At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead engineering across multiple software businesses and drive an AI-first approach.
- Company: Join Balio, a forward-thinking company focused on innovation and collaboration.
- Benefits: Fully remote work, competitive salary, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Dynamic role with the chance to influence multiple products and teams.
- Why this job: Shape the future of engineering with AI tools and make a real impact.
- Qualifications: 10+ years in software engineering with leadership experience managing large teams.
The predicted salary is between 90000 - 120000 £ 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 in London 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 in London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the industry, attend virtual meetups, and engage with professionals on platforms like LinkedIn. We all know that sometimes it’s not just what you know, but who you know that can help you land that dream role.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for those interviews! Research the company, understand their products, and be ready to discuss how your experience aligns with their goals. We recommend practising common interview questions and even doing mock interviews with friends to boost your confidence.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your skills! Create a portfolio or a personal website where you can display your projects, achievements, and any AI-driven solutions you've implemented. This gives potential employers a tangible sense of what you can bring to the table.
✨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 Engineering in London
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 previous positions.
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 candidate for the Head of Engineering role, you need to be well-versed in the full software development lifecycle (SDLC) and have a solid grasp of architecture and infrastructure. Brush up on your technical knowledge and be ready to discuss how you've applied it in previous roles, especially in multi-product environments.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
This role requires strong leadership capabilities, so prepare examples that highlight your experience managing engineering teams of 15+ people. Think about times when you’ve successfully developed talent or improved team performance, and be ready to share those stories during the interview.
✨Emphasise Your AI Expertise
Since the role focuses on an AI-first engineering approach, be prepared to discuss how you've integrated AI tools into engineering workflows. Share specific instances where you've driven productivity gains through AI-assisted processes, as this will demonstrate your alignment with the company's vision.
✨Communicate Clearly and Confidently
Strong communication skills are essential for translating technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders. Practice explaining complex ideas in simple terms, and be ready to discuss how you've navigated ambiguity in past roles. This will show that you can bridge the gap between technical and commercial perspectives effectively.