At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead operational excellence across 7 global engineering teams and drive strategic initiatives.
- Company: Dynamic tech company with a focus on innovation and collaboration.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible working hours, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Join a diverse team committed to equal opportunity and personal development.
- Why this job: Be the key player in shaping engineering success and making a global impact.
- Qualifications: 10+ years in engineering operations or program management, strong communication skills.
The predicted salary is between 80000 - 100000 £ per year.
We are looking for an Engineering Chief of Staff to serve as the CTO's operational right hand across a distributed engineering organization spanning the US, UK, Australia, and India (Pune). You will own the operational rhythm of the engineering department: delivery health, cross-team coordination, strategic planning, and organizational initiatives. This is not a technical architecture role. You are the person who ensures 7 autonomous engineering teams deliver predictably, dependencies don't become surprises, and the CTO has clear visibility into what’s working and what isn’t.
The UK location is a strategic time zone choice. You'll overlap with Melbourne in the morning, work a full day alongside Pune, and catch the US east coast in the afternoon, making you the connective tissue across all regions.
What You'll Do
- Own delivery metrics, process health, and cross-team dependency management across 7 engineering teams.
- Drive SDLC standardization and manage delivery methodology evolution (Scrum, ShapeUp pilots).
- Coordinate quarterly planning, roadmap alignment, and resource allocation across teams and regions.
- Serve as the primary escalation point for cross-team blockers, priority conflicts, and delivery risks.
- Provide the CTO and VP of Engineering with regular reporting on engineering health, velocity trends, and commitment reliability.
- Oversee the Sr. Program Delivery Manager (Pune), Data Model Engineer (Pune), and Lead Platform Engineer (Pune).
- Drive strategic initiatives on behalf of the CTO (organizational transitions, tooling adoption, process improvements).
- Partner with the VP of Engineering on hiring strategy, team structure decisions, and engineering culture.
What We're Looking For – Required
- 10+ years of experience in engineering operations, program management, or technical leadership in a software product company.
- Experience operating as a Chief of Staff, Head of Engineering Operations, or similar cross-cutting operational role.
- Demonstrated success coordinating delivery across 5+ distributed engineering teams.
- Strong understanding of Agile delivery frameworks with experience driving process improvements at scale.
- Excellent communication skills with the ability to operate effectively at the executive level.
- Experience working across US, European, and APAC time zones.
- Based in the UK (outside London is fine).
Preferred
- Experience overseeing the build-out or scaling of an offshore engineering hub.
- Familiarity with Azure DevOps, Jira, or similar delivery tracking tools.
- Experience managing organizational transitions (contractor to FTE, team restructuring).
- Background in engineering or product development (you don’t need to write code, but you should understand how software gets built).
As a learning company we believe in the potential of everyone; if you don't have experience in all the details mentioned in this job post, then we still encourage you to apply and we'll get back to you as soon as we can.
We are an equal opportunity workplace employer. We are committed to the values of Equal Employment Opportunity and provide accessibility accommodations to applicants with physical and/or mental disabilities. Applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to their age, race, religion, national origin, ethnicity, age, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, et al), sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, protected veteran status, or disability.
Engineering Chief of Staff United Kingdom employer: Job Search Place Limited
As an Engineering Chief of Staff in the UK, you will thrive in a dynamic and inclusive work culture that prioritises collaboration across global teams. Our commitment to employee growth is evident through strategic initiatives and a focus on professional development, ensuring you have the tools and support needed to excel in your role. With a strong emphasis on work-life balance and a diverse environment, we offer a unique opportunity to make a meaningful impact while enjoying the benefits of a flexible and supportive workplace.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Engineering Chief of Staff United Kingdom
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the industry, especially those who might know someone at the company you're eyeing. A friendly chat can sometimes lead to a referral, which is gold when it comes to landing that interview.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for the interview by researching the company and its culture. Understand their engineering processes and be ready to discuss how you can improve delivery metrics and team coordination. Show them you’re not just a fit on paper but also in spirit!
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your communication skills! As the Chief of Staff, you'll need to convey complex ideas clearly. Try mock interviews with friends or use online platforms to refine your pitch and ensure you can articulate your thoughts effectively.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take the initiative to engage directly with us. Let’s make this happen together!
We think you need these skills to ace Engineering Chief of Staff United Kingdom
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to highlight your experience in engineering operations and program management. We want to see how your skills align with the role of Engineering Chief of Staff, so don’t hold back on showcasing relevant achievements!
Showcase Your Communication Skills:Since this role involves working closely with the CTO and various teams, it’s crucial to demonstrate your excellent communication abilities. Use clear and concise language in your application to reflect how you can effectively operate at the executive level.
Highlight Your Experience with Distributed Teams:Given that you'll be coordinating across multiple time zones and teams, make sure to emphasise any past experiences you have with managing or collaborating with distributed engineering teams. We love to see how you've successfully navigated those challenges!
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to submit your application through our website for a smoother process. It helps us keep track of your application and ensures you’re considered for the role as quickly as possible. Don’t miss out on this opportunity!
How to prepare for a job interview at Job Search Place Limited
✨Know Your Metrics
Familiarise yourself with key delivery metrics and operational health indicators. Be ready to discuss how you’ve used these in past roles to drive improvements and ensure teams deliver predictably.
✨Showcase Your Coordination Skills
Prepare examples of how you've successfully coordinated across multiple teams, especially in a distributed environment. Highlight any specific challenges you faced and how you overcame them to keep projects on track.
✨Understand Agile Frameworks
Brush up on Agile methodologies, particularly Scrum and any other frameworks mentioned in the job description. Be prepared to discuss how you've implemented or improved these processes in previous roles.
✨Communicate Effectively
Practice articulating your thoughts clearly and concisely, especially when discussing complex topics. Remember, you’ll need to communicate effectively at an executive level, so consider how you can convey your ideas in a straightforward manner.
