At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and evolve software engineering teams for innovative beauty tech solutions.
- Company: Join Space NK, a leader in beauty discovery and innovation.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, hybrid work options, and career development opportunities.
- Other info: Be part of a dynamic team driving transformation in the beauty industry.
- Why this job: Shape the future of beauty tech while making a real impact.
- Qualifications: Proven leadership in software engineering and experience with customer-centric platforms.
The predicted salary is between 90000 - 110000 £ per year.
If you love beauty, you're in the right place.
As the ultimate curator of over 100 of the most in-demand, highly innovative and boundary-pushing beauty brands, we are the go-to destination for worldwide beauty discovery.
Together through our neighbourhood stores, online presence and loyalty scheme, Space NK has built a flourishing community in which to discover beauty.
The customer is at the heart of everything we do, and we will always endeavour to offer everything they need to help them explore, experiment, and enjoy our brands.
- Director of Software Engineering FTC | Space NK, Capper Street, London
- Reports to: Chief Technology Officer
- Fixed Term Contract until August 2027
Role Overview
The Director of Software Engineering is responsible for leading and evolving Space NK's software engineering capability across customer facing and enterprise technology platforms.
This role provides strategic and operational leadership for multiple engineering teams covering Ecommerce, Mobile App, Loyalty, ERP, POS, WMS integrations and Quality Engineering (SDET).
The role is accountable for delivering secure, scalable and resilient technology solutions that support Space NK's digital growth, retail operations and business transformation initiatives.
The Director of Software Engineering will work closely with Product, Data, Architecture, Infrastructure, Security and Business stakeholders to define technology strategy, improve engineering maturity and ensure successful delivery of key programmes.
As a senior technology leader, the role plays a critical part in shaping engineering culture, attracting and developing talent, driving innovation and embedding modern software engineering practices across the organisation.
Key Responsibilities
• Engineering Leadership
- o Lead multiple engineering teams across Ecommerce, Mobile App, Loyalty, Enterprise Systems and Quality Engineering.
- o Establish a high-performance engineering culture focused on ownership, accountability, continuous improvement and delivery excellence.
- o Build and develop engineering managers and technical leaders, creating succession and career development pathways.
- o Foster collaboration across Technology and business functions to ensure alignment on priorities and outcomes.
• Technology Strategy & Delivery
- o Define and execute software engineering strategy aligned to Space NK's wider technology roadmap and business objectives.
- o Oversee the delivery of software development initiatives across customer-facing and enterprise platforms.
- o Ensure solutions are scalable, secure, maintainable and aligned with architectural standards.
- o Support major transformation initiatives including ERP, POS, WMS, Ecommerce and Loyalty platform evolution.
- o Drive adoption of modern engineering practices, tooling and automation.
• Customer & Digital Platforms
- o Lead engineering delivery for the Ecommerce platform, Mobile Application and Loyalty ecosystem.
- o Partner with Product and Digital teams to improve customer experience, conversion, engagement and retention.
- o Ensure digital platforms deliver high levels of availability, performance and security.
• Enterprise Engineering
- o Oversee engineering capabilities supporting ERP, POS and WMS integrations.
- o Ensure enterprise applications and integrations support operational efficiency, business scalability and data consistency.
- o Collaborate with business stakeholders to identify opportunities for automation and process optimisation.
• Quality Engineering & Platform Excellence
- o Lead the Software Development Engineer in Test (SDET) function and quality engineering strategy.
- o Embed quality throughout the software development lifecycle using automation, shift-left testing and continuous validation practices.
- o Drive Dev Ops maturity, CI/CD adoption and engineering productivity improvements.
• Delivery & Governance
- o Establish effective governance, planning and prioritisation processes across engineering teams.
- o Manage engineering budgets, resource planning and third-party delivery partners where required.
- o Ensure compliance with security, privacy, regulatory and risk management requirements.
- o Monitor delivery performance through appropriate metrics and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Stakeholder Management
- o Act as a trusted technology partner to business and executive stakeholders.
- o Communicate engineering priorities, risks, dependencies and progress to senior leadership.
- o Build strong relationships across Product, Operations, Retail, Supply Chain, Finance and external technology partners.
Qualifications, Knowledge, and Experience
Essential
- o Significant experience leading large-scale software engineering organisations within retail, ecommerce or similar customer-centric industries.
- o Proven experience managing multiple engineering teams through engineering managers and technical leads.
- o Strong understanding of modern software engineering practices including Agile, Dev Ops, CI/CD and cloud-native development.
- o Experience delivering customer-facing digital platforms including ecommerce, web, mobile and loyalty solutions.
- o Experience leading enterprise engineering teams supporting ERP, POS, WMS and integration platforms.
- o Strong understanding of software architecture, APIs, integration patterns and distributed systems.
- o Demonstrable experience driving engineering transformation, organisational maturity and cultural change.
- o Experience managing technology budgets, suppliers and outsourced delivery partners.
- o Excellent communication, stakeholder management and leadership skills.
Desirable
- o Experience within retail, luxury retail or omnichannel commerce organisations.
- o Knowledge of Microsoft Azure and modern cloud platforms.
- o Experience with Salesforce Commerce Cloud, retail POS systems, ERP modernisation programmes or warehouse management solutions.
- o Familiarity with data driven engineering approaches and platform engineering practices.
- o Experience supporting mergers, acquisitions or large scale transformation programmes.
Please note that only successful candidates will be contacted.
All applicants must have the right to live and work in the UK.
If you want to find out more about us, what it is like to work for us, all about our benefits, and our pledges on Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging, please visit our website.
Space NK are an equal opportunities employer.
How We Will Use Your Information
We will use the information you provide to us with your job application to help us process your application for the specific job you have applied for.
If you apply speculatively, we will process your application for the job/relevant business area that you detail within your email.
Please note that our current system does not use an automated filtering system.
All applications made via the website, through a third-party website or in-store will be kept on file for a period of 12 months.
This information will be retained and used to assess your suitability to similar positions that may arise in the future, or if the initial vacancy becomes live again during the 12-month period.
If you would prefer us to not hold your information on file/ you wish to be 'forgotten' if you are not offered a position with Space NK, please email your 'right to be forgotten' to our recruitment email address with RIGHT TO BE FORGOTTEN as the title of the email.
We will always inform you when we have deleted your application details, otherwise we will treat your application as consent to us holding this information.
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Director of Software Engineering (FTC) employer: Space NK
Space NK is an exceptional employer that fosters a vibrant and inclusive work culture, where creativity and collaboration thrive. As a Buying Assistant, you'll have the opportunity to engage with innovative beauty brands while benefiting from comprehensive training and career development programmes tailored to enhance your skills. Located in a dynamic retail environment, we prioritise employee well-being and offer unique perks, making it a rewarding place to grow your career in the beauty industry.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Director of Software Engineering (FTC)
✨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 Space NK 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 Space NK.
✨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 Space NK.
✨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 Space NK 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 Director of Software Engineering (FTC)
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 Space NK.
Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at Space NK 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 Space NK
✨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 Space NK 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.
