At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead software delivery and shape technology strategy in a fast-growing financial services company.
- Company: High-growth international Financial Services business with a focus on innovation.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, performance bonus, equity options, and generous learning budget.
- Other info: Hybrid working model with a clear path to Deputy CTO and a supportive leadership team.
- Why this job: Make a real impact as you drive engineering excellence and influence key technology decisions.
- Qualifications: 10+ years in Java development and 5+ years in engineering leadership required.
The predicted salary is between 80000 - 100000 € per year.
We’re partnering with a high-growth, international Financial Services business to appoint a Head of Software Development. This is a senior leadership role with a clear progression path to Deputy CTO, offering both strategic influence and hands‑on technical impact. You’ll lead the engineering organisation end‑to‑end, shape the technology roadmap alongside the CTO and C‑suite, and build high‑performing onshore and offshore teams in a regulated, fast‑scaling environment.
The Role
- Own the full software delivery lifecycle across multiple products and platforms
- Define and execute the engineering strategy aligned to business objectives
- Lead architecture, platform, and scalability decisions
- Represent engineering at executive and board level
- Remain hands‑on in Java where needed, setting technical standards and direction
- Lead and scale a distributed engineering team (10+ engineers, onshore & offshore)
- Drive agile delivery, CI/CD maturity, and engineering performance metrics
- Build strong offshore delivery models, governance, and communication frameworks
- Hire, mentor, and develop senior engineering talent
- Foster a high-performance, inclusive engineering culture
- Act as deputy to the CTO when required
- Influence major technology, vendor, and investment decisions
- Lead technology governance, security, and compliance initiatives
What We’re Looking For
- 10+ years’ Java development experience, with 5+ years in engineering leadership
- Proven experience leading offshore / distributed teams
- Strong background in full‑stack, platform, or enterprise engineering
- Experience owning end‑to‑end software delivery
- Background in Financial Services, fintech, or regulated environments
Nice to have
- VP Engineering / Head of Engineering experience
- Scale‑up or high‑growth environment exposure
- Knowledge of SOC 2, ISO 27001, and GDPR
- SaaS, fintech, or trading systems experience (e.g. Calypso)
Competitive base salary + performance bonus
Equity options
Clear progression path to Deputy CTO
Hybrid working (3 days onsite)
Generous learning & conference budget
Private healthcare, pension, life assurance & critical illness cover
Leadership team that genuinely values engineering
Head of Software Engineering employer: Synnovate
Join a high-growth, international Financial Services business that prioritises innovation and employee development. As the Head of Software Engineering, you will benefit from a clear progression path to Deputy CTO, a competitive salary with performance bonuses, and a generous learning budget, all within a supportive hybrid working environment. The company fosters a high-performance culture where your contributions are valued, and you will have the opportunity to lead and mentor a talented engineering team while influencing key technology decisions.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Software Engineering
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the industry, especially those who might know someone at the company you're eyeing. A personal introduction can make all the difference in getting your foot in the door.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for the interview by brushing up on your technical skills and leadership experience. Be ready to discuss how you've driven engineering strategies and built high-performing teams in the past. We want to see your hands-on approach!
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your passion for the role and the company during interviews. Research their projects and values, and be prepared to explain how you can contribute to their growth. We love candidates who align with our mission!
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in joining our team and making an impact in the financial services space.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Software Engineering
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV reflects the skills and experiences that align with the Head of Software Development role. Highlight your leadership experience, especially in managing distributed teams and your hands-on Java expertise.
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 influenced engineering strategies and driven performance metrics in previous positions.
Showcase Your Technical Acumen:Don’t shy away from discussing your technical skills! We want to see your understanding of software delivery lifecycles and your experience with architecture and scalability decisions. Be specific about your contributions.
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 during the process.
How to prepare for a job interview at Synnovate
✨Know Your Tech Inside Out
As a Head of Software Engineering, you'll need to demonstrate your deep understanding of Java and the full software delivery lifecycle. Brush up on your technical skills and be ready to discuss architecture decisions and scalability challenges you've faced in previous roles.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Style
This role requires leading both onshore and offshore teams, so be prepared to share examples of how you've successfully managed distributed teams. Highlight your experience in mentoring and developing senior engineering talent, as well as fostering an inclusive culture.
✨Align with Business Objectives
Understand the company's strategic goals and be ready to discuss how you can align the engineering strategy with these objectives. Think about how you've influenced technology decisions in the past and be prepared to share those insights.
✨Prepare for Executive Conversations
Since you'll represent engineering at the executive level, practice articulating complex technical concepts in a way that resonates with non-technical stakeholders. Be ready to discuss how you've driven agile delivery and improved engineering performance metrics in previous roles.
