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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and scale software engineering teams to deliver innovative telematics solutions.
- Company: Join ThingCo, a pioneering insurtech transforming the insurance landscape.
- Benefits: Flexible hybrid working, competitive salary, and opportunities for personal development.
- Why this job: Shape the future of technology in a fast-growing, mission-driven company.
- Qualifications: Proven leadership in tech, strong software development background, and excellent communication skills.
- Other info: Collaborative culture focused on excellence and customer value.
The predicted salary is between 48000 - 84000 ÂŁ per year.
Reports To: Director of Information Technology
Please note: Hybrid working with quarterly in-person leadership sessions (North East/London preferred).
Applicants must have the unrestricted right to work in the UK. We are unable to provide visa sponsorship for this role. Applications requiring sponsorship will not be considered.
About ThingCo
ThingCo is transforming the insurance landscape through next‑generation telematics technology. Our award‑winning, solar‑powered device connects to a cloud‑native, serverless platform, delivering real‑time behavioural insights that help insurers better understand risk and provide tailored customer experiences. We champion innovation, data‑driven thinking, and customer‑first design. As we continue to grow, we’re expanding our leadership team to help shape the future of our.
Role Overview
The Head of Development will play a pivotal role in leading and scaling our software engineering capabilities. You’ll guide our development teams across mobile, platform, and data products, ensuring we deliver exceptional, secure, and performant solutions that support our partners and elevate the ThingCo experience. This role is both strategic and hands‑on: you will be responsible for defining technical direction, enabling high‑performing teams, and partnering closely with Product, Operations, and Commercial to drive innovation.
Key Responsibilities
- Leadership & Strategy – Define and communicate the long‑term engineering roadmap aligned with ThingCo’s product and business strategy.
- Team Management – Lead, hire, and mentor development teams, building a culture of excellence, ownership, and continuous improvement.
- Delivery Oversight – Ensure reliable and timely delivery of software projects, maintaining a balance between innovation and operational stability.
- Technical Direction – Own architectural decisions, platform evolution, and core technology choices, ensuring scalability, security, and performance.
- Cross‑Functional Collaboration – Work closely with Product, Data, Operations, and Commercial teams to refine requirements and deliver ongoing value.
- Vendor & Partner Management – Manage third‑party development partners where required.
- Budget & Resource Planning – Plan and manage engineering budgets, tools, and resource allocation.
- Risk & Security – Ensure compliance, security, and data‑privacy best practices across the technology landscape.
Skills & Experience
- Proven experience leading development or engineering functions within a high‑growth tech company.
- Strong background in modern software development, ideally cloud‑native architectures (AWS or similar) and serverless technologies. React Native and mobile is a plus.
- Excellent people‑leadership skills with a track record of growing and mentoring multi‑disciplinary engineering teams.
- Experience designing and scaling real‑time data platforms, API architectures.
- Strong understanding of DevOps, CI/CD, modern testing practices, and observability.
- Excellent communication skills with the ability to simplify complexity.
- Experience within insurtech, telematics, or IoT desirable.
Who You Are
- Visionary – Able to shape and communicate a compelling long‑term technical direction.
- People‑Focused – Passionate about empowerment, growth, and collaborative culture.
- Delivery‑Driven – Skilled at balancing innovation with operational reliability.
- Pragmatic – Able to make smart, informed trade‑offs and prioritise effectively.
- Curious & Innovative – Excited to explore new technologies and challenge the status quo.
- Commercially Aware – Understands how engineering decisions impact business value.
Why Work at ThingCo?
- Work with pioneering telematics & IoT technology in a fast‑growing insurtech.
- A chance to shape and scale a modern engineering team from the ground up.
- Collaborative, mission‑driven culture focused on excellence and customer value.
- Flexible hybrid working.
- Opportunities for ongoing personal and professional development.
How to Apply
If you’re excited by the opportunity to lead development in a rapidly growing insurtech, we’d love to hear from you. Please send your CV and a cover letter.
Head of IT Development employer: ThingCo
Contact Detail:
ThingCo Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of IT Development
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the tech industry, especially those in insurtech or telematics. A friendly chat can lead to insider info about job openings or even a referral.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! Prepare a portfolio or case studies that highlight your experience in leading development teams and delivering innovative solutions. This will help you stand out during interviews.
✨Tip Number 3
Research the company culture at ThingCo. Understand their values around innovation and customer-first design. Tailor your conversations to show how your vision aligns with theirs.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in being part of the ThingCo team.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of IT Development
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV reflects the skills and experiences that align with the Head of IT Development role. Highlight your leadership experience and any relevant tech projects you've worked on, especially in high-growth environments.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're passionate about the insurtech space and how your vision aligns with ThingCo's mission. Be sure to mention specific examples of your past successes in leading development teams.
Showcase Your Technical Skills: Since this role involves technical direction, make sure to detail your experience with cloud-native architectures and serverless technologies. Mention any relevant tools or methodologies you’ve used, like DevOps practices or CI/CD.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website for the best chance of getting noticed. It’s the easiest way for us to keep track of your application and ensure it reaches the right people!
How to prepare for a job interview at ThingCo
✨Know Your Tech Inside Out
Make sure you’re well-versed in the latest software development trends, especially cloud-native architectures and serverless technologies. Brush up on your knowledge of React Native and mobile platforms, as these could come up during the interview.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare examples that highlight your experience in leading and mentoring development teams. Think about how you've built a culture of excellence and continuous improvement in previous roles, as this is crucial for the Head of IT Development position.
✨Understand the Business Impact
Be ready to discuss how engineering decisions can affect business value. Familiarise yourself with ThingCo’s mission and how their technology transforms the insurance landscape, so you can align your answers with their goals.
✨Prepare for Cross-Functional Collaboration
Think about your experiences working with Product, Operations, and Commercial teams. Be prepared to share how you’ve refined requirements and delivered ongoing value through collaboration, as this will be key in your role at ThingCo.