and details on how your personal data is processed, please review our .Director of Engineering page is loaded## Director of Engineeringremote type: Hybridlocations: Londontime type: Full timeposted on: Posted Todayjob requisition id: JR000355# **Job Description****The Role**We are looking for a Head of/Director of Engineering to lead the technical delivery of our go-to-market products: the software our Clients, Consumers and Partners use. This covers Priority Pass, LoungeKey, Lounge Pass and the wider airport experiences estate, along with the externally facing APIs, partner integrations and digital experiences that sit around them.You are accountable for delivering valuable, reliable software to customers and partners at pace, supporting with defining our engineering standards and culture, and nurturing a capable and efficient engineering team.You will manage a number of Principal Engineers and Lead Engineers, and work with the Engineering Managers and cross-functional squads inside your pillars. You set technical direction, raise the standard for architecture, testing and operational readiness, and make sure delivery is visible without drowning teams in reporting. You will be close enough to the detail to make credible decisions, but you operate through standards, coaching and clear ownership rather than doing the work yourself.Our cloud-native platform is built on AWS, built with TypeScript, React, Node.js, Kubernetes, serverless, GraphQL, Kafka, Postgres and MongoDB.You will be accountable for business-critical, client-facing, operationally sensitive systems. They carry high-volume customer journeys, partner integrations, reservations, payments-adjacent and PCI-sensitive workloads, and integrations with platforms such as Salesforce. You will be accountable for the resilience and live operation of the services your teams own.Finally, AI will play a key role in your team, and you will bring demonstrable experience of how you have improved SDLCs with the use of AI, and will take those learnings forward to your team at Collinson.**Key Responsibilities*** Own the technical delivery of the go-to-market products serving Clients, Consumers and Partners, including externally facing APIs, SDKs, partner integrations and our digital experiences, while balancing delivery pace against long-term engineering quality.* Set and evolve the technical direction for the team, working with the Platform Manager to keep service boundaries clear, reduce coupling, and stop a distributed monolith forming between product and platform.* Lead and line-manage Principal and Lead Engineers, and oversee the engineering squads in the area.* Embed AI and automation into the SDLC where it removes real friction and improves measurable throughput, not as theatre or another layer of tooling.* Treat APIs, events and data contracts as products, with proper standards, versioning and lifecycle management.* Protect business-critical delivery commitments through frequent, reliable, low-risk deployments.* Raise the quality bar across architecture, code review, automated testing (unit, integration, contract, E2E and performance), BDD and resilience, partnering with the Head of QA so quality is built in from discovery rather than inspected at the end.* Make resilience, failure modes and recovery paths part of design from the start, and own the observability, on-call and incident response for the customer-facing services the teams run.* Give senior leadership, product and commercial stakeholders honest, transparent visibility of delivery confidence, technical risk and trade-offs, especially where client commitments are at stake.* Work with Product and Delivery early, before requirements are thrown over the wall, so squads have the context to make good decisions and move quickly without becoming chaotic.* Strengthen workforce strategy in the area, including reducing long-term contractor dependency and building sustainable engineering capacity.**Knowledge, Skills and Behaviours**Essential* Has led engineering teams as a Head of Engineering (or equivalent senior leadership role) before, accountable for delivery across multiple squads.* Proven track record delivering business-critical, client-facing software at scale while protecting delivery commitments.* Excellent people leadership skills, with a belief that the strongest teams are ones that love coming to work every day.* Credible technical depth in modern cloud-native architecture on AWS, with hands-on understanding of TypeScript, Node.js, React, Kubernetes, serverless, eventing and modern data stores.* Comfortable engaging with clients and other external stakeholders at a leadership level for both ongoing and new technical initiatives.* Track record embedding quality, observability and operational readiness into delivery, and owning incident response for production services.* Comfortable operating across both executive and technical levels, translating technical reality into clear narratives for senior, product and commercial stakeholders.* Pragmatic use of AI and automation in the SDLC, with a bias towards measurable impact over hype.* Leads through influence, standards and coaching, while staying close enough to the detail to make credible decisions.* Direct, thoughtful and pragmatic; challenges complexity, process without value, and teams avoiding ownership.* Brings confidence and presence, and is comfortable making and standing by difficult decisions under operational pressure.* Invests in growing Principal and Lead Engineers, building strong teams and clear career paths.* Articulates delivery risk and trade-offs honestly, even when the message is uncomfortable, and surfaces issues early.* Cares about outcomes and customers, not elegant diagrams that fall apart in production.We want our people to feel recognised, supported and able to thrive both at work and beyond it.We offer a competitive reward package designed to support your financial, physical and mental wellbeing, alongside opportunities to learn, develop and be recognised for the contribution you make. Benefits vary by role and location, and full details will be shared as part of the application process.# **Equal opportunities: Our commitment to inclusion**Collinson Group is an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, identities and experiences, and believe that different perspectives make our business stronger.remote type: Hybridlocations: Londontime type: Full timeposted on: Posted TodayCollinson Group is powered by a culture of innovation, collaboration, and integrity. Our employee experience brings together everything that makes us unique: our strong values, our commitment to sustainability, our recognition programmes, and our inclusive culture. Most importantly, it's our people who make the difference. At Collinson Group, we're curious, hardworking, humble, and focused on creating impact together, which is why we're proud to be recognised as a top workplace.**Better journeys start here - including your own.**Join a growing global business where you can solve meaningful challenges, collaborate with talented people around the world and help shape the future of travel, loyalty and customer experience.Bring your perspective, grow beyond your role and make an impact that reaches beyond profit.**Your next journey could start here**We are always interested in meeting talented people who share our ambition. Join our talent community and tell us more about your experience, interests and aspirations. Our Talent Acquisition team will be in touch when an opportunity matches your skills.**Join our talent community** #J-18808-Ljbffr
Director of Engineering employer: Collinson Group
Collinson Group is an exceptional employer that fosters a collaborative and innovative work culture, where your contributions directly impact the evolution of scalable platforms. With a strong focus on employee growth, we offer numerous opportunities for professional development and career advancement, all while being part of a dynamic team in the heart of the United Kingdom. Join us to be at the forefront of product innovation and make a meaningful difference in the industry.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Director of Engineering
✨Join Local Manufacturing Groups
Getting involved in local manufacturing groups or associations can seriously boost your visibility. These groups often have insider info on job openings and networking events, plus they help you connect with like-minded folks in the industry. Check out what's happening in your area!
✨Show Off Your Skills in Practical Spaces
Consider participating in workshops or open days at manufacturing companies. It's a great way to show off your hands-on skills in a real-world environment and can sometimes lead to job offers right on the spot. Keep an eye on announcements from local manufacturers for these opportunities!
✨Leverage the Power of Internships
While you're looking for full-time positions, don't underestimate the power of internships! Even if you don't see a direct role, securing an internship at a company can open doors to future jobs. Many manufacturing firms prefer to hire from their intern pool, so it's definitely worth considering.
✨Apply Directly Through Company Websites
When you find a role at a company you love, like Collinson Group, apply directly on their website. This way, you’re more likely to be noticed by the hiring team. Plus, showing that you took the time to seek out their application process highlights your genuine interest in the firm!
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your Technical Skills:In the manufacturing-production sector, it's crucial to highlight your technical skills and experience. Make sure your CV features any relevant qualifications, such as certifications in machinery operation or production management, and don’t forget about any specific systems or software you’re familiar with. This can really set you apart!
Emphasise Teamwork and Communication:Working in manufacturing often means being part of a larger team. Highlight your experience in collaborative projects or environments where communication was key. Maybe you have experience with lean manufacturing principles? Talk about how you worked with your team to improve productivity and maintain quality.
Tailor Your Cover Letter to the Company:Don’t just recycle an old cover letter! Take the time to tailor your cover letter to Collinson Group specifically. Mention what excites you about their production processes or products, and how your previous experiences can contribute to their goals. We want to see your enthusiasm for the role!
Use Concrete Examples of Your Achievements:When detailing your work experience, include measurable achievements that can demonstrate your impact. Whether it’s improving efficiency by a certain percentage or successfully leading a project, these specifics can make a huge difference. Numbers speak volumes in the manufacturing world!
How to prepare for a job interview at Collinson Group
✨Know Your Manufacturing Processes
Before you walk into the interview with Collinson Group, brush up on the specific manufacturing processes relevant to the role. Understanding lean manufacturing principles or quality control techniques could give you a solid edge to discuss how you’d fit into their operations.
✨Technical Questions Are Key
Be prepared for technical questions around machinery, production scheduling, or materials handling. Make sure you can confidently explain how you've dealt with these in past experiences or internships. Knowing industry-specific software could also be a big plus!
✨Showcase Your Problem-Solving Skills
Manufacturing environments often focus on continuous improvement. Be ready to discuss specific instances where you’ve solved a production issue or implemented a process improvement. It’s all about demonstrating your analytical thinking and hands-on approach.
✨Align Your Values with Quality and Safety
In a full-time role, companies like Collinson Group value commitment to quality and safety. Be prepared to discuss how you prioritise these factors in your work. It’s about showing that you’re not just looking for a job, but that you genuinely care about contributing positively to their production environment.
