Director of Software Engineering

Capital One; United States; Hybrid; USD 147,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

Capital One is seeking a Director of Software Engineering to lead a 50+ engineer and architect team in a hybrid, UK-based setting. The role partners with business leaders to drive outcomes, shape roadmaps, and deliver high-quality engineering at scale within a regulated environment.

You will collaborate with Product and Design, manage performance and development, and oversee third-party contributors while aligning with enterprise policies and domestic stakeholders across the UK and US.

Qualifications

• Experience leading large software engineering teams.
• Strong communication with executives and product/design teams.
• Experience operating engineering at scale in regulated environments.
• Ability to navigate complex roadmaps and drive delivery.

Responsibilities

• Lead a team of 50+ technologists (Software Engineers and Architects) delivering engineering at scale within a regulated environment.
• Collaborate with Product and Design to shaping the roadmap for key capabilities and goals.
• Develop talent with a clear growth plan and manage performance to elevate the team.
• Drive effective delivery with pace and precision across outcome teams.
• Liaise with enterprise stakeholders in the US and UK, assessing cost and risk trade-offs and defining paths forward.
• Oversee third-party engineers and vendors to ensure alignment and governance.
• Stay informed on regulatory changes and enterprise processes impacting engineering practices.
• Provide leadership in technical design reviews and promote best practices across the organization.

Skills

Leadership

Stakeholder management

AWS

Cybersecurity awareness

Communication

Job description

We are looking for a Director of Software Engineering to lead a team of 50+ engineers. We're looking for someone who is results-oriented, able to partner with business leaders and go toe-to-toe with the best engineers on technical rigour.
You'll be responsible for all the technologists within a series of our 'outcome teams': established to drive forward business outcomes. You'll be an excellent leader of people and communicator. You'll be able to seamlessly switch from executive-level progress conversations, to diving deep into solutions, to contributing to strategic discussions around roadmaps. You'll be able to provide clear thinking and direction to cut through ambiguity.
You'll be able to partner well with the local business leadership team and with enterprise stakeholders; providing objective assessments of the likely cost and risk trade-offs for different solutions, and clear paths forward.
What you’ll do
Leadership of a team of 50+ technologists (Software Engineers and Architects): operating engineering at scale within a complex regulated environment
Work together with Product and Design teams on the overall product roadmap for key business capabilities and goals
Elevate great talent and ensure you have a clear agenda for development in the team. Actively manage performance across the team to develop talent over time
Drive for effective delivery with pace and precision across the different outcome teams
Liaising with and managing enterprise stakeholders primarily based in the US, who often have deep expertise on particular domains
Manage a team with a blend of associates and third party engineers, and ensure effective oversight of the relevant third parties within the domain.
Seek and share the context of the wider organisation, its purpose, commitments and opportunities to enable and engage your team with customer and organisational outcomes
Stay up to date with the latest relevant changes in regulation and enterprise process
Maintain broad knowledge and awareness of the latest relevant technologies and engineering practices
Be a key voice in technical design reviews - ensuring a clear and consistent approach to engineering practices
Support the career growth and development of the team
You’ll have a clear track record of leading large software engineering teams, and a proven track record of driving high performance
You'll be able to solve complex challenges across people, process and technology. A high level of intellectual curiosity and comfort with ambiguity is essential. You will have the ability to deep dive on different technology options quickly and provide recommendations on a path forward.
You will have excellent critical thinking skills and be able to provide thoughtful and effective counsel to leaders across the business
You're passionate about recruiting and developing great engineering talent
You'll be able to drive results quickly individually, whilst enabling others through the establishing of clear patterns and practices for engineering teams.
You'll possess excellent communication skills, with an ability to adapt and communicate compellingly and with authenticity to any audience (including internal and external stakeholders)
You'll be aware of the latest native developments within AWS and have real world experience
You'll have an understanding of the latest cybersecurity trends and how they impact engineering practice
You'll be able to work within enterprise policies/guidelines while customising to fit the UK to strike the right balance
You’re comfortable in reaching pragmatic outcomes between short-term and long-term business needs
This is a permanent position based in our London office.
We embrace a hybrid approach to work. You'll spend three days a week in the office (Tuesday-Thursday), with Monday and Friday being dedicated work-from-home days.
Our offices are designed to inspire and support you. At our Nottingham head office, you'll find an on-site gym, restaurant and dedicated Learning Loft. Our London