At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead engineering teams to shape the future of digital platforms and operational processes.
- Company: Established UK tech business focused on modernisation and expansion.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, career growth, and a dynamic work environment.
- Other info: Join a culture of collaboration and continuous improvement.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by driving innovation and engineering excellence.
- Qualifications: Experience in managing high-performing teams and modern software engineering.
The predicted salary is between 63000 - 77000 £ per year.
We’re partnered with a well-established UK technology business undergoing a major phase of modernisation and expansion. Their digital platforms support thousands of customers daily, and the company is now focused on scaling, automation, and strengthening the connection between their online systems and high-volume operational processes.
The Role
As Head of Engineering, you’ll shape the future of the company’s core technology estate, overseeing teams responsible for:
- Customer-facing digital platforms - ensuring a seamless, fast, and reliable online experience
- Enterprise and B2B systems - enabling smooth, high-volume order flows and partner integrations
- Internal production and workflow tools - connecting digital operations with real-world fulfilment, automation, and logistics
You’ll drive engineering excellence, operational efficiency, and long-term platform evolution across the organisation.
Key Responsibilities
- Work alongside Product and Programme teams to allocate engineering capacity based on business priorities and expected impact
- Support cloud strategy, stability, security, and cost optimisation across AWS-based systems
- Oversee DevOps, CI/CD, monitoring, and platform automation
- Lead and mentor multiple engineering teams across software, DevOps, and hardware-integrated solutions
- Foster a culture of ownership, collaboration, and continuous improvement
- Ensure systems are scalable, secure, and maintainable
- Champion engineering best practices, testing standards, and long-term platform resilience
- Translate business objectives into clear engineering roadmaps
- Drive delivery against milestones and ensure alignment with organisational goals
- Partner closely with senior leadership, Product, Operations, and commercial teams
- Turn business needs into efficient, future-proof technical solutions
- Introduce technologies and approaches that improve efficiency, quality, and automation
- Encourage data-driven decision-making across engineering and operations
Some of the requirements:
- Experience managing multiple high-performing teams within a scaling digital, e-commerce, or operational technology environment
- Strong foundation in modern software engineering
- Knowledge of cloud (AWS), DevOps, CI/CD, and API-driven architectures
- Experience linking digital systems with hardware, automation, or production workflows (a strong advantage)
- Strategic Execution Skills
- Ability to move from big-picture strategy to clear, practical technical plans
- Confident managing complex roadmaps and balancing short-term delivery with long-term stability
- Able to break down complex topics for non-technical stakeholders
- Skilled in influencing, expectation-setting, and executive-level reporting
Excited for a new opportunity? - Apply today!
Location: Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear, NE12 8BX
Salary: £80,000 - £90,000
Sector: Other
Type: Permanent
Posted: 11/28/2025
Head of Engineering employer: Ronald James
As an Information Security Manager at our fast-growing B2B technology business, you'll thrive in a dynamic work culture that prioritises innovation and collaboration. We offer competitive benefits, including professional development opportunities and a commitment to employee growth, ensuring you can advance your career while making a meaningful impact on our governance and compliance strategies. Join us in a location that fosters creativity and teamwork, where your expertise will be valued and your contributions will drive our success.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Engineering
✨Join Local Tech Meetups
Get out there and mingle with fellow developers by joining local tech meetups. It’s a fantastic way to meet people who might be working at Ronald James or know someone who does. Plus, you can pick up some trendy tech skills and trends while you're at it!
✨Contribute to Open Source Projects
Show off your coding chops by jumping into open-source projects. Not only does this give you practical experience, but it also gets you noticed in the dev community. You'll create a killer portfolio that speaks volumes about your skills to Ronald James.
✨Tap into Online Developer Communities
Don’t underestimate the power of online developer communities like GitHub, Stack Overflow, and even Reddit. Participate in discussions, share your projects, and build your visibility. We can often find opportunities through these channels that can lead to a full-time gig at companies like Ronald James.
✨Explore Job Boards Specifically for Tech Roles
Keep your eyes peeled on job boards that focus on tech roles. Sites like TechCareers or Stack Overflow Jobs can often have listings for companies like Ronald James that might not show up on broader job sites. Make it a habit to check these regularly, and don’t hesitate to apply directly through our website!
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Engineering
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show off your coding skills:When applying for a software engineering role, it's super important to showcase your coding skills. Make sure your CV includes your tech stack, any relevant programming languages you’re comfortable with, and examples of projects you've worked on. If you have a GitHub profile, link it up! We love to see code in action.
Tailor your portfolio:For a full-time role, we’d expect to see some solid examples of your work in your portfolio. Make sure to include at least two or three projects that highlight your problem-solving skills and your ability to work with different technologies. Focus on the projects that are most relevant to the position at Ronald James.
Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at Ronald James and how your skills align with the role. Show us your passion for software development. We dig enthusiastic candidates who understand the value of collaboration and continuous learning!
Be clear and concise:When it comes to writing your CV and cover letter, clarity is key. Avoid jargon that could confuse us and stick to simple, direct language. Highlight your achievements with quantifiable results where possible, and keep everything easy to read. A well-organised application goes a long way!
How to prepare for a job interview at Ronald James
✨Brush Up on Your Coding Skills
For a full-time software engineering role, it's crucial that we stay sharp with our coding abilities. Expect technical questions that might involve solving problems on the spot or discussing algorithms. Practise on platforms like LeetCode or HackerRank to get comfortable with the types of questions that often come up.
✨Know Your Tools and Frameworks
Make sure we’re well-acquainted with the tools and technologies listed in the job description. Familiarise ourselves with any specific frameworks or programming languages mentioned. If Ronald James uses React or Node.js, for instance, be ready to discuss how we’ve used them in previous projects or coursework.
✨Showcase Your Projects
Bring along a portfolio that highlights our best work. This could be code samples, GitHub repositories, or any side projects we’ve built. Make sure we can talk through our thought process for each project, especially the challenges we faced and how we solved them—this shows our problem-solving skills in action.
✨Prepare for Behavioural Questions
While technical skills are key, full-time positions also require cultural fit. Be ready to discuss our previous experiences and how we handle teamwork, conflict, and deadlines. Brush up on the STAR method—Situation, Task, Action, Result—to clearly articulate our past experiences when discussing how we've contributed to a team.
