Interim Head of Engineering

StoryToys; Rotherham; On-site; GBP 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

StoryToys, an independent subsidiary of Team17 Group plc, seeks an interim Head of Engineering to lead its engineering organization for mobile educational apps. You will define the engineering strategy, shape the technical roadmap for Unity-powered apps, and drive high-quality delivery across iOS and Android.

You will mentor senior engineers, oversee hiring, and partner with Product, Design and QA to align technology with business goals and child-friendly experiences worldwide.

Qualifications

• 10+ years software engineering experience with at least 5 years in engineering leadership.
• Proven experience leading multiple engineering teams and managers.
• Strong understanding of Unity-based game development and mobile app architecture for iOS/Android.

Responsibilities

• Define and own the engineering strategy aligned to company objectives.
• Evolve the technical vision, architecture and roadmap for Unity-powered mobile apps.
• Lead, mentor and grow engineering leaders and senior staff.
• Oversee end-to-end delivery and ensure predictable roadmap execution.
• Partner with Product, Design, QA and Production leadership to drive business outcomes.

Skills

Unity-based game development

Mobile application architecture

Engineering leadership

Stakeholder management

Strategic planning

Budgeting & hiring

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in computer science or related field

Master's degree preferred

Job description

Who are we?

StoryToys, an independent subsidiary of Team17 Group plc, is a premier, award-winning developer and publisher of interactive educational apps designed to help children learn, play, and grow. We collaborate with the world's most recognizable entertainment giants- The LEGO Group, The Walt Disney Company, Marvel Entertainment, Mattel, and BBC Studios to bring beloved characters like Bluey, Peppa Pig, and Barbie into engaging digital worlds.

Our global success spans all major distribution networks, amassing over 300 million app downloads and reaching millions of active families worldwide in up to 28 different languages. While headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, our internal team of over 130 professionals operates alongside a vast, highly agile global network of creators.

About the role

StoryToys is looking for an interim Head of Engineering to lead the engineering department behind our portfolio of award-winning children's mobile games.

This role is responsible for the performance and growth of our engineering function, ensuring teams can consistently deliver high-quality and engaging mobile experiences for children and families around the world. This is a product-focused role requiring deep experience in Unity, building and maintaining mobile apps for iOS and Android platforms.

This is a fantastic opportunity for a senior engineering leader with a passion for mobile app development and an interest in children's play to join our dynamic and growing team.

Main Duties & Responsibilities

Engineering Strategy & Technical Vision

• Strategic Alignment: Define and own the engineering strategy aligned to core company objectives.

• Technical Direction: Define and evolve the technical vision, architecture and technology roadmap for StoryToys' portfolio of Unity-powered mobile apps.

• Risk & Speed Balance: Balance player experience, development efficiency, platform requirements and the unique needs of children's products.

Leadership & People Management

• Talent Development: Lead, mentor, and grow engineering managers, principal engineers, and senior talent.

• High-Performance Culture: Build a collaborative, accountable culture focused on continuous learning.

• Workforce Planning: Oversee hiring pipelines, succession planning, and performance management.

Delivery & Operational Excellence

• Delivery Outcomes: Own end-to-end execution and project delivery across all engineering teams.

• Predictable Execution: Ensure effective planning processes and highly predictable roadmap execution.

• Continuous Improvement: Establish meaningful engineering metrics and use data-driven insights to improve delivery predictability, product quality and engineering efficiency.

Cross-Functional Leadership

• Executive Partnership: Partner with Product, Design, QA, and Production leadership to drive business outcomes.

• Technical Translation: Translate complex technical concepts into clear, executive-level recommendations.

• Strategic Influence: Leverage technology insights and industry innovation to directly influence company strategy.

Innovation & Department Growth

• Emerging Tech: Identify emerging technologies to capture distinct competitive market advantages.

• Modern Workflows: Drive organizational adoption of advanced engineering practices, automation, and AI-enabled workflows.

Key Skills, Knowledge & Experience

Core

• 10+ years of software engineering experience with at least 5 years in engineering leadership.
• Proven experience leading multiple engineering teams and managers.
• Strong understanding of Unity-based game development, mobile application architecture, engineering best practices and the technical challenges involved in delivering high-quality, experiences across iOS and Android platforms.
• Excellent stakeholder management, communication and strategic planning skills.
• Experience managing budgets, hiring plans and organisational growth.
• Bachelor's degree in computer science, Software Engineering or related field, or equivalent experience.

Preferred

• Master's degree in a relevant discipline.
• Experience scaling organisations through periods of rapid growth.
• Experience with AI-assisted development tooling and platform modernisation.
• Experience leading distributed or international engineering teams.
• Experience in educational technology or children's entertainment.