Head of Engineering in England

Head of Engineering in England

England Full-Time 90000 - 90000 £ / year (est.) No working from home possible
ISL Talent

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead engineering to build a groundbreaking platform for sustainable packaging decisions.
  • Company: Join Ecosurety, a mission-driven B Corp transforming the packaging industry.
  • Benefits: Competitive salary from £90,000, hybrid working, and high autonomy.
  • Other info: Exciting opportunity for growth as the company scales.
  • Why this job: Shape engineering practices and create impactful solutions in sustainability.
  • Qualifications: Experience in B2B SaaS, team leadership, and complex data systems.

The predicted salary is between 90000 - 90000 £ per year.

We’re working alongside Ecosurety at a particularly exciting point in their journey. They’re a strong, established business now placing increased focus on building out a product suite that helps organisations make critical decisions about their packaging - improving sustainability while reducing costs. At the centre of this is a platform that brings together fragmented packaging data, applies complex regulatory logic, and enables customers to model packaging decisions across multiple markets. Technology is a critical, funded investment area for the business, with backing already in place and a clear mandate from leadership. What’s missing is the engineering leadership to define how this is built, scaled, and delivered.

About Ecosurety: Ecosurety is an industry-leading packaging data company on a mission to rid the world of unnecessary packaging, and they’re scaling fast. More than 500 brands and retailers, including some of the UK’s biggest household names, rely on them to navigate complex packaging decisions. They are evolving from a compliance-focused organisation into a data-first product company, building the digital infrastructure that will shape the future of packaging at scale. At the centre of this is a next-generation platform, powering intelligent tools that help businesses make smarter, faster, and more profitable decisions. They are a commercially strong, mission‑driven, certified B Corp, using technology to solve complex problems with a direct impact on sustainability.

The Role: This is a foundational engineering leadership role, focused on building the platform, systems, and team from the ground up. You’ll define and own how a product is built that:

  • Ingests and structures packaging data from multiple sources (suppliers, ERP systems, forecasts)
  • Applies complex, evolving regulatory logic across multiple geographies, translating legislation into scalable, testable systems
  • Powers workflows for compliance, reporting, and submissions
  • Enables customers to model packaging decisions — balancing cost, carbon, and risk
  • Integrates into customer systems (e.g. ERP platforms) to automate reporting and decision‑making workflows

You’ll be responsible for:

  • Defining the application architecture across frontend, backend, APIs, and integrations
  • Shaping how engineering and product work together to deliver a product‑led platform
  • Building and scaling the engineering function from the ground up

You’ll take ownership of how the platform is built end‑to‑end, ensuring it’s scalable, maintainable, and capable of handling complex data, rules, and modelling requirements. You’ll also play a key role in moving the organisation from a project‑led approach to a product‑led engineering model.

What You’ll Be Doing: Day to day, this is a blend of leadership, decision‑making, and delivery. You’ll be:

  • Translating product vision into scalable, well‑architected systems
  • Designing how core components – data ingestion, calculation engines, workflows, and integrations – fit together
  • Leading delivery across a mix of internal engineers and external partners
  • Making pragmatic technical decisions in an environment where not everything is fully defined yet
  • Introducing the right level of engineering standards, ways of working, and delivery discipline
  • Working closely with Data and Product to ensure the platform delivers meaningful, real‑world outcomes

You’ll stay close to the detail, but your impact comes from making the right technical and product decisions at the right time.

What Success Looks Like: In 12 months’ time, you will have:

  • Defined and embedded a clear, scalable application architecture
  • Built an engineering function that can reliably deliver product outcomes
  • Established how engineering, product, and data work together as a cohesive unit
  • Delivered core platform capabilities that customers actively use to manage packaging decisions

In short: you’ll have turned a set of evolving capabilities into a structured, scalable product and engineering function.

Why This Role Is Different: This is a rare opportunity to join Ecosurety at the exact point they are building a new product and technology capability. You’ll define how engineering works, from architecture and systems through to delivery and team structure, as they transition to a product‑led organisation. It’s a genuinely greenfield opportunity, backed by an established, commercially successful business with a clear mandate to invest.

Growth & Progression: This is one of the first senior technology hires in this new phase of the business. Which means:

  • You’ll define how engineering works, from architecture through to delivery
  • You’ll shape the structure, standards, and culture of the engineering function
  • You’ll play a key role in building a product‑led organisation

As the business scales, the scope and impact of the role will grow with it.

What We’re Looking For: You’ve likely:

  • Built and scaled B2B SaaS or platform products
  • Led engineering teams in evolving, ambiguous, or scaling environments
  • Delivered systems that handle complex data, business rules, or integrations
  • Worked closely with product to turn ideas into real, usable software
  • Balanced speed, quality, and scalability in imperfect conditions

Alongside this, you:

  • Are comfortable defining architecture while staying close to delivery
  • Can operate across strategy, hands‑on problem solving, and leadership
  • Have experience building teams and capabilities from scratch
  • Are comfortable working with both internal teams and external partners

Most importantly, you’re someone who can bring clarity where things aren’t fully defined yet.

What’s On Offer: From £90,000 salary, hybrid working (Bristol, 50% office), high ownership and autonomy, backed investment in technology as a core business priority, opportunity to build a platform and engineering function from the ground up, long-term progression as the business scales.

If you’re looking for the chance to build a product, shape how engineering works, and create something meaningful, with real backing from the business, this is a genuinely exciting opportunity.

Head of Engineering in England employer: ISL Talent

Ecosurety is an exceptional employer, offering a unique opportunity to lead engineering in a mission-driven environment focused on sustainability and innovation. With a strong commitment to employee growth, hybrid working arrangements, and the chance to shape a new product-led engineering function, you will be part of a dynamic team that values autonomy and impactful work. Join us in Bristol to make a meaningful difference while advancing your career in a supportive and forward-thinking culture.

ISL Talent

Contact Details:

ISL Talent Recruitment Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

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

Tip Number 1

Network like a pro! Reach out to people in your industry, especially those connected to Ecosurety. Attend events, webinars, or even local meetups. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.

Tip Number 2

Show off your skills! If you’ve got a portfolio or any projects that demonstrate your engineering prowess, make sure to share them. A well-crafted presentation of your work can really set you apart from the crowd.

Tip Number 3

Prepare for interviews by diving deep into Ecosurety’s mission and products. Understand their platform and think about how your experience aligns with their goals. Tailor your responses to show you’re not just a fit for the role, but also passionate about what they do.

Tip Number 4

Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in being part of the Ecosurety team. Let’s get you that dream job!

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

Engineering Leadership
Application Architecture
Data Ingestion
System Integration
B2B SaaS Development
Product Management
Team Building

Some tips for your application 🫡

Show Your Passion for Sustainability:When writing your application, let your enthusiasm for sustainability shine through. Ecosurety is all about making a positive impact, so share any relevant experiences or projects that highlight your commitment to this cause.

Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your application to reflect the specific requirements of the Head of Engineering role. Highlight your experience in building and scaling B2B SaaS products, and how you've led teams in similar environments.

Be Clear and Concise:Keep your application straightforward and to the point. Use clear language to describe your achievements and how they relate to the role. Remember, we want to see your skills and experience without wading through unnecessary fluff!

Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. This way, your application will be seen by the right people, and you'll have a better chance of standing out in the crowd. Plus, it’s super easy!

How to prepare for a job interview at ISL Talent

Know the Company Inside Out

Before your interview, dive deep into Ecosurety's mission and values. Understand their journey from a compliance-focused organisation to a data-first product company. This will not only show your genuine interest but also help you align your answers with their goals.

Showcase Your Technical Leadership

Be prepared to discuss your experience in building and scaling B2B SaaS products. Highlight specific examples where you've defined architecture and led teams through ambiguous situations. This role is about shaping the engineering function, so demonstrate how you've successfully done this before.

Emphasise Collaboration with Product Teams

Ecosurety is looking for someone who can bridge the gap between engineering and product. Share instances where you've worked closely with product teams to turn ideas into real software. Discuss how you balanced speed, quality, and scalability in your previous roles.

Prepare for Problem-Solving Scenarios

Expect questions that assess your ability to make pragmatic technical decisions in evolving environments. Think of examples where you've had to bring clarity to complex situations. Show them you're comfortable navigating uncertainty while still delivering results.