Head of Software Engineering

Head of Software Engineering – London (SoCode)The OpportunityWe are seeking a Head of Software Engineering to lead, scale and mature an engineering function while remaining technically credible and hands-on where it matters. This is a senior leadership role for someone who enjoys shaping strategy, developing high-performing teams, and influencing architecture - while still staying close to the codebase and technical decision-making. You will play a critical role in building and evolving systems within a regulated payments / financial services environment, balancing engineering excellence and platform resilience.Key ResponsibilitiesEngineering Leadership & StrategyOwn the software engineering strategy, aligned with business, product and regulatory objectives.Lead a high performing engineering team, fostering a culture of accountability and continuous improvement.Partner closely with the CTO, CPO and other Senior Leadership to deliver scalable, secure solutions.Set standards for engineering best practice.Technical Oversight (10–20% Hands-On)Remain hands-on at a strategic level, contributing to design reviews, architecture decisions and complex problem-solving.Review critical code changes, influence patterns and frameworks, and guide engineers on best-practice C#/.NET development.Act as a technical escalation point for complex platform or production issues.Help shape the long-term technical roadmap and platform evolution.Required Experience & SkillsSignificant experience in a senior engineering leadership role (Head of Engineering, Engineering Manager, Technical Director or similar).Strong C#/.NET background, with the ability and desire to stay 10–20% hands-on.Proven experience within payments, fintech, financial services or banking environments.Experience leading teams building high-availability, distributed systems.Strong understanding of software architecture, system design and cloud-based platforms.Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills, able to bridge technical and non-technical audiences. #J-18808-Ljbffr