At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a dynamic engineering team, driving strategy and technical excellence across multiple projects.
- Company: Join a forward-thinking tech company with a global reach and innovative culture.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible working options, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: High visibility role with opportunities to engage directly with C-level stakeholders.
- Why this job: Make a significant impact by shaping engineering functions and influencing enterprise clients.
- Qualifications: Proven leadership in complex environments and strong technical expertise, especially in cloud technologies.
The predicted salary is between 100000 - 150000 £ per year.
We are seeking a senior technology leader to take ownership of a critical engineering function operating at scale across multiple teams, geographies, and stakeholders. This is a high-impact leadership role for someone who thrives in complex environments — balancing strategy, delivery, and people leadership — while remaining technically credible at the highest level.
The Opportunity
- You will lead a distributed organisation comprising 4–5 direct reports and 30+ indirect reports across multiple teams and time zones.
- This role sits at the intersection of engineering, product, and enterprise client engagement.
- You will be responsible for setting direction, influencing senior stakeholders, and ensuring that engineering capability aligns with both internal strategy and external client needs.
- This is not a purely managerial role — you will be expected to bring strong technical judgement, challenge assumptions, and provide clear direction in environments where ambiguity and complexity are the norm.
What You’ll Be Doing
- Leading and developing a multi-layered engineering organisation, fostering high performance and accountability.
- Defining and executing technical strategy aligned to business and client objectives.
- Acting as a senior escalation point for complex technical and organisational challenges.
- Partnering with Product, Software Engineering, and other internal functions to deliver at pace and scale.
- Engaging directly with enterprise clients, including C-level stakeholders (e.g. CTOs), building trust and influencing outcomes.
- Driving operational excellence across systems, infrastructure, and delivery practices.
- Creating clarity in complex situations and aligning teams behind a shared direction.
- Building a culture of ownership, transparency, and continuous improvement.
About You
- Proven senior leader with experience managing layered teams in complex, global environments.
- Strong presence and credibility — able to influence, challenge, and lead in senior forums.
- Commercially aware, with experience engaging enterprise clients and stakeholders.
- Technically astute, with the ability to interrogate and validate solutions (particularly within cloud environments such as Azure).
- Comfortable operating across strategy and execution — from board-level discussions to operational problem-solving.
- A natural leader who can command a room, build alignment, and drive outcomes.
- Resilient, pragmatic, and decisive in the face of ambiguity.
Why Join
- Opportunity to shape and lead a critical engineering function at scale.
- High level of visibility and influence across both internal leadership and enterprise clients.
- A role that blends strategy, leadership, and technical challenge.
Director of Systems Engineering employer: GBV Ltd
Contact Detail:
GBV Ltd Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Director of Systems Engineering
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the industry, attend relevant events, and engage with potential employers on platforms like LinkedIn. We all know that sometimes it’s not just what you know, but who you know!
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for those interviews by researching the company and its culture. Understand their products and services, and think about how your experience aligns with their needs. We want you to walk in feeling confident and ready to impress!
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your leadership skills during interviews. Be ready to discuss how you've led teams through complex challenges and influenced stakeholders. We believe that demonstrating your ability to drive outcomes is key to landing that Director role!
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets the attention it deserves. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive about their job search!
We think you need these skills to ace Director of Systems Engineering
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV reflects the skills and experiences that align with the Director of Systems Engineering role. Highlight your leadership experience, technical expertise, and any relevant achievements that showcase your ability to manage complex environments.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to tell us why you're the perfect fit for this role. Share your passion for technology leadership and how your background aligns with our mission at StudySmarter. Don’t forget to mention specific examples of how you've influenced stakeholders and driven operational excellence.
Showcase Your Technical Acumen: Since this role requires strong technical judgement, make sure to include details about your experience with cloud environments, particularly Azure. We want to see how you’ve tackled complex technical challenges and provided clear direction in your previous roles.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. This ensures your application gets to the right people quickly and allows us to keep track of all applicants efficiently. Plus, it shows us you're keen on joining the StudySmarter team!
How to prepare for a job interview at GBV Ltd
✨Know Your Tech Inside Out
As a Director of Systems Engineering, you need to demonstrate your technical expertise. Brush up on the latest trends in cloud environments, especially Azure, and be ready to discuss how you've tackled complex technical challenges in the past.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Style
This role requires strong leadership skills. Prepare examples that highlight your experience managing layered teams and fostering high performance. Think about how you've built trust with senior stakeholders and influenced outcomes in previous roles.
✨Prepare for Strategic Discussions
Expect to engage in conversations that blend strategy and execution. Be ready to discuss how you've aligned technical strategies with business objectives and how you've navigated ambiguity in complex environments.
✨Engage with Real Scenarios
During the interview, be prepared to tackle hypothetical scenarios or case studies. This will allow you to showcase your problem-solving skills and your ability to create clarity in complex situations while aligning teams behind a shared direction.