Engineering Manager

This job is brought to you by Jobs/Redefined, the UK's leading over-50s age inclusive jobs board. StrideUp is leading a new era of values-driven finance. Ranked the 5th fastest growing fintech in the UK and Ireland in 2025, we have already deployed hundreds of millions in property finance, supporting people in achieving their financial goals. What makes us different is how we combine purpose with performance. We began with home finance, creating a shariah-compliant alternative trusted by the Muslim community and welcomed by anyone seeking fairer, more transparent products. This product-market fit has powered our growth, and is only the beginning. Our vision is bigger; to expand our offering and build a financial institution that opens doors for communities often left behind. Joining StrideUp means being part of a high-performing, values-driven team at the most exciting point in our journey. We have proven success behind us and a huge opportunity ahead, and now we are ready to build beyond.

The Role

This is the most senior engineering role at StrideUp, reporting directly to the CEO. You will own the technical direction and shape the platform that powers our next phase of growth. A central part of this role is championing smarter use of technology - AI, automation and agentic tooling - to raise product quality and development speed. We believe the answer to scaling our engineering capability is using technology more intelligently, not simply adding headcount. You will be our expert on what is possible and how we get there. This is not a purely strategic role. When the team needs it, you get involved - architecture, code review, a critical delivery. You are willing to roll up your sleeves without needing to be asked. You will work closely with our Product Manager and be a confident voice with the CEO, ExCo and investors - grounding technical decisions in a commercial context and managing up effectively. Your remit also covers workplace tech, IT infrastructure, cybersecurity and information security - these demand the same strategic ownership as engineering itself. There is a clear path to Head of Engineering as we scale. This is a role with real influence and room to grow.

What You'll Do

• Lead a small team of UK-based engineers and offshore contractors, setting the conditions for high performance, shared ownership and continuous improvement.
• Own the engineering strategy and roadmap, working directly with the CEO and Product Manager to translate commercial objectives into technically sound, deliverable plans.
• Champion the adoption of AI, automation and agentic tooling - evaluate what is worth adopting, build the strategy and lead the implementation to meaningfully raise product quality and development velocity.
• Take strategic ownership of the wider tech function: platform architecture, IT infrastructure, cybersecurity and information security - each area governed and forward-thinking.
• Set and uphold engineering standards across code quality, testing, CI/CD, architecture and incident management.
• Be a confident, credible voice with the CEO and ExCo - connecting technical decisions to commercial outcomes and managing up effectively.
• Get hands-on when the team needs it. Architecture, code review, a tough delivery - you step in willingly.

You Are

• Pragmatic - you make sound decisions under uncertainty and don't let perfect get in the way of good.
• Self-aware - you understand your strengths, know when to ask for help, and reflect honestly on your own performance.
• Confident in your convictions - you bring a clear point of view and hold it thoughtfully, while staying genuinely open to challenge.
• A keen learner - you stay curious about technology, the business, and the industry you're operating in.
• Trustworthy and communicative - your team and your colleagues know they can rely on you.
• Proactive and collaborative - you take initiative and feel a genuine shared responsibility for the success of the whole business, not just engineering.
• Open to giving and receiving feedback - you see it as a tool for growth, not a threat.

Requirements

• Proven experience managing a small engineering team, including remote engineers, with a track record of getting the best out of people.
• Strong technical depth: comfortable with JavaScript/TypeScript and Java/Kotlin, NestJS, React and PostgreSQL or MongoDB, and hands-on with AWS, Docker, Terraform and CI/CD.
• Demonstrable knowledge of cybersecurity, information security and IT infrastructure - as an accountable owner, not a bystander.
• A genuine and active interest in AI-assisted development and automation, with the ability to build and execute a practical adoption strategy.
• Commercially astute and confident managing up - able to represent engineering clearly to the CEO, ExCo, investors and board, and to connect technical choices to business outcomes.

Bonus

• Previous experience in the banking, lending industry and/or an FCA-regulated firm.

Benefits

• Salary: Competitive, based on experience
• Discretionary annual bonus
• 25 days annual holiday
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• 3% pension contribution
• Monthly socials
• Central London location
• Friendly and informal startup environment with a focus on performance and impact

Equal Opportunity Employer

StrideUp is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to promoting diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We celebrate the diversity of our team and encourage applications from all individuals, regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, pregnancy, or any other characteristic. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and look forward to seeing how you can contribute to our mission.