Director of Engineering Excellence & Governance

Director of Engineering Excellence & Governance

Full-Time 100000 - 150000 £ / year (est.) No working from home possible
Intelix.AI

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead engineering excellence and governance across a complex tech environment.
  • Company: Join a leading enterprise in the financial services sector.
  • Benefits: Hybrid work, competitive salary, and opportunities for professional growth.
  • Other info: Collaborate with diverse teams to enhance technology resilience and security.
  • Why this job: Shape engineering standards that drive innovation and quality in technology.
  • Qualifications: Proven experience in senior engineering leadership and architecture governance.

The predicted salary is between 100000 - 150000 £ per year.

A senior technology leader to define, embed and govern engineering standards across a large, complex, highly regulated enterprise technology environment. This is not a pure enterprise architecture, delivery management, audit, risk advisory or policy-only role. We are looking for a senior engineering and architecture leader who can set practical standards, drive adoption across distributed engineering teams, and ensure technology is built in a secure, scalable, resilient and controlled way. The role will suit someone who understands how modern engineering standards apply across cloud platforms, APIs, microservices, distributed systems, integration, secure development, CI/CD, observability, testing, resilience, operational readiness and architecture governance.

You will own the enterprise-wide engineering standards agenda, working closely with senior leaders across Engineering, Architecture, Security, Risk, Data, Operations, Product and Technology Delivery.

Key Responsibilities
  • Define and own the enterprise engineering standards framework across software development, architecture, cloud, integration, security, resilience and engineering governance.
  • Establish practical engineering guardrails that enable teams to deliver scalable, secure, compliant and maintainable technology.
  • Set standards for modern engineering practices including APIs, microservices, distributed systems, observability, CI/CD, automated testing, release quality and operational readiness.
  • Shape and evolve standards for cloud engineering, infrastructure patterns, deployment practices and platform consistency across multiple teams and domains.
  • Partner with Engineering, Architecture, Security, Risk, Operations and Product leadership to align standards with business priorities, regulatory expectations and enterprise technology strategy.
  • Drive adoption of engineering standards across diverse teams, ensuring consistency without creating unnecessary bureaucracy or slowing delivery.
  • Build governance mechanisms that provide visibility of adherence, exceptions, risks, technical debt and areas requiring remediation.
  • Use metrics, reporting and engineering insight to identify gaps in quality, resilience, consistency, security and control across the technology estate.
  • Review emerging technologies, regulatory developments and evolving engineering practices to keep standards relevant and forward-looking.
  • Promote a culture of engineering quality, accountability, technical excellence and continuous improvement across the wider technology organisation.
Experience Required
  • Strong experience in senior engineering leadership, enterprise architecture, architecture governance, platform strategy or enterprise-wide engineering standards.
  • Proven track record of defining and operationalising engineering standards across a large, complex organisation.
  • Strong understanding of modern engineering and architecture practices including cloud platforms, APIs, microservices, distributed systems, automation and secure-by-design delivery.
  • Experience translating architecture principles into practical standards, reusable patterns and delivery guardrails.
  • Strong governance experience, with the judgement to balance control, flexibility, speed and long-term sustainability.
  • Credibility working across Engineering, Architecture, Security, Risk, Operations and senior business stakeholders.
  • Experience influencing senior stakeholders in environments where technology quality, resilience and control are business-critical.
  • Strong understanding of operational resilience, security, auditability, risk management and technology controls within regulated environments.
  • Data-led approach to engineering quality and governance, with the ability to use metrics and evidence to drive improvement and accountability.
  • Demonstrated ability to lead through influence, build trust with senior stakeholders and raise standards across distributed engineering teams.
Preferred Background
  • Financial services, insurance, payments, banking, asset management, wealth, pensions or another highly regulated sector.
  • Cloud-native engineering, enterprise integration, platform transformation or large-scale engineering modernisation.
  • Experience across global or distributed engineering teams.
  • Exposure to CI/CD, observability, developer platforms, engineering assurance, SRE, platform engineering or reliability engineering.
  • Experience helping organisations reduce engineering fragmentation, improve reuse and strengthen consistency across a broad technology estate.
Ideal Candidate Profile

The strongest candidate will be a senior technology leader who has operated above individual delivery teams and has influenced how engineering is done across an enterprise. They should be credible with senior engineers and architects, but also comfortable engaging with executive stakeholders, risk, security, operations and business leaders. This person needs to be pragmatic. The role is about creating standards that teams actually adopt, not producing theoretical frameworks that sit on a shelf.

Director of Engineering Excellence & Governance employer: Intelix.AI

As a leading employer in the technology sector, we offer a dynamic and inclusive work culture that fosters innovation and collaboration. Our London-based team benefits from hybrid working arrangements, competitive compensation, and a strong focus on professional development, ensuring that employees have ample opportunities to grow their skills and advance their careers. Join us to be part of a forward-thinking organisation that values engineering excellence and empowers its leaders to make a meaningful impact across a complex, regulated environment.

Intelix.AI

Contact Details:

Intelix.AI Recruitment Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Director of Engineering Excellence & Governance

Tip Number 1

Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the industry, especially those who work in engineering or governance roles. A friendly chat can lead to insider info about job openings that aren't even advertised yet.

Tip Number 2

Show off your expertise! When you get the chance to meet potential employers, whether at networking events or interviews, make sure to highlight your experience with modern engineering practices and how you've driven standards in previous roles.

Tip Number 3

Be proactive! If you see a company you're interested in, don’t wait for them to post a job. Reach out directly through our website, express your interest, and share how your skills align with their needs in engineering excellence and governance.

Tip Number 4

Prepare for the interview by brushing up on the latest trends in cloud platforms, APIs, and microservices. Be ready to discuss how you can help shape and evolve engineering standards in a way that’s practical and impactful for the organisation.

We think you need these skills to ace Director of Engineering Excellence & Governance

Engineering Standards Framework
Cloud Platforms
APIs
Microservices
Distributed Systems
CI/CD
Observability

Some tips for your application 🫡

Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to highlight your experience in engineering standards and governance. We want to see how your background aligns with the specific requirements of the Director of Engineering Excellence & Governance role.

Showcase Your Leadership Skills:In your application, emphasise your experience in leading diverse teams and influencing senior stakeholders. We’re looking for someone who can drive adoption of engineering standards across various teams, so share examples that demonstrate your leadership prowess.

Be Clear and Concise:When writing your application, keep it straightforward and to the point. We appreciate clarity, so avoid jargon and focus on your key achievements and how they relate to the role. This will help us quickly see your fit for the position.

Apply Through Our Website:Don’t forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensure you’re considered for the role. Plus, it helps us keep everything organised on our end.

How to prepare for a job interview at Intelix.AI

Know Your Standards Inside Out

Make sure you have a solid grasp of the engineering standards relevant to the role. Familiarise yourself with modern practices like CI/CD, microservices, and cloud platforms. Being able to discuss these in detail will show that you're not just familiar with the concepts but can also apply them practically.

Showcase Your Leadership Experience

Prepare examples from your past roles where you've successfully influenced engineering practices across teams. Highlight how you've driven adoption of standards and improved quality. This will demonstrate your capability to lead and inspire others in a complex environment.

Understand the Business Context

Research the company’s business priorities and regulatory expectations. Be ready to discuss how your engineering standards align with their goals. This shows that you’re not just focused on technical details but also understand the bigger picture.

Prepare for Stakeholder Engagement

Think about how you would engage with various stakeholders, from engineers to executives. Prepare to discuss strategies for building trust and influencing decisions. This is crucial for a role that requires collaboration across multiple teams and domains.