Director of Engineering

About Elsewhen: Elsewhen, a London-based consultancy, designs and builds technology solutions for clients like Spotify, Google, Inmarsat, and Zego. Over the past decade, we have built a workplace prioritising impact, drive, and friendliness. We value outcomes over hours and agility over rigid processes.

Work Environment: Remote-first setup: Fully remote work with the option to use a WeWork membership for those who prefer occasional office access.

Role: As a Director of Engineering at Elsewhen, you will be a key member of our technology leadership team, shaping our technical vision and driving the success of our engineering department. Working in partnership with the CTO and other Directors, you will guide a dedicated part of our engineering team and a portfolio of client projects. This is a senior leadership role for a collaborative and strategic technologist who excels at balancing hands-on impact with high-level strategy. You will have the autonomy to lead your teams and projects, all while contributing to the overall growth and direction of technology at Elsewhen.

Responsibilities:

• Partner with the CTO and other directors to define and shape the company’s overall technology strategy, roadmap, and standards.
• Lead, mentor, and develop a dedicated group of engineering leads and their teams, fostering their professional growth and managing team performance.
• Provide strategic oversight and technical governance for a portfolio of client projects, acting as the primary escalation point for technical challenges.
• Act as a senior technical expert in new business pitches and client relationships, helping to design solutions and build trusted partnerships.
• Drive innovation within your domain by championing emerging technologies, modern architectural patterns, and best-in-class engineering practices.
• Champion and contribute to our engineering culture, promoting an environment of collaboration, inclusion, and continuous learning.
• Manage team structure and resource allocation within your remit to ensure efficient and high-quality project delivery.

Requirements:

• Applied AI experience in personal or professional projects.
• Experience embedding AI into engineering workflows or client solutions.
• Experience operating in a consultancy or multi-client/project environment.
• Comfortable pitching, estimating, and leading multiple concurrent workstreams or projects.
• Proven experience in a senior technology leadership role (e.g., Senior Engineering Manager, Head of Engineering, or Director of Engineering/Technology) within a digital product or consultancy environment.
• A strong background in hands-on software engineering and system architecture, with experience delivering complex, large-scale digital products.
• Demonstrable experience in people management, including hiring, mentoring, and developing engineering leads and senior engineers.
• Experience in a client-facing role, with excellent communication skills and the ability to articulate complex technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders.
• A track record of contributing to technology strategy and making high-level decisions on architecture, tooling, and practices.
• Experience working effectively in a collaborative leadership team, contributing to a shared vision and collective goals.
• Deep understanding of modern cloud platforms (e.g., GCP, AWS and/or Azure), Agile methodologies, and DevOps principles.

Benefits:

• Private Health Insurance: Comprehensive coverage for both physical and mental health.
• Flexible and Remote-First Work Environment: Choose how and where you work, with the option for weekly team meet-ups in central London.
• Generous Leave Policy: 27 days of holiday plus bank holidays.
• Family-friendly policies, including enhanced maternity, paternity leave.
• Learning and Development: Individual annual budget of £2,000 for learning and development, with dedicated learning days.
• Feel Better Fund: £500 to help set up your remote office.
• Social Events: Monthly and quarterly team events, an annual team trip, and half-yearly social events.
• Gym Membership Contribution: Support for maintaining your physical health.
• Pension Contribution: Enhanced employer pension contribution of 6%.
• Bonus Opportunities: Potential to receive a discretionary (non-contractual) bonus based on business and personal achievements.

Our Commitment to Diversity: Diverse thoughts, backgrounds, and perspectives create stronger teams and better technology. We welcome everyone, regardless of culture, appearance, or perspective, fostering individuality. We empower our team to challenge norms, grow ideas, and produce their best work.