Director, Software Engineering

Director, Software Engineering

Full-Time 121500 - 148500 £ / year (est.) No working from home possible
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At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead teams to tackle complex engineering challenges and drive software delivery improvements.
  • Company: Join Mastercard, a global leader in digital payments and innovation.
  • Benefits: Competitive salary, career growth, and a chance to shape the future of payments.
  • Other info: Collaborative environment with opportunities to work on cutting-edge technologies.
  • Why this job: Make a real impact on technology that empowers economies and people worldwide.
  • Qualifications: Experience in leading engineering teams and solving complex problems.

The predicted salary is between 121500 - 148500 £ per year.

Our Purpose Mastercard powers economies and empowers people in 200+ countries and territories worldwide.

Together with our customers, we’re helping build a sustainable economy where everyone can prosper.

We support a wide range of digital payments choices, making transactions secure, simple, smart and accessible.

Our technology and innovation, partnerships and networks combine to deliver a unique set of products and services that help people, businesses and governments realize their greatest potential.

Title and Summary Director, Software Engineering Job Overview

Leads teams to identify and solve complex engineering challenges across technology, process, and ways of working.

Drives improvements in software delivery, quality, and reliability by applying strong engineering fundamentals across teams, tools, and domains.

  • Major Accountabilities
  • Lead the definition and delivery of cross-team initiatives that address systemic engineering challenges and improve productivity, quality, and operational performance.
  • Partner with engineering leaders to identify gaps and opportunities across the software development lifecycle, and drive effective, pragmatic solutions.
  • Define and evolve engineering practices, standards, and ways of working, ensuring strong application of core software engineering principles.
  • Work across teams, technologies, and domains to guide solution design and delivery, balancing immediate needs with long-term maintainability and scalability.
  • Build targeted tooling, environments, and capabilities where needed to enable teams, while leveraging and extending enterprise frameworks.
  • Lead a team of specialist engineers and leaders, ensuring strong technical depth, clear ownership, and continued capability growth.
  • Drive adoption of effective engineering practices using data and metrics to improve delivery outcomes and system performance.
  • Manage resources and priorities across multiple initiatives, ensuring focus on highest-impact outcomes.
  • Influence senior stakeholders and align teams to deliver consistent engineering approaches and continuous improvement.

Education

  • Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience.
  • Knowledge / Experience
  • Experience leading engineering teams or specialised functions in complex environments.
  • Proven ability to solve cross-cutting engineering problems spanning technology, process, and organisation.
  • Experience working across multiple technologies, systems, and domains.
  • Strong grounding in software engineering principles, system design, and modern development practices.
  • Experience contributing to technology direction and adoption of modern capabilities, including AI-supported development.

Skills/Abilities

  • Strong problem-solving and critical thinking skills applied to complex engineering challenges.
  • Deep understanding of software engineering fundamentals and delivery practices.
  • Working knowledge of AI tools supporting software development and engineering productivity.
  • Data-driven decision making using engineering and operational metrics.
  • Ability to work effectively across teams without direct ownership, influencing outcomes through expertise and collaboration.
  • Strong technical judgement across a broad range of technologies and domains.
  • Ability to coach and develop senior engineers and technical specialists.
  • Excellent communication skills, including engagement with senior stakeholders.
  • Corporate Security Responsibility

All activities involving access to Mastercard assets, information, and networks comes with an inherent risk to the organization and, therefore, it is expected that every person working for, or on behalf of, Mastercard is responsible for information security and must: Abide by Mastercard’s security policies and practices; Ensure the confidentiality and integrity of the information being accessed; Report any suspected information security violation or breach, and Complete all periodic mandatory security trainings in accordance with Mastercard’s guidelines.

Everyone wants easier ways to pay; we invent them.

Checkout lines are slow; we speed them along.

Merchants want more sales; we give them data and insights.

People need financial access; we connect them.

Corporate purchasing is complicated; we make it simple.

Commuters are busy; we speed them on their way.

Governments need greater efficiencies; we help create them.

Small businesses are virtual; we give them access to a world of buyers.

Retailers want to fight fraud; we provide the tools.

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Director, Software Engineering employer: MasterCard

Mastercard is an exceptional employer that fosters a culture of innovation and collaboration, empowering employees to tackle complex engineering challenges in a dynamic environment. With a strong commitment to professional growth, employees benefit from continuous learning opportunities and the chance to work with cutting-edge technologies, including AI-supported development. Located in a vibrant global network, Mastercard offers a unique platform for meaningful contributions that drive sustainable economic growth and enhance digital payment solutions worldwide.

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Contact Details:

MasterCard Recruitment Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

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

Join Local Tech Meetups

Get out there and mingle with fellow developers by joining local tech meetups. It’s a fantastic way to meet people who might be working at MasterCard or know someone who does. Plus, you can pick up some trendy tech skills and trends while you're at it!

Contribute to Open Source Projects

Show off your coding chops by jumping into open-source projects. Not only does this give you practical experience, but it also gets you noticed in the dev community. You'll create a killer portfolio that speaks volumes about your skills to MasterCard.

Tap into Online Developer Communities

Don’t underestimate the power of online developer communities like GitHub, Stack Overflow, and even Reddit. Participate in discussions, share your projects, and build your visibility. We can often find opportunities through these channels that can lead to a full-time gig at companies like MasterCard.

Explore Job Boards Specifically for Tech Roles

Keep your eyes peeled on job boards that focus on tech roles. Sites like TechCareers or Stack Overflow Jobs can often have listings for companies like MasterCard that might not show up on broader job sites. Make it a habit to check these regularly, and don’t hesitate to apply directly through our website!

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

Leadership
Software Engineering Principles
Problem-Solving Skills
Critical Thinking
Cross-Functional Collaboration
Data-Driven Decision Making
System Design

Some tips for your application 🫡

Show off your coding skills:When applying for a software engineering role, it's super important to showcase your coding skills. Make sure your CV includes your tech stack, any relevant programming languages you’re comfortable with, and examples of projects you've worked on. If you have a GitHub profile, link it up! We love to see code in action.

Tailor your portfolio:For a full-time role, we’d expect to see some solid examples of your work in your portfolio. Make sure to include at least two or three projects that highlight your problem-solving skills and your ability to work with different technologies. Focus on the projects that are most relevant to the position at MasterCard.

Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at MasterCard and how your skills align with the role. Show us your passion for software development. We dig enthusiastic candidates who understand the value of collaboration and continuous learning!

Be clear and concise:When it comes to writing your CV and cover letter, clarity is key. Avoid jargon that could confuse us and stick to simple, direct language. Highlight your achievements with quantifiable results where possible, and keep everything easy to read. A well-organised application goes a long way!

How to prepare for a job interview at MasterCard

Brush Up on Your Coding Skills

For a full-time software engineering role, it's crucial that we stay sharp with our coding abilities. Expect technical questions that might involve solving problems on the spot or discussing algorithms. Practise on platforms like LeetCode or HackerRank to get comfortable with the types of questions that often come up.

Know Your Tools and Frameworks

Make sure we’re well-acquainted with the tools and technologies listed in the job description. Familiarise ourselves with any specific frameworks or programming languages mentioned. If MasterCard uses React or Node.js, for instance, be ready to discuss how we’ve used them in previous projects or coursework.

Showcase Your Projects

Bring along a portfolio that highlights our best work. This could be code samples, GitHub repositories, or any side projects we’ve built. Make sure we can talk through our thought process for each project, especially the challenges we faced and how we solved them—this shows our problem-solving skills in action.

Prepare for Behavioural Questions

While technical skills are key, full-time positions also require cultural fit. Be ready to discuss our previous experiences and how we handle teamwork, conflict, and deadlines. Brush up on the STAR method—Situation, Task, Action, Result—to clearly articulate our past experiences when discussing how we've contributed to a team.