Head of Software Engineering (Hands on)

About the role

We are seeking a Head of Software Engineering to join a digital product team on a three‑month contract. The role combines strategic team building with hands‑on development, allowing you to shape the engineering function from the ground up while contributing directly to code.

Key responsibilities

• Build and scale a full‑stack engineering team (front‑end, back‑end, integrations, mobile) from 0‑1.
• Act as a senior individual contributor, writing production‑grade code.
• Manage third‑party suppliers and coordinate with internal stakeholders.
• Produce clear documentation and maintain strong communication across the team.
• Oversee architecture and implementation of API and event‑driven patterns.

Required profile

• Proven experience building and scaling engineering teams in a product environment.
• Senior‑level technical expertise with a hands‑on mindset.
• Excellent documentation, communication and stakeholder‑management skills.
• Willingness to work onsite three days a week in central London.
• Availability for a three‑month, IR35‑compliant contract.

Required skills

• Kotlin multi‑platform (KMP)
• React
• Next.js
• C# and .NET
• Azure Cloud
• API design and event‑driven architectures

What we offer

• Day‑rate contract (GBP 900‑1200 per day, negotiable).
• Three‑month fixed‑term assignment via umbrella under IR35.
• Opportunity to shape a new engineering function in a fast‑moving digital product team.