Director of Software Engineering (London)

Director of Software Engineering (London)

London Full-Time 43200 - 72000 £ / year (est.) Home office (partial)
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At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead a team to build cutting-edge AI systems and applications.
  • Company: Join a fast-growing AI-native startup backed by top investors.
  • Benefits: Enjoy remote work flexibility and access to high-performance tech resources.
  • Why this job: Shape the future of intelligent software in a collaborative, innovative environment.
  • Qualifications: Strong leadership in AI/ML, cloud infrastructure, and production-grade product development required.
  • Other info: Be part of a culture that values engineering excellence and AI experimentation.

The predicted salary is between 43200 - 72000 £ per year.

Better Placed Ltd – A Sunday Times Top 10 Employer! provided pay range

This range is provided by Better Placed Ltd – A Sunday Times Top 10 Employer!. Your actual pay will be based on your skills and experience — talk with your recruiter to learn more.

Base pay range

Direct message the job poster from Better Placed Ltd – A Sunday Times Top 10 Employer!

Director | Co-Founder @ Better Placed Tech + UK AI Meetup. Trusted AI Talent Partner – from disruptive startups to enterprise leaders. Deep expertise…

Director of Software Engineering –

AI Native Start-up

UK – Remote

The Business

My client is a fast-growing AI-native startup focused on building scalable agent-based systems and LLM-powered applications for enterprise customers. Backed by strong VC funding and already working with enterprise organisations, they’re now looking for a Director of Software Engineering to help scale their engineering function in the UK as they move from early traction to broader market adoption.

The Opportunity:

This is a hands-on leadership role where you’ll guide the engineering team in building production-ready AI systems—balancing speed, reliability, and scalability.

You’ll work closely with research teams to deploy language models into production, shape technical architecture across cloud infrastructure and application layers, and lead on engineering hiring and culture as the team grows.

Responsibilities:

  • Lead the design and development of interactive, scalable agent-based systems and web applications using modern languages like Python and TypeScript .
  • Oversee the build and maintenance of server-side APIs and orchestration layers , ensuring smooth integration between frontend apps, backend services, and AI/ML components.
  • Work closely with internal AI research teams to productionise LLMs , focusing on performance, scalability, and reliability .
  • Drive the development of data generation and testing pipelines to ensure the quality and robustness of deployed models.
  • Architect, deploy, and maintain cloud infrastructure (AWS, GCP, or Azure) to support both web applications and machine learning operations (MLOps) .
  • Ensure high availability, scalability, and security of deployed systems, meeting the expectations of enterprise customers.
  • Foster engineering best practices around code quality, testing, documentation, and DevOps .

Ideal Background:

  • Strong technical leadership experience (Head / Director level), ideally within AI-first or ML-focused product companies .
  • Experience in cloud infrastructure deployment (AWS / GCP / Azure) and containerisation/orchestration (Docker / Kubernetes).
  • Comfortable working with or around machine learning pipelines , even if not directly training models.
  • Experience building and scaling production-grade AI-powered products .
  • Strong collaborator, with a track record of working closely with AI research, product, and infrastructure teams .

Bonus Points:

  • Exposure to MLOps , AI observability , or LLM deployment at scale .
  • Experience with data engineering for large-scale pipelines .
  • Prior background in enterprise SaaS or developer tools .

Why Join:

  • AI-native mission: Shape the next generation of intelligent, agent-based software products.
  • Strong funding: Backed by leading investors with solid runway.
  • Technical resources: Access to high-performance compute (dedicated GPU clusters) and modern infrastructure.
  • Culture: Collaborative, research-driven environment, blending strong engineering rigour with cutting-edge AI experimentation.
  • Flexibility: Remote-first with optional London hub.

For a confidential discussion please apply with an up to date CV

Seniority level

  • Seniority level

    Director

Employment type

  • Employment type

    Full-time

Job function

  • Job function

    Information Technology and Engineering

  • Industries

    Software Development and IT System Custom Software Development

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Director of Software Engineering (London) employer: Better Placed Ltd - A Sunday Times Top 10 Employer!

At Better Placed Ltd, a Sunday Times Top 10 Employer, we pride ourselves on fostering a collaborative and research-driven culture that empowers our employees to shape the future of AI technology. With strong VC backing and access to cutting-edge resources, we offer exceptional growth opportunities for our team members in a remote-first environment, complemented by the option to connect at our London hub. Join us to lead innovative projects in a supportive atmosphere that values engineering excellence and creativity.
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Contact Detail:

Better Placed Ltd - A Sunday Times Top 10 Employer! Recruiting Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫

We think this is how you could land Director of Software Engineering (London)

✨Tip Number 1

Network with professionals in the AI and software engineering fields. Attend meetups, webinars, or conferences where you can connect with people who work at AI-native startups or similar companies. This can help you gain insights into the company culture and potentially get a referral.

✨Tip Number 2

Showcase your leadership experience by discussing specific projects where you led teams to success. Prepare examples that highlight your ability to balance speed, reliability, and scalability in software development, as these are key aspects of the role.

✨Tip Number 3

Familiarise yourself with the latest trends in AI and machine learning, especially around LLMs and MLOps. Being able to discuss current technologies and methodologies will demonstrate your passion and knowledge during interviews.

✨Tip Number 4

Prepare to discuss your experience with cloud infrastructure and containerisation. Be ready to explain how you've architected and maintained systems in AWS, GCP, or Azure, as this is crucial for the role and will set you apart from other candidates.

We think you need these skills to ace Director of Software Engineering (London)

Technical Leadership
Cloud Infrastructure Deployment (AWS, GCP, Azure)
Containerisation and Orchestration (Docker, Kubernetes)
AI/ML Systems Development
Production-Grade AI Product Scaling
Collaboration with AI Research Teams
API Development and Maintenance
Data Pipeline Development
DevOps Best Practices
Code Quality Assurance
Scalability and Reliability Engineering
Security Best Practices in Software Development
Experience with MLOps
Strong Communication Skills

Some tips for your application 🫡

Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights relevant experience in software engineering, particularly in AI and cloud infrastructure. Emphasise leadership roles and any hands-on experience with Python, TypeScript, and MLOps.

Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Write a cover letter that showcases your passion for AI and your vision for leading an engineering team. Mention specific projects or achievements that align with the responsibilities outlined in the job description.

Highlight Collaboration Skills: Since the role involves working closely with research teams, emphasise your collaboration skills. Provide examples of how you've successfully worked with cross-functional teams in previous roles.

Showcase Technical Expertise: Detail your experience with cloud platforms (AWS, GCP, Azure) and containerisation tools (Docker, Kubernetes). Include any relevant certifications or training that demonstrate your technical proficiency.

How to prepare for a job interview at Better Placed Ltd - A Sunday Times Top 10 Employer!

✨Showcase Your Technical Leadership

As a Director of Software Engineering, it's crucial to demonstrate your technical leadership experience. Be prepared to discuss specific examples where you've led teams in building scalable AI systems or applications, and how you balanced speed, reliability, and scalability.

✨Familiarise Yourself with AI and ML Concepts

Since the role involves working closely with AI research teams, brush up on your knowledge of machine learning pipelines and LLM deployment. Being able to speak confidently about these topics will show your understanding of the field and your ability to collaborate effectively.

✨Discuss Cloud Infrastructure Experience

Make sure to highlight your experience with cloud infrastructure deployment, particularly with AWS, GCP, or Azure. Prepare to discuss any projects where you've architected or maintained cloud solutions, as this is a key aspect of the role.

✨Emphasise Collaboration Skills

The ideal candidate will have a strong track record of collaboration. Be ready to share examples of how you've worked with cross-functional teams, especially in integrating AI components with frontend and backend services. This will demonstrate your ability to foster a collaborative engineering culture.

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