Head of Engineering & Architecture Vendor Solutions

Xpertise Recruitment; Oxford; Remote; GBP 100,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

A recruitment agency is seeking a Head of Engineering & Architecture to lead vendor assurance in a remote-first environment. The ideal candidate has over 7 years of experience in solution architecture and strong vendor management skills. This hands-on role focuses on ensuring external partners meet technical and business expectations. Consultants with a background in firms like BCG or McKinsey are highly desirable. Competitive rates offered.

Qualifications

• 7+ years experience in solution architecture is essential.
• Proven experience in vendor assurance and quality management required.
• Broad technical knowledge across software, infrastructure, and data.

Responsibilities

• Lead vendor assurance and quality control to ensure delivery meets standards.
• Assess technical solutions and mitigate risks.
• Engage with stakeholders to drive accountability and results.

Skills

Solution architecture

Vendor assurance

Stakeholder engagement

Technical oversight

Problem solving

Job description

Overview

Head of Engineering & Architecture - Vendor Assurance

Contract: 12 months (Inside IR35)

Rate: £800 £1,000 per day

Location: Remote-first, with meetings in London every other week

Start: ASAP (max 1-month notice period)

Openings: 2 roles

The Opportunity

We are seeking a highly experienced Head of Engineering/ Architecture with a strong solution architecture background. This is a hands-on, strategic role focused on vendor assurance, ensuring that external delivery partners meet technical, commercial, and business expectations.

Important: This role does not involve line management you will not be leading teams. Instead, your focus is on:

• Holding vendors accountable for quality and delivery.
• Providing technical oversight across multiple domains (cloud, infrastructure, software, data).
• Advising stakeholders and executives with credible solution architecture expertise.
• Ensuring programmes deliver measurable business outcomes.

This role is broadly technical, not purely cloud-focused (AWS knowledge desirable but not essential), and ideal for someone who thrives as a technical leader and problem solver.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead vendor assurance & quality control, ensuring delivery meets agreed standards.
• Assess technical solutions, challenge assumptions, and mitigate risks.
• Engage with executives, stakeholders, and vendors to drive clarity, accountability, and results.
• Monitor KPIs and programme outcomes, ensuring delivery aligns with investment.
• Operate as a technical advisor and quasi-Product Owner, guiding strategy without direct team management.

Required Experience

• 7+ years experience in solution architecture (essential).

• Proven experience in vendor assurance / vendor quality management.

• Broad technical knowledge across software, infrastructure, data, and cloud.

• Strong stakeholder engagement comfortable briefing executives and influencing decisions.

• Consulting background (BCG, McKinsey, or similar) highly desirable.

• Experience in startup/scale-up environments and/or large enterprise operations.

• Technically astute, capable of deep-diving to assess vendor delivery and solution integrity.

If interested please apply