Director of Engineering

You will drive the development and execution of technology strategies, ensuring the alignment of engineering initiatives with business objectives. You will lead a team of talented engineers, ensuring efficient delivery of high-quality products, platforms, and systems that scale with the company's growth. This role demands a balance between technical leadership, management expertise, and business acumen.

YOUR CHALLENGE:

• Lead and manage the engineering department, providing direction, mentorship, and oversight along with reporting to management and other stakeholders
• Collaborate with executive leadership and other departments to develop and execute technology strategies aligned with business goals
• Drive innovation, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and technological advancement.
• Translate complex business requirements into practical, scalable engineering solutions.
• Establish and maintain engineering best practices, including coding standards, testing, CI/CD pipelines and documentation whilst ensuring that each team has clearly defined roles and responsibilities
• Build, mentor, and lead a high-performing team of engineers, including software developers, QA, and DevOps professionals.
• Facilitate professional development and career growth opportunities for team members.
• Foster a collaborative, positive, and inclusive team culture, promoting strong communication and teamwork across departments.
• Oversee resource allocation and project prioritization, ensuring teams have the tools and support needed to succeed.
• Work with team members and leaders within the Technology function to help build strong collaborative relationships between Technology teams;
• Develop and implement a technology roadmap;
• Ensure the architecture and infrastructure are secure, reliable, scalable, and optimized for performance whilst overseeing the design and implementation of new technologies and platforms, guiding critical technical decisions.
• Implement engineering processes that improve efficiency, reduce technical debt, and ensure timely delivery of projects.
• Collaborate closely with the product, project management and design teams to ensure alignment on product vision, roadmap, and technical feasibility.
• Oversee the monitoring of system performance and ensure operational reliability across all platforms.
• Maintain strong relationships with external vendors, ensuring the quality of outsourced solutions when necessary.
• Mitigate risks and troubleshoot challenges during project development;
• Ensure projects are delivered within budget constraints;
• Serve as a technical expert, advising senior management on technology-related decisions;
• Introduce and enable the use of AI & low-code in Engineering;
• Communicate technical concepts effectively to non-technical stakeholders;
• Collaborate with other departments for a cohesive approach to business goals;
• Act as a bridge between senior management and the engineering team;
• Deliverables:
• Technology roadmap and strategy documentation.
• Project status reports and risk mitigation plans.
• Recommendations for process improvements.
• Recruitment and team-building initiatives

Leadership and team management responsibilities:

• Managing team performance effectively through the practicing of ongoing performance management, including conducting performance reviews and regular 1-1 meetings
• Leading by example by delivering positive results and being a visible Catena ambassador
• Communicating effectively and ensures information is delivered in a clear and timely manner 
• Taking ownership of recruitment and selection for your team by working closely with HR and TA teams Enabling team and individual growth from induction stage to ongoing learning and development 

TO DO IT, YOU WILL NEED:

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field. A Master's degree is preferred.
• Proven experience in a senior engineering leadership role, preferably within a high-growth, fast-paced digital or tech-driven company.
• Experience managing medium sized, distributed teams of engineers across multiple locations.
• Strong background in software development, architecture, and large-scale systems design.
• Demonstrated success in driving the adoption of new technologies and methodologies in an engineering organization.
• Expertise in modern programming languages, software development frameworks, and cloud-based infrastructure.
• Knowledge of DevOps practices, CI/CD pipelines, and agile development methodologies.
• Familiarity with data-driven decision-making and experience working in a data-rich environment.
• Experience with scalable platforms, microservices architecture, and high-availability systems.
• Excellent leadership skills with the ability to inspire and motivate technical teams.
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to effectively collaborate with both technical and non-technical stakeholders.