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- Tasks: Lead engineering teams to innovate and enhance our award-winning software platform.
- Company: Join FoodsConnected, a dynamic cloud-based software company transforming the food industry.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, generous holiday package, and flexible hybrid working.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a fast-paced environment while driving engineering excellence.
- Qualifications: Proven leadership in engineering with experience in complex platforms and modern practices.
- Other info: Be part of a collaborative culture that values employee happiness and growth.
The predicted salary is between 72000 - 84000 £ per year.
A LITTLE INFORMATION ABOUT US! FoodsConnected is an award winning cloud based software platform that helps retailers and food companies across the world manage their supply chain, quality control and trading and planning management. Our software solutions are currently utilised by 10 of the largest food retailers in the world. As a team, we provide tools that help our customers manage their processes in a fast and efficient way and provide real-time visibility and reporting on what is happening in their business. At Foods Connected, we recognise that our employees are our most important asset and we value creating a great working environment to ensure our team enjoy coming into the office every day working together and solving problems for our customers.
Whether we are in the middle of a fast and intense development sprint, on a Teams call discussing our project statuses or enjoying a game of ping-pong or pool in the office, it is important to us that our employees are happy and delivering the best possible result for our customers. We’re always keen to welcome talented individuals to join our expanding team. So if you’re driven, with a passion for developing simple software solutions, creating great user experiences, designing scalable solutions for real business challenges and ensuring customer happiness then we’re looking for you!
IS THIS SOMETHING THAT INTERESTS YOU? Foods Connected has built a mature, functionality-rich platform over the last 10 years, used by some of the largest food retail and food manufacturing companies in the world. We are a PE-backed company operating across the UK, Australia, and North America, and engineering sits at the centre of our growth strategy. Our engineering organisation is evolving. We are moving toward smaller, more autonomous engineering teams with greater ownership of outcomes, supported by AI-augmented development practices and modern tooling. This transition is underway but not complete, and the Director of Engineering will play a central role in making it real.
The Director of Engineering is a senior leadership role that sits between the CTO and the engineering teams. The CTO remains accountable for overall technology vision and alignment with product and commercial strategy. The Director of Engineering is accountable for translating that vision into consistent execution, scalable systems, and high-performing teams. You will partner closely with the CTO on technical strategy and organisational direction, and work downward through senior Technical Leads and the Engineering Manager to ensure teams are delivering with quality, pace, and genuine ownership. You will have organisational oversight of an engineering department of 50+ people spanning Graduate to Principal level. This role owns the operational rhythm of engineering, technical standards and consistency, and the day-to-day engineering leadership that enables the CTO to focus on innovation, product direction, and commercial strategy. You will have decision-making authority over engineering practices, team structure, and technical standards, and will be expected to make calls and own the outcomes.
As a member of the Engineering Division Leadership Team, you will collaborate with the Director of Data and the Director of Infrastructure and Security to ensure cohesive execution across the technology organisation. This is a PE-backed environment where engineering decisions carry commercial weight. The platform carries technical debt alongside production systems that enterprise customers depend on daily. There is an ongoing modernisation effort, legacy components that require pragmatic decisions, and teams adapting to a new operating model with greater autonomy and AI-augmented practices. You will need to balance architecture evolution with feature delivery, bring people through change, and represent engineering reality clearly when timelines, cost, and risk come under pressure.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Strategic Leadership and Engineering Evolution (35%)
- Partner with the CTO to define and execute long-term engineering strategy aligned with company objectives and the product roadmap.
- Act as a core member of the Engineering Division Leadership Team alongside the Director of Data and Director of Infrastructure and Security.
- Drive the evolution of engineering practices, including the effective adoption of AI-augmented development to improve quality, throughput, and developer experience.
- Shape how engineering teams are structured and operate, moving toward greater autonomy and ownership while maintaining alignment and shared standards.
- Build strong working relationships with Product, Customer Success, and other cross-functional leaders.
- Own engineering talent strategy including recruitment, retention, succession planning, and career development.
- Represent engineering in executive forums and board-level discussions, providing clear and honest visibility into progress, risks, and trade-offs.
- Communicate engineering strategy, priorities, and constraints clearly across senior leadership and delivery teams.
- Technical Direction and Architecture (30%)
- Own the execution of the technical direction for the platform, ensuring architectural decisions support scalability, reliability, and long-term maintainability.
- Work with the CTO to ensure technical direction remains aligned with product and commercial strategy.
- Drive pragmatic decisions on modernisation, refactoring, and legacy investment, balancing risk, cost, and customer impact.
- Own and enforce technical standards across teams, ensuring consistency without unnecessary centralisation.
- Work closely with senior Technical Leads to ensure high-quality, consistent architectural and design decisions.
- Lead or sponsor critical technical design reviews and guide teams through complex engineering challenges.
- Define expectations for AI-augmented development, including tooling standards, acceptable use, and how quality and productivity gains are measured.
- Stay current with relevant emerging technologies and evaluate their practical application to Foods Connected’s platforms.
- Be technically credible by engaging meaningfully in architectural discussions and challenging proposals where needed, without being a day-to-day code contributor.
- Enabling Delivery and Operational Excellence (35%)
- Work through the Engineering Manager and senior Technical Leads to ensure teams have the clarity, support, and tooling required to deliver effectively.
- Own the operational rhythm of engineering, including planning cadence, delivery coordination, and cross-team alignment.
- Set clear expectations for delivery quality and pace while supporting teams as they build greater autonomy.
- Drive process improvements that reduce friction and overhead rather than adding bureaucracy.
- Balance concurrent priorities across feature delivery, platform evolution, and technical debt reduction.
- Act as the senior escalation point for delivery, quality, and technical risk issues.
- Coordinate closely with the Director of Data and Director of Infrastructure and Security to ensure integrated execution across the Engineering Division.
- Manage stakeholder and customer expectations regarding technical capabilities, timelines, and trade-offs.
EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS:
To perform this job successfully, the Director of Engineering should have experience with:
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
- Significant experience in a senior engineering leadership role with responsibility for large, complex teams.
- Proven track record evolving mature platforms in production environments with real users and real technical debt.
- Demonstrated ability to lead through technical influence rather than positional authority.
- Experience operating in a PE-backed, investor-backed, or high-growth environment.
- Experience working alongside a technically involved CTO is beneficial.
TECHNICAL SKILLS
- Deep understanding of modern software development practices and delivery models.
- Strong background in C#, .NET, JavaScript, React, SQL Server, Azure, and Kubernetes.
- Experience with cloud platforms, distributed systems, and modern DevOps practices.
- Working knowledge of AI-augmented development tools and practices, with a pragmatic approach to adoption.
- Ability to evaluate new technologies strategically rather than chasing trends.
BENEFITS:
- Competitive Base Salary
- Generous Holiday Package - 25 Days + 10 Public Holidays
- Private Medical, Dental & Vision
- Employee Wellness Program and Classes
- Flexible model of hybrid working
Director of Engineering in Derry employer: Foods Connected
Contact Detail:
Foods Connected Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Director of Engineering in Derry
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the industry. Attend meetups, webinars, or even just grab a coffee with someone who works at FoodsConnected. Building relationships can open doors that a CV just can't.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! If you’ve got a portfolio or any projects that highlight your engineering prowess, make sure to share them during interviews. It’s a great way to demonstrate your capabilities beyond just talking about them.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for the interview like it’s a big game! Research FoodsConnected thoroughly—know their products, culture, and recent news. This shows you’re genuinely interested and ready to contribute to their mission.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to follow up! After your interview, shoot a quick thank-you email to express your appreciation for the opportunity. It keeps you on their radar and shows your enthusiasm for the role.
We think you need these skills to ace Director of Engineering in Derry
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion: When you're writing your application, let your enthusiasm for engineering and software solutions shine through. We want to see that you’re not just looking for a job, but that you’re genuinely excited about the opportunity to make a difference at FoodsConnected.
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to highlight your experience in leading engineering teams and evolving platforms. We love seeing how your background aligns with our mission, so don’t be shy about showcasing relevant projects and achievements!
Be Clear and Concise: In your written application, clarity is key! We appreciate straightforward communication, so keep your language simple and to the point. This will help us understand your qualifications and how you can contribute to our team.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it shows you’re keen on joining our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Foods Connected
✨Know the Company Inside Out
Before your interview, make sure you understand FoodsConnected's mission, values, and the specifics of their software platform. Familiarise yourself with how they help retailers manage their supply chains and what sets them apart from competitors. This knowledge will show your genuine interest and help you connect your experience to their needs.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Style
As a Director of Engineering, your leadership approach is crucial. Be prepared to discuss your past experiences in leading large teams, especially in high-growth environments. Share specific examples of how you've driven change, improved processes, or fostered team autonomy, as this aligns with FoodsConnected's evolving engineering structure.
✨Prepare for Technical Discussions
Expect to dive deep into technical topics during your interview. Brush up on modern software development practices, particularly around C#, .NET, and AI-augmented development tools. Be ready to discuss architectural decisions you've made and how they supported scalability and reliability, as these are key aspects of the role.
✨Emphasise Collaboration and Communication
Since the role involves working closely with the CTO and other directors, highlight your ability to communicate effectively across teams. Prepare to discuss how you've built strong relationships with cross-functional leaders and how you ensure alignment on technical strategy and delivery expectations.