Head of Engineering & Data — Hybrid UK Tech Leader

Macs Adventure; Glasgow; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Macs Adventure in Glasgow, UK, is seeking a Head of Engineering & Data to align technology and data with business growth. The role blends hands-on architecture with leadership of external partners and internal engineers, ensuring secure, scalable solutions across systems.

You’ll report to the Technology & Digital Director and shape architecture, standards, and integration across platforms, data, and AI initiatives for a global active travel brand.

Qualifications

• Experience as a senior engineering leader, comfortable being the most senior technologist in the business.
• Strong judgement in choosing and integrating third-party platforms, building only where it truly sets us apart.
• Track record with external development partners, including de-risking or replacing a critical system without breaking the business.
• Hands-on enough to challenge partners and get into the detail of cloud, integration and data architecture, without needing to write the code yourself.
• Ownership of a data platform and BI estate as well as engineering.
• Drive AI across people, processes and product with measurable results.
• Solid security, compliance and resilience fundamentals.
• Ability to document decisions and explain them to leaders, partners and investors.

Responsibilities

• Strengthen core technology platforms and improve stability and reliability while reducing reliance on a single supplier.
• Be architect-of-record: own system map, integration standards and decision log.
• Lead technology selection and integration with squads and partners to ensure cohesive delivery.
• Own our data platform to provide a trusted information source for marketing and products.
• Drive the use of AI across Macs with clear ownership and targets.
• Set engineering standards with clear requirements and automated testing.
• Keep technology secure, compliant and resilient, overseeing cloud infrastructure and costs.
• Manage technology partners and suppliers with accountability for service quality.
• Lead and develop the internal engineering and data team.

Skills

Senior leadership

Architectural leadership

Cloud architecture

Data platform ownership

AI strategy

Security & compliance

Vendor/partner management

Coaching and people development

Tools

AWS

Azure

Job description

Macs Adventure in Glasgow, UK, is seeking a Head of Engineering & Data to align technology and data with business growth. The role blends hands-on architecture with leadership of external partners and internal engineers, ensuring secure, scalable solutions across systems.

You’ll report to the Technology & Digital Director and shape architecture, standards, and integration across platforms, data, and AI initiatives for a global active travel brand.