At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a dynamic team to build AI-powered commerce experiences and drive impactful software delivery.
- Company: Join Swap, the innovative platform transforming global commerce with cutting-edge technology.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, inclusive culture, and opportunities for professional growth in a fast-paced environment.
- Other info: Embrace diversity and equality in a collaborative workplace that values creativity and ownership.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in the future of commerce while working with talented professionals.
- Qualifications: 8+ years in software engineering, with leadership experience and a passion for AI-driven solutions.
The predicted salary is between 100000 - 150000 £ per year.
About Swap
Swap is the infrastructure behind modern agentic commerce. The only AI-native platform connecting backend operations with a forward-thinking storefront experience. Built for brands that want to sell anything - anywhere, Swap centralises global operations, powers intelligent workflows, and unlocks margin-protecting decisions with real-time data and capability. Our products span cross-border, tax, returns, demand planning, and our next-generation agentic storefront, giving merchants full transparency and the ability to act with confidence. At Swap, we’re building a culture that values clarity, creativity, and shared ownership as we redefine how global commerce works.
About the role
We are looking for a Director of Engineering to lead our Agentic Commerce team — one of the most strategically important and fast-moving teams at Swap. You will lead a team of engineers building the next generation of AI-powered commerce experiences, working at the intersection of product, engineering, and data to ship impactful work at speed.
This is a role for someone who has built and scaled high-performing teams, knows when to lead from the front and when to roll up their sleeves and get hands-on, and who genuinely lives and breathes AI — not as a buzzword, but as a practical lens for building faster, automating relentlessly, and pushing deliverables through the SDLC with conviction. You will work closely with Product, Engineering, and Commercial teams to align on priorities, reduce friction, and drive execution across the full software development lifecycle.
Responsibilities
- Lead, grow and inspire a team of engineers on the Agentic Commerce team, creating an environment of ownership, psychological safety, and high performance. This includes recruiting top talent, developing careers, managing performance and setting the bar for engineering excellence at Swap.
- Drive execution across the full SDLC, from discovery and planning through to delivery, monitoring, and iteration, with a relentless focus on shipping quality software at speed.
- Embed AI-first thinking into the team's day-to-day — championing the use of AI tooling to automate processes, accelerate development cycles, and remove friction throughout the engineering workflow.
- Work closely with Product, Engineering, and Commercial leadership to align on roadmap priorities, surface dependencies early, and ensure cross-functional delivery runs smoothly.
- Define and uphold engineering best practices across code quality, system design, testing, and deployment.
- Foster a culture of continuous improvement — running effective retrospectives, identifying bottlenecks, and driving meaningful change to how the team operates.
- Stay close to the JavaScript ecosystem and emerging technologies to inform technical direction and keep Swap ahead of the curve.
Qualifications
- 8+ years of software engineering experience, with at least 3 years in an engineering leadership or management role.
- Demonstrated ability to work cross-functionally with other Engineering teams, Product, and Commercial teams, translating business goals into clear engineering priorities and keeping stakeholders aligned.
- Comfortable getting hands-on when needed — you don't just delegate, you contribute.
- Experience working in a start-up or scale-up environment — you understand the pace, the ambiguity, and what it takes to build effectively.
- Hands-on experience building or managing teams working on agentic systems, LLM-powered products, or AI-driven workflows.
- Strong background in distributed systems and cloud-native architecture; GCP a plus.
- Background in e-commerce, fintech, or similarly high-growth product domains.
Diversity & Equal Opportunities: We embrace diversity and equality in a serious way. We are committed to building a team with a variety of backgrounds, skills, and views. The more inclusive we are, the better our work will be. Creating a culture of equality isn't just the right thing to do; it's also the smart thing.
Director of Engineering - Agentic Commerce in London employer: Swap
At Swap, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer that fosters a culture of clarity, creativity, and shared ownership. As an Engineering Team Lead, you will not only lead a dynamic team in a greenfield project but also enjoy ample opportunities for professional growth in a fast-paced, high-growth environment. Our commitment to innovation and collaboration ensures that every employee can contribute meaningfully while benefiting from a supportive work culture that values both individual and team success.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Director of Engineering - Agentic Commerce in London
✨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 Swap 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 Swap.
✨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 Swap.
✨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 Swap 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 Engineering - Agentic Commerce in London
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 Swap.
Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at Swap 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 Swap
✨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 Swap 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.
