At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead engineering teams, drive hiring, and shape technical strategy in a fast-growing SaaS company.
- Company: Join a unicorn B2B SaaS company with a hands-on, innovative culture.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, equity, and flexible hybrid work options.
- Other info: Dynamic environment with opportunities for rapid career growth.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a scaling engineering organisation with top talent.
- Qualifications: Experience managing engineering managers and a strong technical background.
The predicted salary is between 120000 - 180000 € per year.
Location: London (hybrid)
Level: Director
Reporting to: VP of Engineering
The company is a well-funded, fast-growing B2B SaaS company that has achieved unicorn status and is currently in a significant scaling phase. The engineering organisation is approximately 50 people today and is expected to grow to over 150 in the next 12 months. The product is used by some of the world's fastest-growing companies, with a distributed team across the UK and Europe, maintaining a strong technical bar and a no-nonsense engineering culture.
The role involves joining as one of two Engineering Directors, sitting between the VP of Engineering and a layer of engineering managers who lead autonomous product squads. Responsibilities include:
- Managing a set of engineering managers and senior ICs, acting as their line manager, coach, and technical sounding board.
- Owning the health and output of multiple product squads — delivery, quality, morale, and hiring.
- Partnering with the VP of Engineering on org design, technical strategy, and scaling engineering.
- Driving hiring across the organisation.
- Feeding into cross-functional decisions alongside product, design, and go-to-market leadership.
- Making decisions in ambiguous situations and moving quickly when necessary.
Must-haves:
- Experience managing engineering managers.
- A background combining time at a well-engineered large company and a high-growth B2B SaaS scaleup.
- The technical depth for credible systems design conversations.
- Experience in the 50–200 engineer range.
- Comfortable with ambiguity and fast-changing priorities.
Strong signals:
- B2B SaaS domain experience.
- Experience hiring effectively at pace.
- Experience in making tough personnel decisions.
- Experience working in a distributed team.
- Preparedness through research before meetings.
Not a fit if:
- Seeking a quiet, process-heavy environment.
- Defaulting to setting up committees.
- Describing leadership style primarily as
Director of Engineering in Bristol employer: LinkedIn
This fast-growing B2B SaaS company, based in London, offers an exceptional work environment for its employees, characterised by a hands-on, technical leadership team and a culture that values strong opinions and decisive action. With significant growth on the horizon, employees have ample opportunities for professional development and to make a meaningful impact within a dynamic engineering organisation. The hybrid work model further enhances flexibility, making it an attractive place for top talent looking to thrive in a high-performance setting.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Director of Engineering in Bristol
✨Tip Number 1
Do your homework! Research the company and its culture before the interview. Knowing their product and how they operate will help you connect with the team and show that you're genuinely interested in being part of their journey.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for those tricky technical conversations. Brush up on systems design and be ready to discuss architectural decisions. You want to demonstrate that you can hold your own and understand the engineering challenges they face.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your leadership style! Be ready to share examples of how you've managed teams, made tough calls, and driven hiring. They’re looking for someone who can lead from the front, so let your experience shine through.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets the attention it deserves. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take that extra step to engage with us directly.
We think you need these skills to ace Director of Engineering in Bristol
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Leadership Style:When writing your application, make sure to highlight your leadership style and how it aligns with our hands-on, no-nonsense culture. We want to see how you lead from the front and make decisions in ambiguous situations.
Demonstrate Technical Depth:Even though this isn't a coding role, we need to know you can hold your own in technical discussions. Share examples of your experience in systems design and how you've navigated trade-offs in engineering decisions.
Highlight Your Scaling Experience:Since we're in a significant scaling phase, it's crucial to showcase your experience managing teams in a similar environment. Tell us about your journey through growth phases and what you've learned along the way.
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 this exciting opportunity to join our growing team!
How to prepare for a job interview at LinkedIn
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your technical knowledge, especially around systems design. You’ll need to hold your own in conversations about architectural decisions, so be prepared to discuss trade-offs and demonstrate your understanding of engineering principles.
✨Show Your Leadership Style
This role is all about managing engineering managers and leading teams. Be ready to share specific examples of how you've successfully led teams in the past, particularly in high-growth environments. Highlight your experience in making tough calls and driving hiring processes.
✨Embrace Ambiguity
The company thrives in a fast-paced, ever-changing environment. Prepare to discuss how you've navigated ambiguity in previous roles. Share stories that showcase your ability to make quick decisions and adapt to shifting priorities without losing sight of the end goal.
✨Do Your Homework
Before the interview, research the company’s product and its position in the B2B SaaS market. Understand their challenges and successes, and be ready to discuss how your background aligns with their needs. This will show that you’re genuinely interested and have done your due diligence.
