At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and mentor a dynamic engineering team while coding and shaping architecture.
- Company: Join a forward-thinking tech company prioritising security and innovation.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible work options, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in tech leadership while staying hands-on with development.
- Qualifications: Strong coding skills and proven leadership experience in software engineering.
- Other info: Exciting chance to drive modern practices in a collaborative environment.
The predicted salary is between 43200 - 72000 £ per year.
Our client is looking for an experienced Head of Software Development to work closely with the CTO and lead the engineering function. This is a genuinely hands-on leadership role - you'll be coding alongside the team, reviewing code, shaping architecture, and setting the standard for technical excellence. You'll lead a team of around 8 developers, collaborate with third-party infrastructure and cyber-security partners, and help drive a security-first engineering culture across everything built. It's a brilliant opportunity to grow into broader technology leadership while staying close to delivery.
What you'll do:
- Lead, mentor and develop a high-performing engineering team
- Actively contribute to production code and conduct high-quality code reviews
- Own solutions architecture across our web platform and integrations
- Champion secure, compliant engineering (FCA, GDPR, PCI DSS)
- Drive modern development practices (CI/CD, testing, Agile/Scrum)
- Partner with the CTO on technology strategy and roadmap delivery
Tech stack: PHP/Laravel, MySQL, Tailwind, Livewire, JavaScript, React/NextJS, AWS, GitHub, microservices, Jira (Scrum).
Must have:
- Strong, current hands-on development experience
- Proven leadership of small-medium engineering teams
- Deep understanding of AWS, modern web architecture and application security
- Experience building secure, scalable web platforms
- Pragmatic, delivery-focused mindset with high engineering standards
Head Of Software Engineering employer: Savant Recruitment
Contact Detail:
Savant Recruitment 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 tech industry, especially those who might know about opportunities in software engineering. A personal recommendation can go a long way in landing that interview.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! Create a portfolio showcasing your coding projects and contributions to open-source. This is your chance to demonstrate your hands-on experience and technical excellence, which is crucial for a role like Head of Software Engineering.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for technical interviews by brushing up on your coding skills and understanding of modern web architecture. Be ready to discuss your approach to security-first engineering and how you’ve implemented best practices in past roles.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best 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 🫡
Show Your Hands-On Experience: Make sure to highlight your hands-on coding experience in your application. We want to see how you've actively contributed to production code and led teams, so share specific examples that showcase your technical skills and leadership.
Emphasise Security-First Mindset: Since we're all about a security-first culture, don’t forget to mention your experience with secure engineering practices. Talk about how you've implemented compliance standards like FCA, GDPR, or PCI DSS in your previous roles.
Demonstrate Leadership Skills: We’re looking for someone who can lead and mentor a team effectively. In your application, share stories of how you've developed high-performing teams and fostered a collaborative environment. This will show us you’re the right fit for our culture.
Apply Through Our Website: Finally, make sure to apply through our website! It’s the best way for us to keep track of your application and ensure it gets the attention it deserves. We can’t wait to see what you bring to the table!
How to prepare for a job interview at Savant Recruitment
✨Show Your Hands-On Skills
Since this role is all about being hands-on, make sure to prepare examples of your coding experience. Bring along a portfolio or code samples that showcase your technical skills, especially in PHP/Laravel and JavaScript. This will demonstrate your ability to lead by example.
✨Emphasise Leadership Experience
Be ready to discuss your previous leadership roles and how you've successfully mentored teams. Highlight specific instances where you’ve driven a high-performing culture and how you’ve tackled challenges in team dynamics. This will show that you can lead the engineering function effectively.
✨Understand Security Standards
Given the security-first approach of the company, brush up on FCA, GDPR, and PCI DSS compliance. Be prepared to discuss how you’ve implemented secure coding practices in past projects. This will illustrate your commitment to building secure, compliant systems.
✨Familiarise Yourself with the Tech Stack
Make sure you’re well-versed in the tech stack mentioned in the job description. Understand how PHP/Laravel, MySQL, and AWS work together. Being able to speak confidently about these technologies will show that you’re not just a leader but also a technical expert who can contribute to discussions.