At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a high-impact team to evolve platform capabilities and drive strategic initiatives.
- Company: Join Wise, a global tech company revolutionising money management.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, inclusive culture, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Diverse and inclusive environment with a focus on innovation and collaboration.
- Why this job: Shape the future of platform engineering and make a real impact.
- Qualifications: Proven leadership experience in platform or engineering with a strategic mindset.
The predicted salary is between 100000 - 150000 £ per year.
Wise is a global technology company, building the best way to move and manage the world's money. Min fees. Max ease. Full speed. Whether people and businesses are sending money to another country, spending abroad, or making and receiving international payments, Wise is on a mission to make their lives easier and save them money.
The Platform Engineering tribe provides the core capabilities that enable Wise to build and run its products at scale. The scope is broad, covering compute and data infrastructure, build and release systems, ML and AI capabilities, and incident and resilience tooling, among others – all within a highly innovative and regulated environment. The platform drives mission‑aligned outcomes across reliability, efficiency, productivity, and risk. Today, the tribe consists of 30+ teams.
As Wise continues to grow and the technology landscape evolves, we need to continually adapt and strengthen our platform to support the next phase of scale. We are expanding our leadership team to help shape this evolution. This role sits within our senior platform leadership group.
We're looking for a proven leader to join us and do things differently. This is a senior leadership role with line management responsibility, combined with a broader mandate to shape the direction of platform engineering at Wise. You'll start by leading a focused team while taking ownership of a broader, cross‑team priority, with scope expected to grow as the function evolves. While you'll begin with a focused team, your impact will extend well beyond it through influence across the wider engineering organisation.
The primary focus is shaping the next evolution of our platform as a cohesive system of capabilities that supports how engineering teams build, ship, and operate software. This includes responding to how emerging technologies, such as AI, are changing developer workflows and platform expectations. We will also improve how we ensure reliability, evolve platform capabilities, and introduce standards and practices where they create leverage – while enabling teams to operate with autonomy. You'll work closely with teams across Wise to align priorities, introduce new ways of working, and help shape how this space evolves over time.
What You'll Do
- Lead and develop a small, high‑impact team
- Set clear direction and ensure delivery against key priorities
- Own and drive cross‑engineering strategic initiatives focused on evolving platform capabilities
- Work across squads to align on priorities, standards, and ways of working
- Define and introduce platform standards and practices where they create leverage
- Improve engineering effectiveness by evolving platform capabilities, developer workflows, and feedback loops
- Translate emerging technologies and trends into practical applications
- Help shape operating models, team responsibilities, and ways of working that support scalable engineering
- Partner with senior stakeholders to shape strategy and influence decisions
- Use data and insight to guide direction and measure impact
Experience, Background and Competencies
- Proven experience operating at Director (or equivalent) level within platform or engineering, with strong experience across the software development lifecycle
- Strong track record of leading through influence, not just formal authority
- Experience owning and delivering cross‑team or organisation‑wide initiatives
- Comfortable working across multiple squads and aligning different priorities
- Ability to define and drive strategic themes (e.g. platform, developer experience, or technology shifts)
- Ability to think strategically while staying close to execution
- Hands on mindset; able to go deep when needed as well as set direction
- Strong problem‑solving skills; able to bring clarity to complex and ambiguous areas
- Excellent stakeholder management; able to influence senior leaders and peers
- Clear communicator; able to simplify complex ideas for different audiences
- Data‑driven approach; uses data to guide decisions and measure impact
- Experience introducing new technologies or evolving existing platforms
- Experience improving engineering systems through a combination of technology, process, and culture
- Ability to balance short‑term delivery with long‑term thinking
- Strong sense of ownership and accountability for outcomes
- Collaborative and low‑ego approach; builds trust across teams
- Experience leading leaders, with the ability to build and scale leadership layers over time
- Passion for staying close to industry trends and emerging technologies
- Alignment with Wise's mission and values
Leading at Wise
Our 4D leadership framework, defined by four key attributes, captures what it means to be an impactful leader at Wise. Our unique culture gives teams and individuals the autonomy to make impactful decisions for our customers. Leaders empower their teams to deliver this impact and champion our culture.
- Design: Our leaders design the strategic direction, empowering their teams to operate autonomously and make data‑driven decisions that directly benefit our customers.
- Drive: They drive a high‑performing culture by acting as a coach, nurturing an environment of continuous development and growth.
- Develop: Leaders actively develop resilience and emotional intelligence to lead authentically and by example.
- Disrupt: They disrupt the status quo by championing change and innovation, constantly seeking new ways to achieve our mission.
Additional Information
For everyone, everywhere. We're people building money without borders – without judgement or prejudice, too. We believe teams are strongest when they are diverse, equitable and inclusive. We're proud to have a truly international team, and we celebrate our differences. Inclusive teams help us live our values and make sure every Wiser feels respected, empowered to contribute towards our mission, and able to progress in their careers.
If you want to find out more about what it's like to work at Wise visit Wise.Jobs. Keep up to date with life at Wise by following us on LinkedIn and Instagram.
Engineering Director - Platform in London employer: Job Search Place Limited
Wise is an exceptional employer that fosters a culture of innovation and inclusivity, empowering employees to make impactful decisions while supporting their professional growth. With a commitment to diversity and a collaborative environment, team members are encouraged to explore emerging technologies and drive strategic initiatives that shape the future of platform engineering. Located in a dynamic tech landscape, Wise offers unique opportunities for career advancement and the chance to be part of a mission-driven organisation dedicated to transforming the way money moves globally.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Engineering Director - Platform in London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to current employees at Wise on LinkedIn, and don’t be shy about asking for a chat. Getting insider info can give you a leg up and show your genuine interest in the company.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for the interview by diving deep into Wise's mission and values. Think about how your experience aligns with their goals, especially around innovation and platform engineering. This will help you stand out as a candidate who truly gets what they’re about.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your leadership style! Be ready to discuss how you've led teams and influenced change in previous roles. Use specific examples that highlight your ability to drive results and foster collaboration across different squads.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to follow up after your interview! A quick thank-you note can go a long way in leaving a positive impression. It shows your enthusiasm for the role and keeps you fresh in their minds.
We think you need these skills to ace Engineering Director - Platform in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Engineering Director role. Highlight your experience in platform engineering and leadership, and show how your skills align with Wise's mission and values.
Showcase Your Impact:When detailing your past roles, focus on the impact you've made. Use specific examples of how you've led teams, driven strategic initiatives, and improved engineering systems. We want to see how you can bring that same energy to Wise!
Be Clear and Concise:Keep your application clear and to the point. Avoid jargon and make sure your ideas are easy to understand. Remember, we appreciate clarity just as much as complexity when it comes to problem-solving.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it shows you're keen on joining our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Job Search Place Limited
✨Know Your Stuff
Before the interview, dive deep into Wise's mission and values. Understand how the platform engineering tribe operates and be ready to discuss how your experience aligns with their goals. Familiarise yourself with emerging technologies like AI and how they impact developer workflows.
✨Showcase Leadership Skills
As a candidate for a senior leadership role, be prepared to share specific examples of how you've led teams through change. Highlight your ability to influence without authority and how you've successfully driven cross-team initiatives in previous roles.
✨Be Data-Driven
Wise values a data-driven approach, so come equipped with insights from your past experiences. Discuss how you've used data to guide decisions and measure impact, especially in evolving platform capabilities or improving engineering systems.
✨Emphasise Collaboration
Collaboration is key at Wise. Be ready to talk about how you've worked across multiple squads to align priorities and introduce new ways of working. Share examples of how you've built trust and fostered a collaborative environment in your previous roles.
