At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a dynamic engineering team to shape the future of payments technology.
- Company: Fast-growing fintech startup revolutionising real-time payments.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, equity options, hybrid work, and £5,000 annual learning budget.
- Other info: Opportunity to influence company direction and work with top-tier talent.
- Why this job: Be a key player in transforming payment infrastructure and driving innovation.
- Qualifications: 8+ years in software engineering with leadership experience in high-growth environments.
We are a Series B fintech startup on a mission to make real-time payments seamless, secure, and accessible for businesses of all sizes. We are building the next generation of payments infrastructure and we need exceptional engineering leadership to take us there. Our stack powers billions of pounds in transactions annually, and we are growing fast. This is a rare opportunity to shape the technical direction of a company at an inflection point.
We are looking for a Head of Engineering to lead our 40-person engineering organisation, set the technical vision, and partner closely with our CPO and CEO to drive product delivery. You will be the most senior technical voice in the company and a key member of the executive leadership team. This is a hands-on leadership role. You will be expected to go deep when it matters while also operating at the strategic level bridging the gap between engineering execution and business outcomes.
What You'll Do
- Own the engineering roadmap and translate business strategy into actionable technical plans
- Lead, mentor, and grow a team of engineers across backend, frontend, platform, and data disciplines
- Drive architectural decisions for our core payments platform, ensuring scalability, security, and regulatory compliance (PCI-DSS, PSD2, FCA)
- Partner with Product, Design, and Commercial teams to ship high-quality, customer-facing features on time
- Establish and improve engineering processes, including delivery cadence, incident management, and on-call practices
- Own technical hiring — build a world-class engineering culture that attracts and retains top talent
- Define and track engineering KPIs: reliability, deployment frequency, lead time, and developer experience
- Represent engineering at board level and with key investors and enterprise clients
What We're Looking For
Essential
- 8+ years of software engineering experience, with at least 3 years in an engineering leadership role
- Proven track record of leading and scaling engineering teams (20+ engineers) in a high-growth technology environment
- Strong understanding of distributed systems, cloud-native architecture (AWS or GCP), and API design
- Experience in financial services, payments, or highly regulated industries is a strong advantage
- Excellent communication skills comfortable presenting to C-suite, board members, and enterprise stakeholders
- Experience running Agile/product-led engineering teams with a focus on outcomes over output
Nice to Have
- Familiarity with payments standards and compliance frameworks (PCI-DSS, Open Banking, ISO 20022)
- Experience with Kafka, Kubernetes, Go, or Python at scale
- Prior experience in a Series B–D growth-stage startup
- Exposure to security-first engineering practices and SOC 2 / ISO 27001 environments
What We Offer
- Competitive salary: £180,000 – £220,000 depending on experience
- Meaningful equity package (EMI options)
- Hybrid working: 3 days in our London Bridge HQ, 2 days remote
- £5,000 annual learning budget
Head of Engineering employer: Forsyth Barnes
As a Series B fintech startup based in London, we offer an exceptional opportunity for the Head of Engineering to lead a dynamic team and shape the future of payments infrastructure. Our vibrant work culture fosters innovation and collaboration, with a strong emphasis on employee growth through mentorship and continuous learning. With competitive salaries, meaningful equity packages, and a hybrid working model, we are committed to creating a rewarding environment where top talent can thrive and make a significant impact.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Engineering
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the fintech space and let them know you're on the lookout for opportunities. Attend industry meetups or webinars to meet potential employers and get your name out there.
✨Tip Number 2
Showcase your expertise! Create a portfolio or a personal website that highlights your past projects, especially those related to payments or engineering leadership. This will give you an edge when discussing your experience with potential employers.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by brushing up on your technical knowledge and leadership skills. Be ready to discuss how you've driven engineering teams to success and how you can contribute to shaping the future of payments at a startup.
✨Tip Number 4
Don't forget to apply through our website! We love seeing candidates who are genuinely interested in joining our mission. Plus, it gives us a chance to see your application in the best light possible.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Engineering
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV reflects the skills and experiences that align with our Head of Engineering role. Highlight your leadership experience, especially in scaling teams and driving technical vision, as this is what we’re really looking for!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Use your cover letter to tell us why you’re passionate about fintech and how your background makes you the perfect fit for our mission. We want to see your personality shine through, so don’t hold back!
Showcase Your Achievements:When detailing your past roles, focus on specific achievements that demonstrate your impact. Whether it’s improving engineering processes or leading successful projects, we want to know how you’ve made a difference.
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 this exciting opportunity to shape our engineering team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Forsyth Barnes
✨Know Your Tech Inside Out
As a Head of Engineering, you'll need to demonstrate a deep understanding of distributed systems and cloud-native architecture. Brush up on your knowledge of AWS or GCP, and be ready to discuss how you've applied these technologies in previous roles.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Style
This role requires strong leadership skills, so think about how you can convey your experience in mentoring and growing engineering teams. Prepare examples of how you've successfully led teams through challenges and fostered a positive engineering culture.
✨Align with Business Goals
Be prepared to discuss how you can translate business strategy into actionable technical plans. Think about specific instances where you've aligned engineering efforts with business outcomes, and how you can bring that experience to the table.
✨Communicate Effectively
You'll be presenting to C-suite executives and board members, so practice articulating complex technical concepts in a way that's easy to understand. Highlight your communication skills and provide examples of how you've effectively engaged with stakeholders in the past.
