Lead and grow engineering teams to design, build, and operate scalable AWS-based systems. Define cloud architecture and technical strategy, improve CI/CD and DevOps practices, oversee project delivery, optimize AWS infrastructure for performance and cost, implement monitoring and disaster recovery, and collaborate with product and executive leadership to align engineering priorities with business goals.
Position Overview:
The Director of Engineering (AWS Expertise) will be responsible for overseeing all aspects of the engineering function, from technical strategy to execution. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience building scalable, highly available systems in the AWS cloud, and will lead a team of engineers to develop and maintain complex systems that support [Company Name]'s core products and services. This role requires a blend of leadership, technical acumen, and strategic vision to ensure the engineering team is aligned with business objectives and delivers high-quality solutions.
Key Responsibilities:Leadership & Team Management:
- Lead, mentor, and develop a team of engineering managers and individual contributors.
- Foster a culture of collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement.
- Drive performance reviews, career development plans, and ongoing skill development for team members.
- Ensure alignment between engineering teams and other departments (Product, Operations, etc.) to meet business goals.
Technical Strategy & Architecture:
- Lead the architectural direction for AWS cloud infrastructure and software solutions.
- Provide hands-on technical leadership in the design, development, and implementation of AWS-based systems.
- Ensure best practices for cloud-native development, CI/CD pipelines, and DevOps workflows are followed across the team.
- Evaluate and integrate emerging technologies to improve performance, scalability, and cost-efficiency on AWS.
Project & Product Delivery:
- Oversee the planning, design, and execution of technical projects and initiatives.
- Ensure the engineering team delivers projects on time, within scope, and with high-quality standards.
- Collaborate closely with Product Management to define clear technical requirements and deliver features that meet customer needs.
- Manage project risks and resolve technical issues proactively.
AWS Infrastructure & Optimization:
- Ensure robust, scalable, and secure cloud infrastructure on AWS (e.g., EC2, S3, Lambda, RDS, DynamoDB, CloudFormation).
- Optimize cloud infrastructure for cost, performance, and security.
- Oversee the implementation of monitoring, alerting, and automated recovery processes.
- Implement disaster recovery and business continuity plans for critical services.
Collaboration & Stakeholder Management:
- Work closely with CTO and senior leadership to set engineering priorities aligned with company strategy.
- Communicate technical concepts and project progress clearly to non-technical stakeholders.
- Partner with the Product team to define and prioritize technical features, addressing both short-term and long-term objectives.
Continuous Improvement & Innovation:
- Stay up to date with industry trends, cloud technologies, and best practices.
- Champion a culture of innovation by encouraging engineers to experiment, fail fast, and iterate.
- Lead post-mortem and retrospective reviews to continually improve processes and systems.
Education & Experience:
- Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field (or equivalent experience).
- 10+ years of experience in software engineering, with at least 5 years in a leadership role.
- Strong background in cloud computing, particularly with AWS services.
- Proven experience building and scaling systems on AWS, including but not limited to EC2, Lambda, S3, RDS, DynamoDB, and VPCs.
- Experience with infrastructure as code (IaC) tools like Terraform, CloudFormation, or similar.
- Hands-on experience with DevOps practices, CI/CD pipelines, and container orchestration (e.g., Kubernetes, ECS).
- Familiarity with microservices architecture, serverless computing, and distributed systems.
Technical Skills:
- Strong proficiency in software development and engineering principles (preferably in languages such as Python, Java, Go, or Node.js).
- Expertise in AWS security best practices (IAM, VPC, KMS, etc.).
- Experience with monitoring and logging tools such as AWS CloudWatch, ELK stack, Prometheus, or Grafana.
- Knowledge of databases (SQL/NoSQL), data pipelines, and cloud-based storage solutions.
- Solid understanding of Agile methodologies (Scrum, Kanban, etc.).
Soft Skills:
- Exceptional leadership, communication, and collaboration skills.
- Strong strategic thinking and problem-solving capabilities.
- Ability to work in a fast-paced, dynamic environment and manage multiple priorities.
- Experience managing remote and distributed teams is a plus.
Photon London, England Office
London, United Kingdom
Similar Jobs
Artificial Intelligence • Cloud • HR Tech • Information Technology • Productivity • Software • Automation
Sell ServiceNow software to UK mid-market accounts (1,000–5,000 employees). Build territory plans, prospect and qualify leads, run product demos, close new business, manage accounts, partner with marketing, maintain CRM hygiene, and advise customers on AI and IT roadmaps.
Top Skills:
AICRMServicenow
Artificial Intelligence • Professional Services • Business Intelligence • Consulting • Cybersecurity • Generative AI
Lead and manage internal investigations, develop and implement compliance policies, advise on regulatory requirements, analyze operational risks, communicate findings to stakeholders, coach and lead teams, and support compliance program implementation and training to strengthen internal controls and ethical standards.
Artificial Intelligence • Professional Services • Business Intelligence • Consulting • Cybersecurity • Generative AI
The role involves developing, testing, and validating Generative AI agents and maintaining automated testing standards. Responsibilities include mentoring junior associates, analyzing complex issues, and applying governance controls in AI-driven solutions.
Top Skills:
AIAutomated TestingCi/CdData EngineeringLlmsMlPower Automate
What you need to know about the London Tech Scene
London isn't just a hub for established businesses; it's also a nursery for innovation. Boasting one of the most recognized fintech ecosystems in Europe, attracting billions in investments each year, London's success has made it a go-to destination for startups looking to make their mark. Top U.K. companies like Hoptin, Moneybox and Marshmallow have already made the city their base — yet fintech is just the beginning. From healthtech to renewable energy to cybersecurity and beyond, the city's startups are breaking new ground across a range of industries.
