Head of Engineering Job at Edinburgh, Scotland, .GB Full Time NEW

Job title: Head of Engineering (FTC with Permanent Option)
Type: Full Time Fixed Term Contract with strong potential to transition into a permanent role

We are working with an established product and data-driven technology business looking for a hands-on Head of Engineering to lead a small engineering team through an important period of change and growth.

This role needs someone who can bring structure, momentum and strong leadership to the team while remaining technically hands-on and capable of leading from the front when needed. You will need to earn trust quickly, challenge where appropriate, make decisions confidently and keep delivery moving forward.

You will work closely with senior leadership and play a key role in shaping engineering standards, improving ways of working and creating better alignment across engineering, product and delivery.

This is not a role for someone who wants to sit above the detail. The team needs a leader who can step into difficult conversations, drive accountability and bring focus when priorities or opinions pull in different directions.

The current environment is heavily focused around modern JavaScript and full-stack engineering, including Node.js, API architecture and cloud-native delivery.

The Role

You will lead a small engineering team across product development, cloud-native services and client-facing solutions.

The business is looking for someone who can balance leadership with hands-on technical involvement. Leadership will be the larger part of the role, but it is important that you can still contribute technically and demonstrate strong engineering judgement through hands-on involvement where needed. The expectation is roughly a 70:30 or 60:40 split in favour of leadership.

You will also partner closely with senior stakeholders and help create a stronger operational rhythm across engineering delivery.

Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor a small engineering team

• Drive accountability and keep delivery moving forward

• Make clear decisions and bring alignment across the team

• Gain the respect of the engineering team through both leadership and technical contribution

• Bring structure and focus to engineering planning and execution

• Challenge unproductive behaviours and keep teams aligned on priorities

• Work closely with senior leadership to raise concerns, unblock issues and improve outcomes

• Provide technical leadership across a modern JavaScript/TypeScript stack

• Contribute hands-on where needed across architecture, development, APIs and cloud-native services

• Help shape the future direction of engineering within the business

• Balance engineering quality with pragmatic delivery outcomes and momentum

About You

• Proven experience leading engineering teams within product or SaaS environments

• Deep expertise in JavaScript, ideally including TypeScript

• Strong full-stack engineering experience, including Node.js and API architecture

• Comfortable contributing technically within a modern cloud-native environment

• Comfortable leading difficult conversations and challenging constructively when needed

• Able to establish trust quickly with both engineers and stakeholders

• Strong decision-making skills and confidence operating in evolving environments

• Pragmatic mindset with the ability to balance engineering quality with delivery momentum

• Process-driven with the ability to create focus and avoid unnecessary tangents

• Comfortable balancing technical leadership with people leadership

• Confident operating in technical discussions with senior engineers and stakeholders

• Comfortable working within small, collaborative teams with minimal hierarchy

• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills

• Experience working closely with founders, CTOs or senior leadership teams

Nice to Have

• Experience with Google Cloud Platform

• Experience with modern deployment platforms such as Vercel

• Exposure to geospatial, GIS or mapping products

• Interest or experience in open source technologies or communities

Why Join?

• Opportunity to shape and influence an evolving engineering function

• High level of autonomy and visibility within the business

• Chance to make a meaningful impact quickly

• Collaborative, low-hierarchy environment with direct access to leadership

• Small team environment where you can influence engineering direction from day one

• Work closely with experienced founders and senior leadership

• Strong long-term opportunity for the role to become permanent