At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead engineering teams to shape and deliver innovative technology for an exciting player experience.
- Company: Join a dynamic iGaming company focused on player-first technology and collaboration.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, inclusive culture, career growth opportunities, and budget management experience.
- Other info: Work in a fast-paced environment with opportunities for innovation and cross-functional collaboration.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in the gaming industry while leading cutting-edge engineering projects.
- Qualifications: Proven leadership in engineering, budget management, and expertise in front-end technologies.
The predicted salary is between 80000 - 100000 £ per year.
As Head of Engineering – Operator Platform, you’ll shape and deliver the technology that powers how we operate, scale and continuously improve the tombola experience. This is a key leadership role at the heart of Platform Engineering, where you’ll define and drive a player-first technology strategy while enabling the teams behind the scenes to move faster, smarter and more effectively.
Leading multiple engineering teams across back-end and front-end, you’ll own the architecture, design and development of our operator platform and the systems that support our player-facing products. Working closely with teams across the business, you’ll ensure our technology is scalable, reliable and built to deliver seamless, high-quality experiences for our players.
What you’ll lead and deliver
- Technical strategy
- Provide expert leadership across software design and development
- Champion modern technologies, best practices and coding standards
- Build and evolve a platform that supports long-term strategic goals
- Define and deliver a technical roadmap aligned to player experience
- Identify opportunities for innovation in how players interact with our products
- Share knowledge and insight to help stakeholders understand what’s possible
- Leadership
- Lead, coach and support a cross-functional team of engineers
- Create an inclusive, collaborative environment where people can thrive
- Support career growth and identify future leaders within the team
- Build and empower a high-performing Platform Engineering leadership group
- Cross-functional collaboration
- Work closely with Product, Design, Game Studio, Marketing and Customer Support
- Turn player insights, feedback and data into meaningful technical solutions
- Strategic planning
- Contribute to the wider technology vision and roadmap
- Translate business goals into clear, actionable engineering plans
- Ensure alignment with company strategy and long-term objectives
- Development and delivery
- Oversee the full development lifecycle, from idea through to deployment
- Ensure delivery is timely, scalable and meets high quality standards
- Work with senior leaders to create transparent, scalable ways of working
- Quality and innovation
- Set and maintain high engineering and quality standards
- Encourage experimentation and continuous improvement
- Enable data-driven decision-making through strong platform capabilities
- Project management
- Oversee delivery of engineering projects within timelines and budgets
- Balance new feature development with maintenance and technical debt
- Collaborate with product and technology leaders on prioritisation
- Technical expertise
- Stay current with industry trends and emerging technologies
- Use knowledge to guide technical direction and decision-making
- Stakeholder communication
- Communicate clearly with both technical and non-technical audiences
- Build strong relationships across teams and with external partners
- Budget management
- Own and manage departmental budgets, including people, hosting and tooling
- Work with senior leadership to plan and forecast effectively
What we’re looking for
- Experience leading large, multi-layered engineering teams
- Proven experience managing budgets
- Experience setting and tracking objectives using OKRs
- Background in customer-facing technology environments
- Strong knowledge of front-end technologies such as Vue and React
- Experience working in experimentation-led or UX-focused organisations
- Experience leading multi-disciplinary delivery teams or functions
- Understanding of platform engineering and development operations
- Familiarity with technologies such as C#, Node, Docker, SQL Server and AWS
Desirable:
- Experience within the iGaming sector or similar regulated industries
Head of Engineering - Operator Platform · Sunderland, UK · employer: Tombola
At tombola, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work culture that fosters innovation and collaboration. As the Head of Engineering for our Operator Platform in Sunderland, you'll lead a talented team in a supportive environment that prioritises career growth and inclusivity, while enjoying the unique advantage of working in a vibrant city known for its rich heritage and community spirit. With a commitment to employee development and a player-first technology strategy, we empower our staff to make a meaningful impact in the iGaming industry.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Engineering - Operator Platform · Sunderland, UK ·
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the industry, attend meetups, and engage with professionals on LinkedIn. We all know that sometimes it’s not just what you know, but who you know that can help you land that dream job.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its culture. Understand their products and how they operate. We want you to show up not just as a candidate, but as someone who genuinely cares about contributing to their mission.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! You need to be able to articulate your experience and how it aligns with the role. We suggest rehearsing with a friend or in front of a mirror to boost your confidence before the big day.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to follow up after interviews! A simple thank-you email can go a long way in keeping you top of mind. We believe this shows your enthusiasm and professionalism, which can set you apart from other candidates.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Engineering - Operator Platform · Sunderland, UK ·
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Head of Engineering role. Highlight your experience with leading engineering teams and any relevant technologies mentioned in the job description. We want to see how your skills align with our player-first technology strategy!
Showcase Your Leadership Skills:In your application, don’t just list your past roles; share specific examples of how you've led teams and fostered collaboration. We’re looking for someone who can create an inclusive environment and support career growth, so let us know how you’ve done this in the past.
Highlight Technical Expertise:Be sure to mention your experience with front-end technologies like Vue and React, as well as any familiarity with C#, Node, Docker, SQL Server, and AWS. We want to see how your technical background can help us build and evolve our operator platform.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to submit your application through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it shows you’re keen on joining our team at StudySmarter!
How to prepare for a job interview at Tombola
✨Know Your Tech Inside Out
As a candidate for the Head of Engineering role, you need to be well-versed in the technologies mentioned in the job description. Brush up on your knowledge of front-end frameworks like Vue and React, as well as back-end technologies such as C#, Node, and AWS. Be prepared to discuss how you've used these technologies in past projects and how they can be applied to enhance the operator platform.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
This role is all about leading teams, so make sure to highlight your experience in managing multi-layered engineering teams. Share specific examples of how you've fostered an inclusive environment, supported career growth, and empowered your team to achieve high performance. Demonstrating your leadership style will resonate well with the interviewers.
✨Align with Business Goals
The interviewers will want to see how you can translate business objectives into actionable engineering plans. Prepare to discuss how you've previously aligned technical strategies with company goals. Bring examples of how you've contributed to strategic planning and ensured that your team's work supports long-term objectives.
✨Communicate Effectively
Strong communication skills are crucial for this role, especially when working with cross-functional teams. Practice explaining complex technical concepts in simple terms, as you'll need to engage both technical and non-technical stakeholders. Think of examples where you've successfully built relationships across teams and how that led to better project outcomes.
