At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and mentor a dynamic team of software engineers in an AI-driven environment.
- Company: Global payments tech company transforming the fintech landscape.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, fully remote work, and a strong focus on personal growth.
- Other info: Enjoy autonomy, flexibility, and a culture that values learning and innovation.
- Why this job: Join at a pivotal moment to shape engineering strategy with AI tools.
- Qualifications: 5+ years in software engineering, with 2+ years in management.
The predicted salary is between 90000 - 110000 £ per year.
Payments Technology | Fully Remote | Up to £110,000 + bonus
Seniority: Manager level, leading a team of 14 to 20 software engineers
Stack: Agnostic (Java, .NET, Golang all welcome)
Working model: Fully remote
Salary: £90,000 to £110,000 depending on experience
Exclusive role to Ocho.
About the Company
This is a global payments technology company processing billions of dollars in transactions annually, serving merchants from SMEs through to large enterprise clients across North America, Europe, and beyond. Built through strategic acquisitions into a single unified platform, the business competes at the top end of the fintech infrastructure space alongside some of the most recognised names in the industry. It is a merchant-first organisation, deeply focused on outcomes over outputs, and is currently undergoing a significant AI-driven transformation that is reshaping how engineering teams work and what they are expected to deliver.
The Role
This Engineering Manager role sits at the heart of a company in genuine transformation. You will lead the Asset team, a group of 14 to 20 software engineers, at a moment when AI tooling has dramatically accelerated development velocity and the real constraints have shifted to deployment, DevOps, and requirements. The business is moving toward fewer, more senior hires who can operate as force multipliers, and this is precisely that kind of role.
You will be a player-coach: credible enough with engineers to stay close to the technical detail, and strategic enough to work confidently with senior leadership on roadmap and delivery. You will partner closely with product, architecture, and DevOps teams to eliminate blockers, raise engineering standards, and build a culture where people grow. If you are the kind of engineer-turned-leader who gets energised by impact rather than activity, this is worth your attention.
Key responsibilities
- Lead, hire, mentor, and retain a team of 14 to 20 software engineers, fostering a culture of accountability and continuous growth.
- Drive engineering best practices across the team, including agile and lean delivery frameworks, CI/CD, and automated testing.
- Collaborate cross-functionally with product managers, DevOps, and architecture to ensure alignment with the product roadmap and delivery timelines.
- Apply an AI-first mindset to team operations, identifying where AI tooling can accelerate velocity, reduce toil, and improve outcomes beyond basic code generation.
- Eliminate blockers and continuously improve tooling, deployment pipelines, and automation to raise team throughput.
- Coach engineers on career progression, tackling increasingly complex challenges, and developing the skills needed for a more senior, system-level approach to engineering.
- Own the delivery commitments of your team, ensuring transparency with leadership and alignment to business objectives.
- Coordinate the development of cross-team features between engineering squads, product, and technical operations.
- Foster a culture of operational excellence through real-time monitoring, alerting, and continuous improvement.
- Support the planning process and help translate product requirements into sound engineering plans.
What You Will Need
Essential
- 5+ years in software engineering, with at least 2 years in a formal engineering management role.
- Proven track record leading and developing teams of 5 or more engineers.
- Strong object-oriented programming background in Java, .NET (C#), Golang, or equivalent.
- Solid grasp of agile and lean delivery methodologies with hands-on experience running teams within these frameworks.
- An AI-first mindset: comfortable applying AI tools practically to improve team velocity, automate processes, and think beyond basic code generation.
- Excellent communication skills, including the ability to present technical concepts to senior stakeholders and work effectively with distributed teams.
- Experience working cross-functionally across product, DevOps, and architecture teams in a fast-moving environment.
- Comfortable with ambiguity, willing to backtrack, experiment, and seek multiple solutions without needing all the answers upfront.
Nice to Have
- Experience in payments, fintech, or financial services technology.
- Exposure to mentoring first-time engineering managers.
- Familiarity with modern DevOps practices and CI/CD tooling at scale.
Why Apply?
- £90,000 to £110,000 base salary, depending on experience.
- Fully remote working with genuine flexibility.
- AI budget and tooling (including GitHub Copilot) already in place, with active investment in experimentation.
- Rare opportunity to lead at a genuinely transformational moment: engineering strategy has been rebuilt around AI and the company is moving fast.
- Small teams, big autonomy: clear outcomes, no needless process, trust to get on with it.
- Real investment in learning, mastery, and individual growth as a core part of the culture.
- Exclusive role via Ocho, with a fast two-stage interview process and quick time to offer.
How to Apply
If you believe you meet the criteria for this role and are excited about the opportunity, please apply via the link. Alternatively, reach out to Phil Gamble directly for an informal chat via LinkedIn or WhatsApp.
About Phil Gamble
Phil Gamble has over 21 years of experience recruiting in global software engineering markets, delivering high-quality technical hires for scaling organisations. His relationship-driven approach ensures candidates are supported throughout the entire process.
Engineering manager (AI) in Belfast employer: Ocho People
Join a leading global payments technology company that champions innovation and transformation in the fintech space. With a fully remote working model, you will enjoy genuine flexibility, an AI-driven culture, and a strong commitment to employee growth and development. This is a unique opportunity to lead a talented team of engineers at a pivotal moment, where your impact will be felt across the organisation as you drive engineering excellence and foster a culture of accountability.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Engineering manager (AI) in Belfast
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the industry, especially those who work at companies you're interested in. A friendly chat can lead to referrals or insider info that could give you the edge.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by practising common questions and scenarios related to engineering management. We recommend doing mock interviews with friends or using online platforms to get comfortable with the format.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your leadership skills during interviews. Share specific examples of how you've mentored engineers or led projects. This will help demonstrate your fit for the Engineering Manager role.
✨Tip Number 4
Don't forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, it shows you're serious about the opportunity and keen to join the team.
We think you need these skills to ace Engineering manager (AI) in Belfast
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Leadership Skills:When writing your application, make sure to highlight your experience in leading and mentoring teams. We want to see how you've fostered a culture of growth and accountability in your previous roles.
Be Specific About Your Technical Background:Mention your programming expertise clearly, especially if you have experience with Java, .NET, or Golang. We love seeing concrete examples of how you've applied your technical skills in real-world scenarios.
Emphasise Your AI Mindset:Since this role is all about embracing AI, share any experiences where you've used AI tools to improve processes or outcomes. We’re looking for candidates who can think beyond just coding!
Keep It Clear and Concise:Make sure your application is easy to read and straight to the point. We appreciate clarity, so avoid jargon and focus on what makes you a great fit for this transformational role. And remember, apply through our website!
How to prepare for a job interview at Ocho People
✨Know Your Tech Stack
Make sure you’re familiar with the technologies mentioned in the job description, like Java, .NET, and Golang. Brush up on your knowledge of these languages and be ready to discuss how you've used them in past projects.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
As an Engineering Manager, you'll need to demonstrate your ability to lead and mentor a team. Prepare examples of how you've successfully managed teams, tackled challenges, and fostered a culture of growth and accountability.
✨Emphasise Your AI Mindset
Since the company is undergoing an AI-driven transformation, be prepared to discuss how you've applied AI tools in your previous roles. Share specific instances where AI has improved processes or outcomes in your engineering practices.
✨Prepare for Cross-Functional Collaboration
This role requires working closely with product, DevOps, and architecture teams. Think of examples that highlight your experience in cross-functional collaboration and how you’ve effectively communicated technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders.
