Director of Engineering

Our client, a fast-growing international digital marketplace, is building the "delivery engine" of the future. They are looking for a Director of Engineering who isn't just looking to manage but to act as the architect of how engineering happens in an AI-first world.

In this strategic role, you won't be sitting in the code all day. Instead, you will lead the systems, the people, and the workflows that allow the company to ship world-class software at a pace that leaves the competition behind. You will lead through leaders, owning the "system of work" across a significant slice of the estate.

Your responsibilities and impact as a Director of Engineering:

• Defining the AI-enabled SDLC: Moving beyond simple "copilots" to integrate agentic workflows, automated reviews, and AI-driven response into the team's daily DNA.

• Orchestrating the machine: Evolving "Golden Paths" and CI/CD patterns so that the flow of work from idea to production becomes a competitive advantage.

• Leading through leaders: Mentoring 3–5 Engineering Managers to build high-accountability teams that ship frequently with fewer surprises.

• Setting the technical agenda: Making high-stakes calls on architecture, reliability, and security across the organization.

• Driving high-intensity execution: Removing obstacles with pace and ensuring the ambitious roadmap becomes a reality through clarity and technical judgment.

Skills, qualifications, and interests you need to succeed in this role:

• Deep technical credibility: Ability to hold your own with staff engineers on distributed systems, security risks, and performance bottlenecks.

• An AI-forward mindset: A strong POV on how agentic patterns and human-in-the-loop design transform engineering throughput.

• Systems thinking: A focus on the system of work—standardizing where it helps and granting autonomy where it matters.

• Proven leadership at scale: Experience leading multiple teams through managers and a track record of building a strong leadership bench.

• A hunger for pace: You thrive in environments where expectations are high and "typical" corporate speed isn't enough.

What’s in it for you?

• Competitive salary + annual bonus aligned with a senior leadership position.

• Employee Share Program —an opportunity to own a piece of the engine you build.

• Comprehensive Benefits: Health, well-being, and learning support, including gym membership and a Smart Tech Scheme.

• Flexibility & Perks: Birthday/Special day leave, buy & sell holiday schemes, and 1 week’s paid charity leave.

• High-impact role: Massive autonomy to shape the future of how a major international player builds software.

Your future company

You will join a well-established yet fast-evolving international tech company, trusted by millions of users and professionals. With AI deeply embedded in the platform strategy, the company is moving past the "experimental" phase and into a world where AI-driven execution is the primary engine for growth. This is a chance to build not just AI products, but an AI-powered engineering organization at scale.