At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the transition to an in-house engineering team and guide technical direction.
- Company: Join a dynamic company focused on building high-performing teams and innovative solutions.
- Benefits: Enjoy a hybrid work model, competitive salary, and the chance to shape company culture.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by building from scratch and defining the future of engineering.
- Qualifications: 7+ years in full-stack development with leadership experience in tech teams.
- Other info: Potential to step into a CTO role as the company grows.
The predicted salary is between 95000 - 130000 £ per year.
Job Description
Head of Engineering – London (Hybrid)
Location: London (Hybrid – 1 day pw onsite)
Salary: £110k–£130k per annum
Contract Type: Permanent, full-time
We’re looking for a strategic and hands-on Head of Engineering to lead the transition from an outsourced development setup to a high-performing in-house team. This is a high-impact role for an experienced engineering leader ready to shape processes, drive delivery, and own technical direction.
What You’ll Do:
- Lead a major transition from an external dev partner to a newly built in-house team
- Act as the senior technical authority, guiding architecture and best practices
- Be a player-coach – writing production code and leading by example
- Hire and grow a small, effective engineering team
- Establish strong engineering processes for delivery, quality, and scale
- Collaborate cross-functionally with Product, Data, and business leaders
- Shape long-term technical strategy, with potential to step into a CTO role
What we need from you
- 7+ years in full-stack development, ideally with Ruby on Rails, PostgreSQL, and React
- Proven experience leading technical teams and setting engineering standards
- Hands-on mindset with a strong bias toward shipping and problem-solving
- Experience hiring, mentoring, and managing engineers
- A pragmatic approach to engineering process – enough to ensure speed and stability
- Commercial awareness and a clear understanding of how tech supports business goals
- Confidence in owning technical decisions and handling live systems under pressure
Why This Role?
- Opportunity to build something from the ground up
- Be the most senior technical voice in the business
- Take real ownership of delivery, culture, and direction
- Define how a growing organisation scales its engineering function
Head of Engineering employer: Corecom Consulting
Contact Detail:
Corecom Consulting Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Engineering
✨Tip Number 1
Network with professionals in the engineering field, especially those who have experience transitioning teams from outsourced to in-house setups. Attend industry meetups or webinars to connect with potential colleagues and gain insights into best practices.
✨Tip Number 2
Showcase your hands-on experience by contributing to open-source projects or personal coding initiatives that demonstrate your technical skills in Ruby on Rails, PostgreSQL, and React. This will not only enhance your portfolio but also highlight your commitment to continuous learning.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare to discuss your leadership style and how you’ve successfully built and managed engineering teams in the past. Be ready to share specific examples of how you've mentored engineers and established effective processes that led to successful project deliveries.
✨Tip Number 4
Research StudySmarter’s current engineering practices and culture. Understanding our values and how we operate will help you align your vision for the role and demonstrate your genuine interest in contributing to our growth and success.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Engineering
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights your experience in full-stack development, particularly with Ruby on Rails, PostgreSQL, and React. Emphasise your leadership roles and any successful transitions you've led in the past.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: In your cover letter, express your passion for building in-house teams and your hands-on approach to engineering. Mention specific examples of how you've shaped processes and driven delivery in previous roles.
Showcase Leadership Experience: Clearly outline your experience in hiring, mentoring, and managing engineers. Provide examples of how you've set engineering standards and fostered a strong team culture.
Demonstrate Technical Authority: Highlight your ability to make technical decisions and manage live systems under pressure. Discuss your approach to balancing speed and stability in engineering processes.
How to prepare for a job interview at Corecom Consulting
✨Showcase Your Leadership Experience
As a Head of Engineering, you'll need to demonstrate your ability to lead teams effectively. Prepare examples of how you've successfully managed engineering teams in the past, focusing on your leadership style and the impact it had on project outcomes.
✨Highlight Technical Proficiency
Make sure to discuss your hands-on experience with technologies like Ruby on Rails, PostgreSQL, and React. Be ready to explain how you've used these technologies in previous roles and how they can be applied to the company's needs.
✨Discuss Transition Strategies
Since this role involves transitioning from an outsourced setup to an in-house team, prepare to talk about your strategies for managing such transitions. Share any relevant experiences and how you overcame challenges during similar processes.
✨Emphasise Collaboration Skills
Collaboration is key in this role, so be prepared to discuss how you've worked cross-functionally with other departments like Product and Data. Provide examples of successful collaborations that led to improved outcomes or innovations.