Software Engineering Director

Ronald James Group; Newcastle upon Tyne; On-site; GBP 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Ronald James Group in Newcastle is seeking an experienced Software Engineering Director to join our senior technology leadership team. You will own major software development initiatives, define technical strategy and drive the delivery of scalable, high-quality SaaS solutions.

You will collaborate with senior stakeholders to shape engineering direction, build high-performing teams and ensure technology investments deliver tangible business outcomes.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in a senior software engineering leadership role, ideally within a SaaS or technology-driven organisation.
• Strong experience leading engineering teams and overseeing complex software development projects.
• Demonstrable ability to define and implement engineering strategies aligned with commercial and organisational objectives.
• Strong understanding of modern software architecture, cloud technologies and scalable SaaS platforms.
• Experience building and developing high-performing engineering teams, including managing internal and external resources.
• Excellent knowledge of software development processes, engineering standards and technical best practices.
• Strong commercial awareness, with the ability to balance technical decisions against business priorities.
• Experience delivering large-scale software initiatives from initial planning through to implementation.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with senior leadership, Product and cross-functional teams.
• Strong understanding of software security, performance, reliability and long-term maintainability.
• Excellent stakeholder management, communication and leadership skills.
• A strategic mindset, with the ability to drive innovation, manage competing priorities and deliver measurable outcomes.

Responsibilities

• Define and execute engineering strategies that align with wider business objectives and support long-term growth.
• Lead the design, development and delivery of scalable, secure and reliable SaaS solutions.
• Build, lead and develop high-performing engineering teams, creating a culture of accountability, collaboration and continuous improvement.
• Oversee complex software development initiatives, ensuring projects are delivered to a high standard and within agreed timelines.
• Work closely with senior technology leadership, Product and other departments to align technical priorities with commercial objectives.
• Establish and maintain engineering standards, development processes and best practices to improve delivery quality and efficiency.
• Provide technical leadership across software architecture, scalability, security and performance.
• Manage and coordinate internal and external engineering resources to support successful project delivery.
• Identify opportunities to improve engineering capabilities, streamline processes and introduce innovative approaches.
• Oversee technical planning, resource allocation and delivery priorities across engineering teams.
• Support the development of long-term technology strategies, ensuring solutions remain scalable and adaptable to changing business needs.
• Communicate technical progress, risks and strategic recommendations to senior stakeholders.

Skills

Senior leadership

Team leadership

Strategic planning

Stakeholder management

Cloud architecture

SaaS platforms

Job description

We're working with an established SaaS company looking for an experienced Software Engineering Director to join their senior technology leadership team in Newcastle. This is an opportunity for a commercially minded engineering leader to take ownership of a major software development initiative, define technical strategy and lead the delivery of scalable, high-quality SaaS solutions. You'll work closely with senior stakeholders to shape engineering direction, build high-performing teams and ensure technology investments deliver meaningful business outcomes.

Some of the responsibilities:

• Define and execute engineering strategies that align with wider business objectives and support long-term growth.
• Lead the design, development and delivery of scalable, secure and reliable SaaS solutions.
• Build, lead and develop high-performing engineering teams, creating a culture of accountability, collaboration and continuous improvement.
• Oversee complex software development initiatives, ensuring projects are delivered to a high standard and within agreed timelines.
• Work closely with senior technology leadership, Product and other departments to align technical priorities with commercial objectives.
• Establish and maintain engineering standards, development processes and best practices to improve delivery quality and efficiency.
• Provide technical leadership across software architecture, scalability, security and performance.
• Manage and coordinate internal and external engineering resources to support successful project delivery.
• Identify opportunities to improve engineering capabilities, streamline processes and introduce innovative approaches.
• Oversee technical planning, resource allocation and delivery priorities across engineering teams.
• Support the development of long-term technology strategies, ensuring solutions remain scalable and adaptable to changing business needs.
• Communicate technical progress, risks and strategic recommendations to senior stakeholders.

Some of the requirements:

• Proven experience in a senior software engineering leadership role, ideally within a SaaS or technology-driven organisation.
• Strong experience leading engineering teams and overseeing complex software development projects.
• Demonstrable ability to define and implement engineering strategies aligned with commercial and organisational objectives.
• Strong understanding of modern software architecture, cloud technologies and scalable SaaS platforms.
• Experience building and developing high-performing engineering teams, including managing internal and external resources.
• Excellent knowledge of software development processes, engineering standards and technical best practices.
• Strong commercial awareness, with the ability to balance technical decisions against business priorities.
• Experience delivering large-scale software initiatives from initial planning through to implementation.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with senior leadership, Product and cross-functional teams.
• Strong understanding of software security, performance, reliability and long-term maintainability.
• Excellent stakeholder management, communication and leadership skills.
• A strategic mindset, with the ability to drive innovation, manage competing priorities and deliver measurable outcomes.