Find a job 
Featured Companies 
Featured Universities 
For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and scale a talented team of 100+ engineers in a digital transformation.
- Company: Join one of the UK's most prominent brands focused on growth and experience.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible hybrid working, a supportive culture, and significant investment in technology.
- Why this job: Shape the future of platforms while driving innovation and customer-first thinking.
- Qualifications: Proven experience leading large-scale engineering teams and knowledge of modern software development.
- Other info: Be part of a strong leadership team that values creativity and autonomy.
The predicted salary is between 72000 - 108000 £ per year.
We’re excited to be partnering with one of the UKs most prominent brands as they embark on a major digital & AI transformation focussed on growth and experience. As part of this, an opportunity has come available for an experienced Head of Software Engineering to lead and scale a high-performing and talented team of 100+ engineers.
Your mission: enable engineering excellence, drive speed and quality through DevOps and modern architecture, and partner closely with Product and Design to ship features that matter. This is a pivotal leadership role at the heart of a major digital transformation. You’ll play a central role in shaping how we build, scale, and operate our platforms — balancing innovation, resilience, and business outcomes AND combining software engineering, DevOps, and platform thinking to deliver exceptional customer experiences at scale.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Leadership & Strategy: Set the strategic direction for engineering across product squads, platforms, and enabling teams. Shape the long-term technology roadmap in partnership with Product, Architecture, and Data leaders. Drive engineering culture, ways of working, and rituals that support speed, quality, and continuous improvement.
- Team & People: Lead and mentor a diverse group of engineering managers, tech leads, and senior engineers. Build succession plans and grow internal leadership capabilities. Promote a high-trust environment with a focus on autonomy, inclusion, and career development.
- Execution & Delivery: Ensure consistent, high-quality delivery of product features, platform capabilities, and technical initiatives. Oversee delivery pipelines, velocity, and stability across multiple domains and systems. Drive the adoption of DevOps, CI/CD, TDD/BDD, and cloud-native development practices.
- Technology & Operations: Work closely with the Head of Architecture and Platform teams to modernise legacy systems and reduce technical debt. Promote scalability, resilience, and observability across our engineering landscape. Own SLAs, operational metrics, and runbooks for engineering-owned systems and services.
- Cross-functional Collaboration: Act as a key partner to Product, UX, Data, Infrastructure, and Security to align on delivery goals and shared priorities. Participate in planning cycles, budgeting, OKRs, and quarterly business reviews. Bring a commercial lens to engineering decisions — balancing innovation with value delivery.
WHAT EXPERIENCE WILL YOU OFFER?
- Proven experience leading large-scale engineering teams (100+) in high-growth, product-led organisations.
- Deep knowledge of modern software development, cloud platforms (AWS preferred), DevOps/SRE.
- Experience and/or interest in emerging AI/Data Science & Automation solutions.
- Exceptional people leadership: you build empowered, high-trust teams with a strong engineering culture.
- Track record of delivering large-scale digital transformation in complex, fast-paced environments.
- Strong partner to Product and Commercial teams — you understand how tech drives business growth.
WHY JOIN US?
- A real seat at the table: shaping the future of our platforms, teams, and technology.
- The scale to make an impact — and the agility to do it fast.
- A strong leadership team that values autonomy, creativity, and customer-first thinking.
- Flexible hybrid working, a supportive culture, and significant investment in technology and people.
Interested? Let’s build something extraordinary. Apply now or reach out for a confidential conversation.
Head of Software Engineering employer: MRJ Recruitment
Contact Detail:
MRJ Recruitment Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Software Engineering
✨Tip Number 1
Network with professionals in the software engineering field, especially those who have experience in leading large teams. Attend industry events or webinars where you can connect with potential colleagues or mentors who can provide insights into the role and the company culture.
✨Tip Number 2
Familiarise yourself with the latest trends in DevOps and cloud platforms, particularly AWS, as this knowledge will be crucial for the role. Consider joining online forums or communities focused on these technologies to stay updated and engage in discussions.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare to discuss your leadership style and how you've successfully built high-trust teams in the past. Think of specific examples that demonstrate your ability to mentor and empower engineers, as this is a key aspect of the role.
✨Tip Number 4
Research the company's recent digital transformation initiatives and be ready to share your thoughts on how you can contribute to their goals. Showing that you understand their current challenges and opportunities will set you apart from other candidates.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Software Engineering
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights your experience leading large-scale engineering teams and your knowledge of modern software development practices. Use specific examples that demonstrate your ability to drive digital transformation and foster a strong engineering culture.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: In your cover letter, express your passion for technology and leadership. Discuss how your background aligns with the responsibilities outlined in the job description, particularly your experience with DevOps, cloud platforms, and cross-functional collaboration.
Showcase Leadership Skills: Emphasise your exceptional people leadership skills in both your CV and cover letter. Provide examples of how you've built high-trust teams and promoted career development within your previous roles.
Highlight Relevant Achievements: Include quantifiable achievements that demonstrate your impact in previous positions. For instance, mention any successful projects that involved scaling engineering teams or implementing innovative solutions that drove business growth.
How to prepare for a job interview at MRJ Recruitment
✨Showcase Your Leadership Experience
As a candidate for the Head of Software Engineering, it's crucial to highlight your experience in leading large teams. Prepare specific examples of how you've successfully managed and scaled engineering teams, focusing on your leadership style and the culture you fostered.
✨Demonstrate Technical Expertise
Be ready to discuss your deep knowledge of modern software development practices, particularly in cloud platforms like AWS. Familiarise yourself with DevOps methodologies and be prepared to explain how you've implemented these in past roles to drive efficiency and quality.
✨Align with Business Goals
Understand how technology drives business growth and be prepared to discuss how your engineering strategies align with commercial objectives. Share examples of how you've collaborated with product and commercial teams to deliver impactful results.
✨Emphasise Cross-Functional Collaboration
This role requires strong collaboration with various teams. Be prepared to discuss your experience working with Product, UX, Data, and Security teams. Highlight instances where your collaborative efforts led to successful project outcomes and improved customer experiences.
