Head of Engineering - Optimisation Lab

TL;DR

Head of Engineering (Optimisation Lab): Providing hands-on technical leadership and strategic direction for a high-tempo engineering team focused on optimisation and experimentation, with an accent on digital growth, improving customer journeys, and enabling experimentation at scale. Focus on shaping the Lab's vision, setting engineering standards, and partnering with product, design, and platform teams to deliver value at pace.

Location: Hybrid working, requiring 40% (two days) attendance at either the Leeds or Edinburgh office in the UK.

Salary: £126,523 - £148,850

Company

hirify.global is an innovative, fast-changing business shaping finance as a force for good.

What you will do

• Lead engineering delivery for experiments and optimisations across key journeys (Pensions, Investments, Protection).
• Enable experimentation at scale by evolving targeting and A/B/MVT capabilities (e.g., Adobe Target).
• Collaborate with platform teams on shared APIs, SDKs, and core componentry backlog.
• Drive engineering excellence by embedding observability, automation, and risk controls.
• Champion a "Fail Fast, Learn Faster" culture and coach engineers on experiment architecture.
• Manage investment and suppliers, and attract and grow talent for high-performing teams.

Requirements

• Strong experience in digital optimisation, automated/build/minimum viable testing, including data analysis.
• Ability to balance strategic architecture with pragmatic delivery; technology-agnostic mindset.
• Proven leadership of engineering teams delivering high-tempo experiments and optimisations.
• Track record of building inclusive, high-performing cultures and inspiring simplicity and trust.
• Technical expertise in Native mobile (iOS/Android) and responsive web development.
• Experience with Adobe Target or equivalent, shared SDK design, feature flagging, API-driven architectures, microservices, observability tooling, automated CI/CD, Cloud (AWS, Azure or GCP), and containerisation (Docker/Kubernetes).

Culture & Benefits

• Inclusive organisation reflecting modern society and celebrating diversity.
• Commitment to diversity goals, menopause health package, Working with Cancer initiative.
• Generous pension contribution of up to 15%.
• Annual bonus award, subject to Group performance.
• Share schemes including free shares.
• 30 days’ holiday, with bank holidays on top.
• Range of wellbeing initiatives and generous parental leave policies.