Head of Engineering

Head of Engineering

Full-Time 72000 - 108000 £ / year (est.) No home office possible
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At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead engineering operations and shape the future of legal tech software.
  • Company: Join Navys, a pioneering legal tech company transforming private capital markets.
  • Benefits: Competitive salary, equity participation, and opportunities for leadership growth.
  • Why this job: Make a real impact in a dynamic environment with cutting-edge technology.
  • Qualifications: 3+ years managing software teams and strong full-stack development experience.
  • Other info: On-site role in London with a focus on collaboration and innovation.

The predicted salary is between 72000 - 108000 £ per year.

Location: London (4–5 days per week on site)

Compensation: Competitive salary + equity

Reports to: CEO

Company Overview

Navys is a venture backed legal technology company building enterprise workflow software for private capital markets. The platform replaces manual, email driven legal processes with a structured system that enables funds lawyers, GPs and LPs to execute complex transactions more efficiently. Navys is focused on real legal workflows, not generic AI tools or document summarisation, and is designed to support production grade, enterprise use cases. Navys is building core infrastructure for how funds legal work is done, with a strong emphasis on execution, clarity and real-world impact.

Role Summary

Navys is seeking a Head of Engineering who will take ownership of day-to-day engineering operations and play a pivotal role in building the engineering function from its early foundations. This is not just a delivery role, it is a hands-on technical leadership position responsible for defining engineering processes, shaping architecture, hiring talent and fostering a high-performance team culture. The ideal candidate is an experienced engineering leader who can operate close to the codebase while also driving technical decision-making, implementing scalable processes and ensuring accountability across the team.

Technology Environment

The platform is built on a modern full-stack architecture optimised for workflow orchestration and rapid iteration. The Head of Engineering will own development strategy and execution and lead the architectural evolution as scale increases.

Current Stack

  • Frontend: Next.js, TypeScript, Tailwind CSS
  • Backend & APIs: Python (Quart/Flask)
  • Infrastructure: PostgreSQL, Docker containerisation, Azure
  • Delivery Operations: CI/CD automation, Git-based workflow, Agile execution

Responsibilities

  • Build and Lead the Engineering Function
  • Establish engineering processes, standards and ways of working suitable for an early-stage organisation
  • Create a culture of accountability, ownership and high performance
  • Recruit, develop and mentor engineering talent as the team expands
  • Technical Leadership & Architectural Ownership
  • Drive architectural decisions and define the technical direction of the platform
  • Provide hands-on guidance, reviewing code and shaping solution design
  • Ensure the system remains scalable, secure and maintainable as it evolves
  • Delivery Management & Operational Excellence
  • Own sprint planning, prioritisation and release cadence
  • Ensure predictable, high-quality delivery of product features
  • Identify and remove blockers quickly, maintaining delivery velocity
  • Improve and optimise development workflows, CI/CD practices and QA processes
  • Cross-Functional Collaboration & Product Alignment
  • Translate product requirements into technical plans and release scopes
  • Partner closely with product, design and commercial teams to ensure alignment on priorities
  • Support early customer deployments and communicate risks, trade-offs and progress clearly to stakeholders

Candidate Profile

Essential Requirements

  • At least 3 years' experience managing software engineering teams
  • Strong understanding of software engineering management processes in a SaaS environment
  • Firsthand experience in modern full-stack web development
  • Has successfully delivered production grade Enterprise software using a SaaS model
  • Solid understanding of software architecture, with the ability to assess options and explain trade-offs to top management
  • Strong personal network of technologists and engineering talent
  • Highly organised and able to prioritise effectively and deliver at pace
  • Strong communication skills across technical and non-technical teams
  • Comfortable working on-site in London (4–5 days per week)

Desirable Requirements

  • Exposure to legal tech or fintech
  • Experience with workflow or transaction-heavy systems
  • Understanding of security, compliance and resilience in software systems

What the Company Offers

  • Competitive salary and meaningful equity participation at early-stage entry point
  • Ownership of engineering processes, architecture and technical direction
  • Potential for expanded leadership responsibilities as the organisation scales

Equal Opportunity Employer

We are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace. As an equal opportunity employer, we do not discriminate on the basis of age, disability, sex, race, religion or belief, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, or sexual orientation. All qualified applicants will receive consideration based on individual merit and business needs.

Head of Engineering employer: Navys

Navys is an exceptional employer for the Head of Engineering role, offering a dynamic work environment in London that fosters innovation and collaboration. With a competitive salary and equity participation, employees are empowered to take ownership of their work while benefiting from a culture that prioritises accountability and high performance. The company is committed to employee growth, providing opportunities to shape the engineering function and influence the architectural direction of cutting-edge legal technology solutions.
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Contact Detail:

Navys Recruiting Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫

We think this is how you could land Head of Engineering

✨Tip Number 1

Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the tech industry, especially those who might know someone at Navys. A personal introduction can make all the difference in getting your foot in the door.

✨Tip Number 2

Prepare for the interview by diving deep into Navys' tech stack. Familiarise yourself with Next.js, Python, and CI/CD practices. Showing that you understand their tools will impress the hiring team and demonstrate your commitment.

✨Tip Number 3

Don’t just talk about your past experiences; share specific examples of how you've built high-performance teams and improved engineering processes. This is your chance to showcase your leadership skills and vision for the role!

✨Tip Number 4

Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, it shows you're genuinely interested in joining the team at Navys. Let’s get you that interview!

We think you need these skills to ace Head of Engineering

Technical Leadership
Software Engineering Management
Full-Stack Web Development
SaaS Model Experience
Software Architecture Assessment
Team Recruitment and Mentorship
Agile Methodologies
CI/CD Automation
PostgreSQL
Python (Quart/Flask)
Next.js
TypeScript
Tailwind CSS
Cross-Functional Collaboration
Strong Communication Skills

Some tips for your application 🫡

Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Head of Engineering role. Highlight your experience in managing software engineering teams and any relevant tech stacks you've worked with. We want to see how your skills align with what we're looking for!

Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're passionate about the role and how your background makes you a perfect fit. Don’t forget to mention your experience with SaaS and enterprise software, as that’s key for us.

Showcase Your Technical Leadership: In your application, be sure to highlight your technical leadership experience. We’re looking for someone who can drive architectural decisions and mentor a team, so share examples of how you've done this in the past.

Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother process. It helps us keep track of applications and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates from us. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take that extra step!

How to prepare for a job interview at Navys

✨Know Your Tech Stack

Familiarise yourself with the technologies mentioned in the job description, like Next.js, Python, and PostgreSQL. Be ready to discuss how you've used similar technologies in your past roles and how they can be applied to enhance Navys' platform.

✨Showcase Leadership Experience

Prepare examples of how you've built and led engineering teams before. Highlight specific instances where you established processes or improved team performance, as this role is all about creating a high-performance culture.

✨Understand the Business Context

Research Navys and its position in the legal tech space. Be prepared to discuss how your technical decisions can align with business goals, especially in terms of efficiency and scalability for enterprise software.

✨Ask Insightful Questions

Prepare thoughtful questions that show your interest in the role and the company. Inquire about their current challenges in engineering, how they measure success, and what their vision is for the future of the platform.

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