At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead engineering across multiple software businesses and drive AI-first initiatives.
- Company: Join Balio, a forward-thinking company focused on innovation and collaboration.
- Benefits: Fully remote role with competitive salary and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Dynamic environment with a focus on improving engineering quality and velocity.
- Why this job: Shape the future of engineering while working with cutting-edge AI technologies.
- Qualifications: 10+ years in software engineering with strong leadership experience.
The predicted salary is between 100000 - 150000 £ per year.
About the Role
Balio is hiring a Head of Portfolio Engineering to set the technical direction for our portfolio of acquired software businesses and build the engineering function that will scale with us. This is a hands‑on leadership role that sits at group level; working across every product and team in our portfolio, you’ll raise the quality bar, consolidate infrastructure, and give our engineering teams the tools and standards to build AI‑native by default. This is a fully remote role and you will work with teams across multiple time zones (AEST to PST).
What You’ll Own
- Engineering leadership across all portfolio companies, setting the technical direction, quality bar, and operating cadence.
- Hiring, developing, and holding accountable engineering leads at each portfolio company; building a bench of talent across the group.
- Driving an AI‑first engineering approach, identifying where AI tooling, automation, and agents can accelerate product delivery and reduce manual overhead.
- Partnering with portfolio company GMs to translate business goals into technical roadmaps.
- Serving as the primary escalation point for engineering risk, architecture decisions, and major technical investments across the portfolio.
- Running a lightweight shared services function where applicable – identifying where tooling, infrastructure, or practices can be standardised across companies.
- Reporting directly to the Head of Portfolio you will serve as the technical lead within the Balio leadership team.
Who You Are
- A senior engineering leader – you've run engineering teams of 15+ people and know what good looks like across the full SDLC. Strong preference for experience managing across multiple teams.
- Broadly technically credible – across SDLC, architecture, infrastructure, and delivery, with strong mentorship and decision‑support capability.
- Operationally sharp – comfortable managing across multiple products/companies simultaneously, with strong prioritisation instincts.
- An AI native – you use AI tools daily, you think about how to embed them in engineering workflows, and you hold a genuine conviction that AI changes how software gets built. The focus is practical productivity gains, not buzzword‑led initiatives.
- A strong communicator – able to translate technical complexity for commercial stakeholders and vice versa.
- Comfortable with ambiguity – this role is being built; the right person will shape it.
Background we’d expect
- 10+ years in software engineering, with 4+ years in an engineering leadership role (VP Eng, Head of Engineering, or equivalent).
- Experience in a multi‑product or portfolio environment preferred (PE‑backed, holding company, or venture studio).
- Track record of improving engineering velocity and quality in acquired or turnaround businesses.
- Experience shipping measurable quality or productivity gains using AI assisted workflows.
Head of Engineering employer: Stealth AI Company
Contact Detail:
Stealth AI Company Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Engineering
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the industry and let them know you're on the hunt for a Head of Engineering role. You never know who might have the inside scoop on an opportunity or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your expertise! Consider hosting a webinar or writing a blog post about AI in engineering. This not only showcases your knowledge but also gets your name out there as a thought leader in the field.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by brushing up on your technical skills and leadership experiences. Be ready to discuss how you've driven engineering quality and AI integration in past roles. We want to hear your success stories!
✨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, it shows you're genuinely interested in joining our team at Balio.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Engineering
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV reflects the skills and experiences that align with the Head of Engineering role. Highlight your leadership experience, especially in managing engineering teams and driving AI-first approaches.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Use your cover letter to tell us why you're the perfect fit for this role. Share specific examples of how you've set technical direction and improved engineering processes in your previous roles.
Showcase Your AI Experience: Since we're looking for someone who’s AI-native, be sure to mention any relevant projects or tools you've used that demonstrate your ability to integrate AI into engineering workflows.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates from our team.
How to prepare for a job interview at Stealth AI Company
✨Know Your Tech Inside Out
As a Head of Engineering, you’ll need to demonstrate your deep understanding of the software development lifecycle (SDLC) and architecture. Brush up on your technical knowledge and be ready to discuss how you've successfully led engineering teams in the past, especially in multi-product environments.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Style
This role requires strong leadership skills, so think about how you’ve developed and held engineering leads accountable in previous positions. Be prepared to share specific examples of how you’ve built talent and fostered a culture of high performance within your teams.
✨Emphasise Your AI Experience
Since the role focuses on an AI-first engineering approach, highlight your experience with AI tools and how you've integrated them into workflows. Discuss any measurable improvements in productivity or quality that resulted from using AI-assisted processes.
✨Communicate Clearly and Confidently
You’ll need to translate complex technical concepts for non-technical stakeholders. Practice explaining your past projects and decisions in simple terms, ensuring you can convey your ideas effectively to both technical and commercial audiences.