We’re Hiring: Head of Software development

We’re Hiring: Head of Software development

Full-Time 63000 - 77000 £ / year (est.) Home office (partial)
MW Recruitment Limited

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead software development strategy and manage engineering teams in a dynamic financial services environment.
  • Company: Join a leading financial services institution with a focus on innovation and technology.
  • Benefits: Competitive salary, performance bonuses, equity participation, and comprehensive benefits package.
  • Other info: Enjoy hybrid working and be part of a collaborative culture driving technological advancements.
  • Why this job: Step into a high-impact role with a clear path to Deputy CTO and make a real difference.
  • Qualifications: Extensive software development experience, strong leadership skills, and expertise in Java.

The predicted salary is between 63000 - 77000 £ per year.

Our client is a financial services institution seeking a Head of Software Development to join their Technology function in a senior leadership capacity. This is a high-impact role with a clear pathway to Deputy CTO.

The Role

This is a strategic leadership position responsible for driving the software engineering function, owning the end-to-end development lifecycle, and shaping the organisation’s technology direction. The role combines hands-on technical expertise with senior stakeholder engagement and leadership of distributed engineering teams. There is a defined progression path into a Deputy CTO position, making this an excellent opportunity for an ambitious leader looking to step into executive-level responsibility.

Key Responsibilities

  • Define and execute the software development strategy aligned to business objectives
  • Partner with senior leadership to shape the technology roadmap
  • Own end-to-end software delivery across platforms and products
  • Lead architectural decisions and ensure the scalability of systems
  • Drive best practice across Agile, DevOps and engineering standards
  • Manage and develop offshore and distributed engineering teams
  • Build a high-performance, collaborative engineering culture
  • Oversee vendor relationships and offshore resource planning
  • Contribute to governance, risk and compliance initiatives

Skills and Experience

  • Extensive experience in software development with strong Java expertise
  • Proven leadership experience managing engineering teams
  • Experience overseeing the full software delivery lifecycle
  • Background within financial services, ideally capital markets
  • Strong understanding of cloud, microservices and modern architectures
  • Experience working with offshore or distributed teams
  • Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills
  • Ability to operate both strategically and hands-on
  • (Desirable) Experience in a high-growth or scaling environment
  • Exposure to AI or emerging technologies
  • Knowledge of regulatory and security frameworks such as SOC2 or ISO
  • Background in fintech, SaaS or enterprise platforms

Package

  • Competitive base salary and performance-related bonus
  • Equity participation aligned with seniority
  • Clear progression to Deputy CTO
  • Hybrid working model, comprehensive benefits package including healthcare and pension

We’re Hiring: Head of Software development employer: MW Recruitment Limited

As a leading City-based bank, we pride ourselves on fostering a dynamic and inclusive work environment that empowers our employees to thrive. Our Compliance Advisory team plays a crucial role in ensuring regulatory adherence while supporting the business's commercial objectives, offering ample opportunities for professional growth and development. With a strong emphasis on collaboration and innovation, we provide our employees with the tools and resources they need to succeed in a fast-paced Capital Markets setting.

MW Recruitment Limited

Contact Details:

MW Recruitment Limited Recruitment Team

We think you need these skills to ace We’re Hiring: Head of Software development

Java Expertise
Leadership Skills
Software Development Lifecycle Management
Cloud Technologies
Microservices Architecture
Agile Methodologies
DevOps Practices