Head of Engineering

Head of Engineering

London Full-Time 57600 - 84000 £ / year (est.) No home office possible
Go Premium
E

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead engineering strategy and team growth in a cutting-edge AI company.
  • Company: Join a fast-growing AI firm revolutionising real-time market intelligence for top financial institutions.
  • Benefits: Enjoy a full-time role with opportunities for remote work and a vibrant team culture.
  • Why this job: Be at the forefront of technology, shaping products that impact the financial sector.
  • Qualifications: 8+ years in engineering leadership, ideally in AI/ML or data-focused environments.
  • Other info: This is a senior director-level position with a focus on team building and technical excellence.

The predicted salary is between 57600 - 84000 £ per year.

Job Description

Head of Engineering / VP of Engineering

I’m working with a fast-growing AI company at the forefront of real-time market intelligence, supporting some of the world’s leading financial institutions. They’re now looking for a Head of Engineering (or VP of Engineering) to lead their next stage of technical and team scale-up.

This is a strategic and hands-on leadership role, combining technical vision, team growth, and delivery across products powered by LLMs, forecasting models, and scalable API platforms.

Key Responsibilities

  • Own the technical strategy and execution across the company’s core products, including real-time APIs, data pipelines, and LLM-powered analytics.
  • Collaborate closely with Product and Data Science to deliver a forward-thinking technology roadmap.
  • Lead, mentor, and scale a high-performing engineering team (currently ~10), nurturing a culture of ownership, speed, and technical excellence.
  • Make key architectural decisions, ensuring system scalability and data infrastructure performance.
  • Maintain high engineering standards while remaining close to critical technical choices.
  • Recruit top talent and build a strong, inclusive team culture.
  • Oversee DevOps, InfoSec, and internal IT, ensuring smooth and secure operations.
  • Sit on the leadership team and act as a key bridge between engineering, product, and commercial.

What I’m Looking For

  • 8+ years of engineering leadership within B2B SaaS, ideally in AI/ML or data-focused environments.
  • Experience growing teams through start-up to scale-up (Series A/B); time in both early-stage and mature environments is a bonus.
  • Strong technical foundation in Python, distributed systems, cloud infrastructure (Azure preferred), and modern scalable architectures.
  • Solid grasp of Agile practices, continuous delivery, and high-performing lean teams.
  • People-first leadership style, with a proven ability to build and nurture high-performing teams.
  • Exposure to machine learning, NLP, or financial data products is highly advantageous.
  • Comfortable working in fast-moving, ambiguous environments where both execution and strategic vision matter.

Additional Info

Head of Engineering employer: Explore Group

Join a pioneering AI company in London that is redefining real-time market intelligence for top financial institutions. As an employer, we foster a dynamic work culture that prioritises innovation and collaboration, offering exceptional growth opportunities for our employees. With a focus on nurturing talent and maintaining high engineering standards, we provide a supportive environment where your contributions directly impact the company's success.
E

Contact Detail:

Explore Group Recruiting Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫

We think this is how you could land Head of Engineering

✨Tip Number 1

Network with professionals in the AI and engineering sectors. Attend industry events, webinars, or meetups to connect with people who might have insights into the company or role. Building relationships can often lead to referrals, which significantly increase your chances of landing an interview.

✨Tip Number 2

Showcase your leadership experience by discussing specific examples where you've successfully scaled teams or led projects in fast-paced environments. Prepare anecdotes that highlight your ability to nurture talent and foster a culture of excellence, as these qualities are crucial for the Head of Engineering role.

✨Tip Number 3

Familiarise yourself with the latest trends in AI, machine learning, and data analytics. Being well-versed in current technologies and methodologies will not only help you during discussions but also demonstrate your commitment to staying at the forefront of the industry.

✨Tip Number 4

Prepare thoughtful questions about the company's technical strategy and team dynamics. This shows your genuine interest in the role and helps you assess if the company aligns with your values and career goals, making you a more attractive candidate.

We think you need these skills to ace Head of Engineering

Engineering Leadership
B2B SaaS Experience
AI/ML Knowledge
Data-Focused Environments
Team Growth and Scaling
Technical Strategy Development
Python Proficiency
Distributed Systems Expertise
Cloud Infrastructure (Azure Preferred)
Modern Scalable Architectures
Agile Methodologies
Continuous Delivery Practices
High-Performing Lean Teams
People-First Leadership
Machine Learning Exposure
NLP Familiarity
Financial Data Product Knowledge
Strategic Vision
Operational Security Awareness
DevOps Management

Some tips for your application 🫡

Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights your engineering leadership experience, particularly in B2B SaaS and AI/ML environments. Emphasise your technical skills in Python, cloud infrastructure, and your experience with scalable architectures.

Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: In your cover letter, express your passion for leading engineering teams and your vision for technical strategy. Mention specific examples of how you've nurtured high-performing teams and made key architectural decisions in previous roles.

Showcase Relevant Experience: When detailing your work history, focus on your experience growing teams from start-up to scale-up. Highlight any exposure to machine learning, NLP, or financial data products, as these are highly advantageous for this role.

Prepare for Technical Questions: Be ready to discuss your technical foundation and decision-making processes in previous projects. Prepare to explain how you maintain high engineering standards while ensuring system scalability and performance.

How to prepare for a job interview at Explore Group

✨Showcase Your Technical Vision

As a Head of Engineering, it's crucial to demonstrate your technical vision during the interview. Be prepared to discuss your approach to developing and executing a technical strategy, especially in areas like real-time APIs and data pipelines.

✨Highlight Team Growth Experience

Since this role involves scaling a high-performing engineering team, share specific examples of how you've successfully grown teams in previous roles. Discuss your leadership style and how you foster a culture of ownership and technical excellence.

✨Discuss Architectural Decisions

Be ready to talk about key architectural decisions you've made in the past. Explain how these choices impacted system scalability and performance, particularly in cloud infrastructure and distributed systems.

✨Emphasise Collaboration Skills

Collaboration with Product and Data Science teams is essential for this role. Prepare to provide examples of how you've worked cross-functionally to deliver technology roadmaps and ensure alignment between engineering and commercial goals.

Head of Engineering
Explore Group
Location: London
Go Premium

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

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