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- Tasks: Lead and manage a high-performing engineering team for an innovative SaaS platform.
- Company: SoCode Recruitment is a dynamic staffing agency focused on tech roles.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, potential shares, and flexible working options.
- Why this job: Make a significant impact in a fast-paced startup environment while shaping engineering culture.
- Qualifications: 8+ years in software development with 3+ years in senior leadership, preferably in SaaS or fintech.
- Other info: This role offers hands-on leadership and strategic input in a growing business.
The predicted salary is between 104000 - 156000 £ per year.
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Head of Engineering – Cambridge (2/3days on site) – up to £130,000 per annum plus potential shares
As Head of Engineering, you will lead the engineering function – taking ownership of the delivery, quality, and performance of an innovative SaaS platform servicing the financial sector.
Reporting directly to and working in collaboration with the CTO, you will be responsible for scaling a high-performing engineering team, driving technical execution, and ensuring that our architecture, development practices, and engineering culture support the needs of a growing business.
You’ll work closely with product, architecture, and infrastructure leaders to translate strategic goals into actionable engineering outcomes. This is a hands-on leadership role for someone who thrives in a fast-moving startup environment and wants to make a significant impact to the businesses success.
As Head of Engineering, you’ll collaborate closely with product, design, engineering, and cloud infrastructure teams to ensure that what we build is not only innovative—but also robust, compliant, and ready to scale. This role is both strategic and hands-on, offering opportunities to lead planning, shape the roadmap, and grow a strong, delivery-focused engineering culture from the ground up.
What will I be doing?
- Leading, growing, and managing a high-performing engineering team across backend, frontend, platform, and QA domains. Define performance expectations, run regular 1:1s, and lead goal-setting, feedback, and performance reviews. Foster a culture of ownership, collaboration, and innovation.
- Provide hands-on technical leadership, collaborating with architects and guiding architectural decisions and ensuring code quality, security, and scalability. Set and enforce best practices for software design, documentation, testing, and development processes.
- Translate product and business objectives into actionable engineering roadmaps. Oversee sprint planning, backlog prioritisation, and delivery timelines. Ensure timely, high-quality release of features, services, and platform components to production.
- Champion agile ways of working, CI/CD pipelines, and modern DevOps practices. Own platform reliability, scalability, and performance through robust monitoring, observability, and incident response processes.
- Work closely with the CTO, product, design, DevOps, and cloud infrastructure teams to ensure strategic alignment and efficient cross-functional delivery. Build strong relationships with business stakeholders and align engineering goals with overall company objectives.
- Ensure that all systems meet relevant security, privacy, and regulatory requirements – (e.g., ISO27001, SOC 2, GDPR, DORA). Maintain development practices that support auditability, traceability, and operational resilience.
- Contribute to shaping the long-term technical direction of the business. Support roadmap planning with strategic input on platform evolution, technical risk, and team capability.
What skills can I bring?
- 8+ years of experience in software development, with at least 3 years in a senior leadership role, ideally in a high-growth SaaS, fintech, or regulated industry.
- Proven track record of leading and scaling engineering teams while maintaining delivery quality and velocity.
- Deep expertise in building secure, scalable, cloud-native platforms, preferably on AWS, using Kubernetes and microservices.
- Hands-on experience with modern backend stacks such as TypeScript/Node.js, Java, Postgres, and Kafka.
- Comfortable working with data models, APIs, service-oriented architecture, and event-driven systems.
- Strong understanding of CI/CD pipelines, automated testing, and modern DevOps
- Excellent grasp of compliance, security, and audit requirements in regulated environments (e.g. ISO27001, SOC 2, GDPR, DORA).
- Skilled at mentoring engineers, growing high-performing teams, and fostering an inclusive engineering culture.
- Confident communicator with the ability to engage and influence both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
- Adept at conflict resolution, problem-solving, and navigating resource constraints or delivery challenges.
Nice to haves
- Familiarity with financial APIs, payment gateways, and banking
- Experience with blockchain technologies, digital assets, or financial market infrastructure (a plus).
Seniority level
-
Seniority level
Director
Employment type
-
Employment type
Full-time
Job function
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Job function
Engineering and Information Technology
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Industries
Staffing and Recruiting
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Head of Engineering employer: SoCode Recruitment
Contact Detail:
SoCode Recruitment Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Engineering
✨Tip Number 1
Network with professionals in the fintech and SaaS sectors. Attend industry meetups or webinars to connect with potential colleagues and leaders who can provide insights into the company culture and expectations.
✨Tip Number 2
Familiarise yourself with the latest trends in cloud-native platforms and DevOps practices. Being well-versed in these areas will not only boost your confidence but also demonstrate your commitment to staying current in a fast-evolving field.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare to discuss your leadership style and how you foster team collaboration and innovation. Be ready to share specific examples of how you've successfully scaled engineering teams and improved delivery quality in previous roles.
✨Tip Number 4
Research the company's products and services thoroughly. Understanding their SaaS platform and its impact on the financial sector will allow you to speak knowledgeably about how you can contribute to their goals and challenges.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Engineering
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights relevant experience in software development and leadership roles. Emphasise your achievements in scaling engineering teams and delivering high-quality SaaS products, particularly in fintech or regulated industries.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Write a cover letter that showcases your passion for the role and the company. Discuss how your background aligns with the responsibilities of leading an engineering team and driving technical execution. Mention specific examples of past successes that demonstrate your ability to foster a culture of innovation.
Highlight Technical Expertise: In your application, clearly outline your technical skills, especially those related to cloud-native platforms, CI/CD pipelines, and modern DevOps practices. Include any hands-on experience with technologies mentioned in the job description, such as TypeScript, Node.js, and AWS.
Showcase Leadership Qualities: Demonstrate your leadership style and how you have successfully managed and mentored engineering teams. Provide examples of how you've navigated challenges, resolved conflicts, and aligned engineering goals with business objectives.
How to prepare for a job interview at SoCode Recruitment
✨Showcase Your Leadership Experience
As a Head of Engineering, your leadership skills are crucial. Be prepared to discuss specific examples of how you've successfully led and scaled engineering teams in the past, focusing on your approach to fostering collaboration and innovation.
✨Demonstrate Technical Expertise
Make sure to highlight your hands-on experience with relevant technologies, especially cloud-native platforms and modern backend stacks. Be ready to discuss architectural decisions you've made and how they contributed to the success of previous projects.
✨Align with Company Goals
Understand the company's strategic objectives and be prepared to explain how your engineering vision aligns with them. Discuss how you can translate business goals into actionable engineering outcomes, showcasing your ability to bridge the gap between technical and non-technical stakeholders.
✨Prepare for Cultural Fit Questions
Cultural fit is key in a fast-moving startup environment. Be ready to talk about how you would foster an inclusive engineering culture and support team members' growth. Share your thoughts on conflict resolution and how you handle challenges within a team.
