Head of Engineering in Peterborough

Head of Engineering in Peterborough

Peterborough Full-Time 80000 - 100000 £ / year (est.) Home office (partial)
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Frontline Group

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead engineering transformation and elevate standards in a complex, high-availability environment.
  • Company: Join Frontline Group, the UK's leading retail sales and distribution company.
  • Benefits: 28 days holiday, hybrid working, wellbeing support, and learning opportunities.
  • Why this job: Shape the engineering backbone of a national-scale business and make a real impact.
  • Qualifications: Experience in engineering leadership, DevSecOps, and measurable reliability standards.
  • Other info: Diverse culture that values authenticity and offers excellent career growth.

The predicted salary is between 80000 - 100000 £ per year.

We are seeking a senior engineering leader to shape our evolution as our Head of Engineering, Platform & Resilience. If you are energised by building durable systems — and by raising the technical bar across teams — this role could be a great fit.

Frontline operates one of the UK’s most complex distribution and forecasting networks. Our systems underpin national retail operations, large-scale data flows, and commercially critical decision-making. We are modernising our technology estate — strengthening cloud foundations, embedding DevSecOps, elevating engineering standards, and building a more resilient platform capable of supporting the next phase of growth.

This is an opportunity to shape the engineering backbone of a national-scale business in a senior, hands-on engineering leadership role, where you will still be close to the technology.

This role carries end-to-end ownership of engineering standards, platform direction, DevSecOps maturity, and production resilience. You will define what “production-ready” means across the organisation and embed accountability between build and run. We want to move quickly at the experimentation stage. But once a capability becomes operationally critical, it must meet clear standards of reliability, security, observability and recovery. You will design the operating model that makes that possible. You will influence architecture, structure and capability development. You will strengthen code quality governance. You will elevate automation and release confidence. You will reduce operational fragility through structural improvement — not firefighting.

Essential Skills

  • Led engineering or platform transformation in complex, high-availability environments.
  • Owned systems where downtime had real commercial consequences.
  • Embedded DevSecOps and automation at scale.
  • Introduced measurable reliability standards (SLIs, SLOs, structured incident learning).
  • Raised engineering quality and governance maturity.

Join the Frontline Group — Making the Complex Simple. Frontline Group is made up of three dynamic business units—Frontline Distribution Solutions, Frontline Retail Solutions, and Gold Key Media —supported by key enabling functions. United by our mission to ‘Make the Complex Simple’, we’re the UK’s leading retail sales, marketing, and distribution company, with a strong presence in publishing and home entertainment.

We partner with iconic UK magazine publishers, representing titles like Radio Times, Good Housekeeping, TV Choice, Heat, Top Gear, Grazia, Vogue, Cosmopolitan, Empire, National Geographic, and many more. We also work with major film studios to manage DVD distribution in grocery retail: and run the book category for retailers such as Morrisons and Waitrose. We are currently expanding into additional categories such as music, collectables and other exciting products. At Gold Key Media we work closely with key venues such as four and five star hotels, airport lounges and world famous events internationally.

We collaborate with UK and international retailers, wholesalers, and supply chain partners to deliver on our clients’ commercial goals with the vision to be the most valued Distribution and Retail solutions partner. Through Gold Key Media, we also manage premium brand placements across global events, travel hubs, and hospitality venues.

Jointly owned by Bauer Media and Immediate Media Company (Hubert Burda Media), Frontline Group offers career opportunities across a wide range of business areas. We’re passionate about developing talent and have a strong track record of helping our people grow and thrive.

Our teams are made up of trusted industry professionals. We celebrate diversity and ensure everyone feels welcomed, valued, and empowered to be their authentic selves. Our I ACT values—Impact, Ambition, Collaboration, and Trust —drive sustainable performance, business growth, continuous innovation, and a happy work environment.

Diversity and inclusion are at the heart of everything we do. We want to make sure that our selection processes are transparent and fair, providing a level playing field for anyone who wants to come and work with us. Therefore, if you require any reasonable adjustments to an interview process, please feel free to get in touch with the Hiring Manager who will be happy to discuss your needs in complete confidence.

Benefits

  • 28 days holiday plus bank holidays (pro rata)
  • Contributory pension, including life assurance, and income protection
  • Informal hybrid working arrangements, combining in-office and remote/home working.
  • Additional leave: 2 paid volunteering days per year and family-friendly policy
  • Wellbeing support, including our Employee Assistance Programme
  • On-site gym and parking at Stuart House, Peterborough
  • Reward Gateway scheme – Smart Spending App
  • Salary-sacrifice options including private medical insurance, car scheme, and holiday purchase scheme
  • Learning and development opportunities
  • Executive coaching and mentoring available to all colleagues

Head of Engineering in Peterborough employer: Frontline Group

At Frontline Group, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a vibrant work culture that champions diversity and inclusion while empowering our employees to thrive. As the Head of Engineering, you will play a pivotal role in shaping our engineering standards within a dynamic environment, supported by comprehensive benefits such as flexible working arrangements, extensive learning opportunities, and a commitment to employee wellbeing. Join us in Peterborough, where your contributions will directly impact our mission to 'Make the Complex Simple' in the UK's leading retail distribution landscape.
Frontline Group

Contact Detail:

Frontline Group Recruiting Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫

We think this is how you could land Head of Engineering in Peterborough

Tip Number 1

Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the industry, attend meetups, and engage with professionals on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.

Tip Number 2

Prepare for those interviews! Research the company, understand their tech stack, and be ready to discuss how your experience aligns with their goals. Practise common interview questions and have your own questions ready to show your interest.

Tip Number 3

Showcase your skills through projects! If you’ve worked on relevant projects, make sure to highlight them during interviews. Consider creating a portfolio or GitHub repository to demonstrate your technical prowess and problem-solving abilities.

Tip Number 4

Apply through our website! We love seeing candidates who take the initiative to apply directly. It shows you're genuinely interested in joining our team and helps us get to know you better right from the start.

We think you need these skills to ace Head of Engineering in Peterborough

Engineering Leadership
Platform Transformation
High-Availability Systems
DevSecOps Implementation
Automation at Scale
Reliability Standards (SLIs, SLOs)
Incident Learning
Engineering Quality Governance
Operational Resilience
Cloud Foundations
Code Quality Governance
Structured Improvement
Technical Bar Raising
Production Readiness Definition

Some tips for your application 🫡

Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Head of Engineering role. Highlight your experience in leading engineering transformations and embedding DevSecOps, as these are key aspects of what we're looking for.

Showcase Your Achievements: Don’t just list your responsibilities; share specific achievements that demonstrate your impact. Use metrics where possible to show how you’ve raised engineering standards or improved system reliability in previous roles.

Be Authentic: We value diversity and authenticity, so let your personality shine through in your application. Share your passion for technology and how it aligns with our mission to 'Make the Complex Simple'.

Apply Through Our Website: For the best chance of success, make sure to apply directly through our website. This helps us keep track of applications and ensures you’re considered for the role in a timely manner.

How to prepare for a job interview at Frontline Group

Know Your Tech Inside Out

As a candidate for the Head of Engineering role, it's crucial to have a deep understanding of the technologies and systems you'll be working with. Brush up on cloud foundations, DevSecOps practices, and engineering standards. Be ready to discuss how you've implemented these in past roles.

Showcase Your Leadership Style

This position requires strong leadership skills. Prepare examples of how you've led engineering transformations in high-availability environments. Highlight your approach to building resilient teams and fostering a culture of accountability and innovation.

Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions

Expect questions that assess your problem-solving abilities in real-world scenarios. Think about times when you had to ensure production resilience or improve code quality governance. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your responses.

Align with Company Values

Frontline Group values Impact, Ambition, Collaboration, and Trust. Research these values and think about how your personal and professional experiences align with them. Be prepared to discuss how you can contribute to their mission of 'Making the Complex Simple'.

Head of Engineering in Peterborough
Frontline Group
Location: Peterborough
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