Director of Software Engineering
Director of Software Engineering

Director of Software Engineering

Milton Keynes Full-Time 54000 - 84000 £ / year (est.) No home office possible
J

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead and mentor engineering teams while driving product development and agile practices.
  • Company: Join Hayward Hawk, a dynamic company focused on innovation and technology.
  • Benefits: Enjoy remote work flexibility, competitive salary, and opportunities for professional growth.
  • Why this job: Shape a culture of excellence and make a real-world impact through technology.
  • Qualifications: Bachelor’s in Computer Science, 5+ years managing software teams, and strong communication skills required.
  • Other info: This role is perfect for strategic thinkers who thrive in fast-paced environments.

The predicted salary is between 54000 - 84000 £ per year.

Remote NI

The Role

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 employer: JR United Kingdom

At Hayward Hawk, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, particularly for the Director of Software Engineering role based in Milton Keynes. Our vibrant work culture fosters collaboration and innovation, providing ample opportunities for professional growth and development. With a focus on mentoring and building high-performing teams, we offer a unique environment where your contributions directly impact our products and services, all while enjoying the benefits of a supportive and agile workplace.
J

Contact Detail:

JR United Kingdom Recruiting Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫

We think this is how you could land Director of Software Engineering

✨Tip Number 1

Network with professionals in the software engineering field, especially those who are already in leadership roles. Attend industry meetups or conferences to connect with potential colleagues and learn about their experiences.

✨Tip Number 2

Showcase your leadership skills by sharing examples of how you've successfully built and managed teams in previous roles. Be prepared to discuss specific challenges you faced and how you overcame them.

✨Tip Number 3

Familiarise yourself with the latest trends in software development methodologies, particularly Agile and Lean practices. Being able to speak knowledgeably about these will demonstrate your commitment to operational excellence.

✨Tip Number 4

Prepare to discuss your vision for fostering a culture of collaboration and transparency within a team. Think about how you can align engineering goals with broader business objectives to show your strategic thinking.

We think you need these skills to ace Director of Software Engineering

Leadership Skills
Coaching and Mentoring
Full-Stack Development
Agile Methodologies
DevOps Practices
Database Management
Object-Oriented Programming (Java, C#, C++)
Project Management
Communication Skills
Strategic Thinking
Problem-Solving Skills
Team Building
Operational Excellence
Cross-Functional Collaboration
Process Improvement

Some tips for your application 🫡

Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights relevant experience in software engineering leadership. Emphasise your management of development teams, your familiarity with agile methodologies, and any specific programming languages mentioned in the job description.

Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: In your cover letter, express your passion for building impactful products. Discuss your leadership style and how you foster a culture of excellence and collaboration within engineering teams. Be sure to mention your experience in mentoring and developing talent.

Showcase Relevant Achievements: Include specific examples of past successes in your application. Highlight projects where you led teams to deliver complex features or improved processes through automation and tooling. Quantify your achievements where possible to demonstrate your impact.

Prepare for Technical Questions: Anticipate technical questions related to software engineering practices, team management, and agile methodologies. Be ready to discuss your approach to problem-solving and how you handle ambiguity in projects, as these are key aspects of the role.

How to prepare for a job interview at JR United Kingdom

✨Showcase Your Leadership Style

As a Director of Software Engineering, it's crucial to demonstrate your leadership approach. Be prepared to discuss how you have successfully built and scaled engineering teams in the past, and share specific examples of how you've mentored engineers and fostered a culture of growth.

✨Highlight Your Technical Expertise

Make sure to emphasise your technical background, especially in object-oriented programming languages like Java, C#, or C++. Discuss any relevant projects where you led the technical direction, showcasing your ability to stay close to the technology while managing teams.

✨Discuss Agile Methodologies

Since the role involves championing agile practices, be ready to talk about your experience with Lean, Agile, or Kanban methodologies. Provide examples of how you've implemented these practices to improve efficiency and delivery velocity in previous roles.

✨Prepare for Cross-Functional Collaboration

This position requires working closely with executive leadership and cross-functional stakeholders. Prepare to discuss how you've successfully partnered with other departments to align on business and product objectives, and how you handle communication across different teams.

Director of Software Engineering
JR United Kingdom
J
  • Director of Software Engineering

    Milton Keynes
    Full-Time
    54000 - 84000 £ / year (est.)

    Application deadline: 2027-06-11

  • J

    JR United Kingdom

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