About Us

As a leading group of companies, the ECA International Group stands as a global frontrunner in simplifying international mobility. Our collective vision is to make a positive impact by delivering exceptional products and services to our prestigious list of large enterprise clients.

Our global presence across the UK, EU, Hong Kong, Australia, and the US offers our team a world of opportunities, and our commitment to innovation ensures that you will be at the leading edge of your field.

We love to invest in our people’s success and development pathways, creating a diverse and inclusive community where your unique talents shine. Your work here has a global impact, and we prioritise work-life balance, offering flexibility to enable you to perform your best. Join us to experience a rewarding career where your potential is celebrated, and your journey to excellence begins.

About the Role

We are seeking a visionary and dynamic Head of Software Engineering to lead our engineering teams. You will bring a strategic mindset, exceptional technical acumen, and strong leadership capabilities to drive innovation, efficiency, and excellence in software development. You will oversee multiple teams and projects, ensuring seamless collaboration across departments and influencing architectural decisions to align with our broader business goals.

As a leader, you will champion a culture of technical excellence, continuous improvement, and high performance. You will play a pivotal role in shaping our engineering strategy, embracing emerging technologies (such as AI), and ensuring best practices are embedded across all engineering teams. Your leadership will also extend to talent development—mentoring engineers, defining career paths, and driving hiring initiatives to build a world-class engineering function. You will work closely with the CTPO, Head of Technology, and Director of Product to execute ECA’s digital transformation and re-platforming efforts.

Expected split of responsibilities: Hands-on (30%) / Software Delivery & Execution (30%) / People & Team Development 40%), evolving over time.

Requirements

Key Responsibilities

Strategic & Technical Leadership:

• Define and execute the engineering vision, ensuring alignment with business objectives
• Lead and mentor engineering teams, fostering a high-performance culture
• Stay at the forefront of emerging technologies (particularly AI) and drive their adoption where relevant
• Collaborate with the CTPO and Head of Technology to shape and implement the technical roadmap

Software Delivery & Execution:

• Partner with the Product Director and product teams to plan and execute strategic initiatives
• Oversee the engineering function’s approach to cost-benefit analysis and technology trade-offs
• Establish clear goals, milestones, and deliverables for teams, ensuring timely and high-quality execution
• Drive process improvements and optimise workflows for maximum efficiency

People & Talent Development:

• Inspire, develop, and empower engineering leaders and their teams
• Conduct 1:1s, performance reviews, and ensure career development opportunities are in place
• Promote an inclusive and collaborative culture where engineers can thrive and innovate
• Establish and track progress against key performance indicators (KPIs) and OKRs

Hiring & Team Growth:

• Lead hiring initiatives to attract top engineering talent and scale the team effectively
• Ensure hiring aligns with business growth plans and departmental budgets
• Cultivate a compelling employer brand within the engineering community

The Ideal Candidate

Experience & Qualifications:

• Proven experience as a Head of Engineering, Engineering Director, or similar leadership role within a fast-paced environment
• Strong technical expertise in cloud-native engineering and modern software development practices
• A track record of leading high-performing engineering teams and scaling operations
• Exceptional strategic thinking, with the ability to balance technical and business considerations
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to engage effectively with stakeholders at all levels
• Experience managing budgets, OKRs, and performance reviews within an engineering function
• A passion for continuous learning and fostering a culture of innovation

Benefits

Benefits

What’s in it for you

• 💼 Enhanced Stakeholder Pension Contribution
• 🌴 25 days annual leave
• 🏥 Health, Life Insurance + EAP Wellbeing Support
• 💰 Eligible for Annual Bonus Scheme
• 🎉 Long Service Awards
• 🏋️‍♀️ ClassPass Membership
• 👶 Enhanced Family Leave
• 📚 Up to £1,000 per year for personal development & training
• 🚆 Season Ticket Loan
• 🏠 Flexible/hybrid Work Environment
• 🚲 Cycle to Work Scheme
• 👓 Free Eye Test

Our Team and Culture

We are a super friendly team that thrives on collaboration and supporting each other. We cultivate an environment where everyone feels valued and empowered to contribute their best work, helping us to realise our ambitious growth goals and mission.

Our hybrid working structure includes spending around two days a week at our Head Office in Holborn, London, in a great space filled with creative, colourful.

Need a change of scenery? Our breakout areas have comfortable seating and cool décor where you can work in your own space. Not to mention, being in the hub of the West End, we’re surrounded by many cafes and restaurants and are just a hop, skip, and a jump from the tube.