Head of Software Engineering

Location: London, UK (Hybrid) 

Overview

We are partnering with a high-growth technology business seeking an experienced Head of Software Engineering to lead the development and delivery of mission-critical, high-performance systems operating within a fast-paced, highly available environment.

This role will lead a team of engineers responsible for building scalable, low-latency platforms and driving engineering excellence across architecture, delivery, and operational performance. The successful candidate will play a key role in shaping technical strategy, mentoring engineering teams, and collaborating closely with senior stakeholders across the organisation.

This is an excellent opportunity for a hands-on engineering leader who thrives in complex technical environments and enjoys balancing strategic leadership with technical depth.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage a team of software engineers responsible for the development and maintenance of high-performance distributed systems
• Collaborate with global engineering teams to support parallel development initiatives and platform consistency
• Provide technical leadership across performance optimisation, scalability, reliability, and functionality
• Drive delivery of engineering projects within agreed timelines and quality standards
• Support the design, development, and testing of highly reliable software services
• Contribute to technical strategy and operational planning alongside senior leadership teams
• Champion engineering best practices, including Agile delivery, automated testing, and continuous improvement
• Mentor and develop engineers across the wider technology function
• Lead troubleshooting and resolution of complex engineering and operational issues
• Support operational availability requirements within a business-critical environment
• Work cross-functionally with product, operations, and technology leadership to deliver strategic initiatives and new platform capabilities

Requirements

• Strong background in software engineering leadership within high-availability or low-latency environments
• Excellent knowledge of algorithms, data structures, and system design
• Strong commercial experience with C++
• Strong SQL/database knowledge
• Experience working with cloud technologies and modern infrastructure environments
• Proven experience delivering complex technical projects in Agile environments
• Strong understanding of automated testing and engineering best practices
• Experience leading distributed or globally aligned engineering teams
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills
• Ability to balance strategic leadership with hands-on technical involvement
• Degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field preferred