At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the development of a groundbreaking investing app from concept to market.
- Company: Join a well-known finance firm as their first tech hire.
- Benefits: Attractive salary, flexible working, and a chance to innovate.
- Why this job: Be at the forefront of fintech innovation and shape the future of investing.
- Qualifications: Hands-on experience in fintech development and strong leadership skills.
- Other info: Opportunity to build and lead a high-performing engineering team.
The predicted salary is between 43200 - 72000 £ per year.
I am working with a finance firm to recruit their first tech hire who will be working to build a next generation investing app. This is a fantastic opportunity to join a well-known business working on a greenfield project when you will be delivering a ground-breaking application from an initial concept to a market-leading product. It is essential that you can provide strategic guidance whilst still being technically hands-on to shape the technical requirements, design the architecture and manage the initial development.
Key Responsibilities:
- Partner closely with stakeholders to turn business goals into clear, actionable technical plans.
- Weigh up build, buy, or white-label options to move fast while keeping the platform scalable.
- Design an efficient, API-first architecture that can grow with a consumer investment product.
- Set realistic delivery timelines, cost estimates, and resource needs for the platform’s rollout.
- Coordinate and guide external developers or partners through early build stages.
- Jump in hands-on with coding, reviews, and technical design whenever needed.
- Build and lead a small, high-performing engineering team as the product scales.
- Make sure the platform is secure and fully compliant with KYC/AML and regulatory standards across the UAE and other key markets.
Key Skills & Experience:
- Hands-on development and architecture for consumer-facing fintech (investing, trading, wealth).
- Knowledge of onboarding, KYC/AML, dashboards, portfolio tracking, and retail trading flows.
- Full-stack or solution architecture experience for mobile and web platforms.
- Builder mindset — able to operate independently as the first technical hire.
- Experience launching B2C products, ideally mobile apps (iOS/Android).
- Understanding of retail investing/trading/wealth products and customer journeys.
- Strong product intuition and ability to align tech with business goals.
- Capability to scale from individual contributor to leading a small engineering team.
This is a full-time role offering an attractive salary, flexible working and the opportunity to work on something truly greenfield and innovative.
Head of Software Engineering employer: Nicoll Curtin
Contact Detail:
Nicoll Curtin Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Software Engineering
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the fintech space and let them know you're on the hunt for a Head of Software Engineering role. You never know who might have the inside scoop on opportunities or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! Create a portfolio that highlights your past projects, especially those related to consumer-facing fintech. This will give potential employers a taste of what you can bring to the table when building that next-gen investing app.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by brushing up on your technical knowledge and leadership skills. Be ready to discuss how you've turned business goals into actionable plans in the past, and how you can do the same for this greenfield project.
✨Tip Number 4
Don't forget to apply through our website! It’s a great way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive about their job search!
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Software Engineering
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV speaks directly to the job description. Highlight your hands-on development experience and any relevant fintech projects you've worked on. We want to see how your skills align with building a next-gen investing app!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're the perfect fit for this role. Share your builder mindset and how you can provide strategic guidance while being technically hands-on. Let us know what excites you about this greenfield project!
Showcase Your Technical Skills: In your application, don’t forget to mention your experience with API-first architecture and any relevant tools or technologies you've used. We’re looking for someone who can jump in with coding and technical design, so make that clear!
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. Plus, we love seeing applications come through our platform!
How to prepare for a job interview at Nicoll Curtin
✨Know Your Tech Inside Out
Make sure you’re well-versed in the latest technologies relevant to fintech, especially those related to mobile app development and API-first architecture. Brush up on your hands-on coding skills and be ready to discuss how you've tackled similar challenges in past projects.
✨Align with Business Goals
Understand the finance firm's vision for their investing app. Be prepared to articulate how your technical strategies can directly support their business objectives. This shows that you can bridge the gap between tech and business, which is crucial for this role.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
As the first tech hire, you'll need to build and lead a team. Share examples of how you've successfully led projects or teams in the past. Highlight your ability to mentor others and foster a high-performing engineering culture.
✨Prepare for Regulatory Discussions
Since compliance is key in fintech, brush up on KYC/AML regulations and how they apply to consumer investment products. Be ready to discuss how you would ensure the platform meets these standards while still being innovative and user-friendly.