Director of Engineering (Remote-First)

Placements24; Cape Town; Hybrid; ZAR 1,500,000 - 2,500,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity package

Health insurance

Home office stipend

Unlimited PTO

Professional growth opportunities

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a visionary Director of Engineering to lead globally distributed, remote-first engineering teams and drive the technical strategy. You will shape architecture, oversee scalable systems, mentor leaders, manage budgets, and collaborate with product and design to deliver outstanding software while embracing a flexible, remote work culture.

This executive role requires 10+ years in software, 5+ years in leadership, and a proven track record hiring top talent across time zones.

Qualifications

• 10+ years in software engineering with leadership experience.
• Proven track record defining and executing tech strategy for large, distributed systems.
• Experience with cloud platforms (AWS/Azure/GCP) and microservices.

Responsibilities

• Lead multiple engineering teams across distributed environments.
• Define vision, strategy and roadmap aligned with business goals.
• Oversee architecture, design, deployment and maintenance of scalable systems.
• Enforce coding standards, reviews and testing methodologies.
• Foster innovation, continuous improvement and knowledge sharing.
• Attract, mentor and retain top engineering talent across time zones.
• Manage budgets, resources and vendor relationships.
• Collaborate with product, design and other departments to deliver exceptional products.
• Ensure security, reliability and performance of infrastructure and applications.
• Champion effective remote communication and collaboration practices.

Skills

Leadership

Software architecture

Cloud computing

Microservices

DevOps

Remote leadership

Budget management

Talent acquisition

Communication

Strategic planning

Education

Bachelor's or Master's in Computer Science or Engineering

Tools

AWS

Azure

GCP

Kubernetes

DevOps tooling

Job description

About the Role

Our client is a leading innovator in the tech industry, seeking a visionary Director of Engineering to lead our globally distributed, remote-first engineering teams. This executive-level position is critical in shaping the future of our product development and technical strategy. You will be responsible for fostering a culture of technical excellence, innovation, and collaboration across multiple engineering disciplines. The Director of Engineering will guide the architecture, design, and implementation of our core technologies, ensuring scalability, reliability, and performance. This role is pivotal in attracting and retaining top engineering talent worldwide and ensuring our engineering output consistently exceeds industry standards. As a remote-first organization, we are deeply committed to providing an exceptional remote working experience, with robust communication tools and flexible work practices. The successful candidate will embody our client's commitment to innovation and be a driving force behind our technological advancements from anywhere in the world.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and manage multiple engineering teams, including software development, quality assurance, and site reliability engineering.
• Define and drive the technical vision, strategy, and roadmap in alignment with business objectives.
• Oversee the design, development, deployment, and maintenance of scalable, high-performance software systems.
• Establish and enforce best practices for software development, coding standards, code reviews, and testing methodologies.
• Foster a culture of innovation, continuous improvement, and knowledge sharing among engineering staff.
• Attract, mentor, and retain top engineering talent, building a diverse and highly skilled workforce.
• Manage engineering budgets, resource allocation, and vendor relationships.
• Collaborate closely with product management, design, and other departments to deliver exceptional products.
• Ensure the security, reliability, and scalability of all technical infrastructure and applications.
• Champion effective remote communication and collaboration strategies for distributed teams.

Requirements

• A Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related technical field.
• 10+ years of experience in software engineering, with at least 5 years in a senior leadership or management role, overseeing large, distributed teams.
• Proven experience in defining and executing technical strategy for complex, scalable systems.
• Deep understanding of modern software development methodologies, cloud computing (AWS, Azure, GCP), and microservices architectures.
• Exceptional leadership, communication, and people management skills, with a strong ability to inspire and motivate technical teams.
• Demonstrated experience in hiring, developing, and retaining top engineering talent in a remote environment.
• Strong financial acumen and experience managing engineering budgets.
• Expertise in agile development processes and DevOps practices.
• Experience working in a fast-paced, innovative technology company is highly desirable.
• Must have the legal right to work remotely in their current location and be able to work effectively across different time zones.

Benefits

• Highly competitive salary and equity package.
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance for employees and dependents.
• Generous home office setup stipend and ongoing technology allowance.
• Unlimited paid time off (PTO) and flexible working hours.
• Opportunities for professional growth, attending conferences, and further education.
• Access to cutting-edge technology and challenging projects.
• A supportive and inclusive remote-first culture that values work-life balance and employee well-being.