At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and mentor a dynamic team of engineers while driving innovative software solutions.
- Company: Join Hayward HawkTech, a forward-thinking tech company in Northern Ireland.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, remote work options, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Embrace a culture of collaboration and excellence in a fast-paced environment.
- Why this job: Shape the future of technology and make a real-world impact with your leadership.
- Qualifications: 5+ years managing software teams and strong communication skills required.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.
As Director of Software Engineering, you’ll operate as a hands-on leader—both coaching and developing talent, while staying close to the technology. You’ll be responsible for building and scaling engineering teams, delivering against a product roadmap, and ensuring engineering quality and consistency.
You’ll lead a group of 14–20 engineers, shaping a culture of excellence, feedback, and growth. Working cross-functionally, you’ll drive agile practices and accelerate time-to-value across a portfolio of products and services.
Responsibilities:
- Attract, develop, and retain exceptional engineering talent.
- Build nimble, high-performing full-stack development teams.
- Lead engineering, architecture, DevOps, and database practices with a focus on simplicity, scalability, and innovation.
- Promote a culture of transparency, collaboration, and ownership.
- Partner with executive leadership and cross-functional stakeholders to align on business and product objectives.
- Champion agile methodologies to drive efficiency, reduce complexity, and increase delivery velocity.
- Mentor engineers and new leaders, supporting their career development and technical growth.
- Identify and eliminate blockers while improving tooling, automation, and development workflows.
- Promote operational excellence through effective monitoring, alerting, and process improvement.
- Coordinate cross-team initiatives and ensure successful delivery of complex features.
Requirements:
- Passionate about building products that make a real-world impact.
- Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or a related field.
- 5+ years of experience managing software development teams.
- 1+ years in a Director-level (or equivalent) role, leading 10+ engineers.
- Strong communication skills and the ability to lead remote or distributed teams.
- Comfortable working through ambiguity and solving complex problems with autonomy.
- Strong background in object-oriented programming (Java, C#, or C++).
- Experienced in mentoring new engineering leaders and building productive teams.
- Deep familiarity with Lean, Agile, or Kanban methodologies.
- Strategic thinker who balances innovation with execution.
- Confident working alongside senior leadership and managing stakeholder expectations.
- Strong project management and delivery skills.
Director of Software Engineering in Belfast employer: Hayward Hawk
Join a dynamic and ambitious mid-tier advisory firm in Belfast, where you will have the opportunity to lead and grow the R&D Tax offering while working with a diverse portfolio of innovative clients. The firm fosters a collaborative work culture, providing clear pathways for professional development and growth, alongside the flexibility of remote work options. With strong investment in leadership and a commitment to expanding internationally, this role offers a unique chance to influence strategy and build a high-performing team in a supportive environment.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Director of Software Engineering in Belfast
✨Join Local Tech Meetups
Get out there and mingle with fellow developers by joining local tech meetups. It’s a fantastic way to meet people who might be working at Hayward Hawk or know someone who does. Plus, you can pick up some trendy tech skills and trends while you're at it!
✨Contribute to Open Source Projects
Show off your coding chops by jumping into open-source projects. Not only does this give you practical experience, but it also gets you noticed in the dev community. You'll create a killer portfolio that speaks volumes about your skills to Hayward Hawk.
✨Tap into Online Developer Communities
Don’t underestimate the power of online developer communities like GitHub, Stack Overflow, and even Reddit. Participate in discussions, share your projects, and build your visibility. We can often find opportunities through these channels that can lead to a full-time gig at companies like Hayward Hawk.
✨Explore Job Boards Specifically for Tech Roles
Keep your eyes peeled on job boards that focus on tech roles. Sites like TechCareers or Stack Overflow Jobs can often have listings for companies like Hayward Hawk that might not show up on broader job sites. Make it a habit to check these regularly, and don’t hesitate to apply directly through our website!
We think you need these skills to ace Director of Software Engineering in Belfast
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show off your coding skills:When applying for a software engineering role, it's super important to showcase your coding skills. Make sure your CV includes your tech stack, any relevant programming languages you’re comfortable with, and examples of projects you've worked on. If you have a GitHub profile, link it up! We love to see code in action.
Tailor your portfolio:For a full-time role, we’d expect to see some solid examples of your work in your portfolio. Make sure to include at least two or three projects that highlight your problem-solving skills and your ability to work with different technologies. Focus on the projects that are most relevant to the position at Hayward Hawk.
Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at Hayward Hawk and how your skills align with the role. Show us your passion for software development. We dig enthusiastic candidates who understand the value of collaboration and continuous learning!
Be clear and concise:When it comes to writing your CV and cover letter, clarity is key. Avoid jargon that could confuse us and stick to simple, direct language. Highlight your achievements with quantifiable results where possible, and keep everything easy to read. A well-organised application goes a long way!
How to prepare for a job interview at Hayward Hawk
✨Brush Up on Your Coding Skills
For a full-time software engineering role, it's crucial that we stay sharp with our coding abilities. Expect technical questions that might involve solving problems on the spot or discussing algorithms. Practise on platforms like LeetCode or HackerRank to get comfortable with the types of questions that often come up.
✨Know Your Tools and Frameworks
Make sure we’re well-acquainted with the tools and technologies listed in the job description. Familiarise ourselves with any specific frameworks or programming languages mentioned. If Hayward Hawk uses React or Node.js, for instance, be ready to discuss how we’ve used them in previous projects or coursework.
✨Showcase Your Projects
Bring along a portfolio that highlights our best work. This could be code samples, GitHub repositories, or any side projects we’ve built. Make sure we can talk through our thought process for each project, especially the challenges we faced and how we solved them—this shows our problem-solving skills in action.
✨Prepare for Behavioural Questions
While technical skills are key, full-time positions also require cultural fit. Be ready to discuss our previous experiences and how we handle teamwork, conflict, and deadlines. Brush up on the STAR method—Situation, Task, Action, Result—to clearly articulate our past experiences when discussing how we've contributed to a team.
