickly and allows us to keep track of all candidates efficiently. Plus, it’s super easy and straightforward!

How to prepare for a job interview at Bateman Collins

✨Know Your Tech Inside Out

As a candidate for the Head of Software Engineering, it's crucial to have a solid grasp of modern software development practices, cloud architecture, and DevSecOps. Brush up on your technical knowledge and be ready to discuss how you've applied these in previous roles, especially in complex environments.

✨Showcase Your Leadership Style

This role requires a collaborative and empowering leadership style. Prepare examples that demonstrate how you've built high-performing teams and fostered a culture of innovation. Be ready to discuss your approach to managing senior engineering leaders and driving performance.

✨Align with Business Goals

Understand the business priorities and how the engineering function can deliver measurable commercial value. Be prepared to discuss how you've partnered with product and business leaders in the past to align engineering capabilities with strategic objectives.

✨Emphasise Continuous Improvement

Highlight your passion for continuous improvement and modernisation initiatives. Discuss any experience you have with cloud adoption, legacy platform transformation, or implementing best practices in engineering standards. This will show your commitment to driving innovation within the organisation.

Head of Software Engineering in London
Bateman Collins
Location: London

Land your dream job quicker with Premium

You’re marked as a top applicant with our partner companies
Individual CV and cover letter feedback including tailoring to specific job roles
Be among the first applications for new jobs with our AI application
1:1 support and career advice from our career coaches
Go Premium

Money-back if you don't land a job in 6-months

B
Similar positions in other companies
UK’s top job board for Gen Z
discover-jobs-cta
Discover now
>