Senior Director of Software Engineering

Key Responsibilities

Engineering delivery● Own the delivery performance of the engineering organisation — predictablereleases, credible estimates, and commitments that are met.● Lead multiple engineering teams across platform, product and integrationdomains through their line managers, typically 80–150 engineers.● Set and enforce engineering standards: architecture governance, code review,CI/CD, observability, security-by-design and technical documentation.● Partner with Product, Operations and Commercial leadership to translatebusiness priorities into a sequenced, resourced engineering plan.● Manage the engineering budget, vendor and partner relationships, andworkforce planning within agreed financial parameters.Quality engineering● Own the quality strategy across the estate — test automation, environment andtest data management, performance and resilience testing, and release assurance.● Drive measurable improvement in defect escape rate, production incident volume,mean time to recovery and change failure rate.● Embed quality accountability within delivery teams rather than at a downstreamgate, while maintaining independent assurance where regulation or clientcontracts require it.● Ensure engineering practice satisfies our obligations under ISO 27001, GDPR andthe data protection regimes of the jurisdictions we operate in.Innovation● Run a small, deliberately scoped innovation function that evaluates emergingtechnology — particularly applied AI, intelligent document processing andautomation — against real verification problems.● Take a disciplined approach to experimentation: clear hypotheses, time-boxedproofs of concept, honest kill decisions, and a defined route from prototype intoproduction.● Advise the CTO and Executive Committee on technology direction, build-versus-buydecisions and modernisation of legacy components.Leadership● Build, develop and retain a high-calibre leadership bench; grow engineeringmanagers and principal engineers into their next role.● Represent Technology credibly with executive stakeholders, regulators, auditors andenterprise clients.● Deputise for the CTO on operational and governance matters as required.Experience & QualificationsEssential● 18+ years in software engineering, with at least 5 years leading engineeringorganisations of 50+ people through subordinate managers.● Demonstrable track record of turning delivery predictability and software qualityaround, evidenced by metrics rather than assertion.● Deep hands-on grounding in modern engineering practice — cloud-nativearchitecture, microservices, API design, DevSecOps and test automation —sufficient to hold architects and principal engineers to account.● Experience operating in a regulated, data-sensitive or compliance-drivenenvironment.● Proven ability to run an engineering budget and manage third-party deliverypartners.● A knack for turning information into knowledge to report on success and to drivechange.● Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering or equivalent practicalexperience.● Excellent written and spoken English, with the presence to hold an executive room.Desirable● Experience in background screening, digital identity, FinTech, GovTech or HRTech.● Exposure to applied AI or machine learning in a production setting, especially withregards to Quality Assurance and automated delivery● Experience working across a multi-site, multi-time-zone organisation, ideally with aMiddle East or global client base.● Master's degree or MBA.CompetenciesIn this role we would be looking for the following traits to shine through in order to sealyour successful career development:● Ownership — treats delivery commitments as personal commitments.● Judgement — makes sound calls with incomplete information and explains thereasoning.● Candour — surfaces bad news early and accurately.● Talent builder — measured by the strength of the leaders they develop.● Commercial literacy — connects engineering choices to client outcomes and cost.● Care — leads with empathy and holds a high bar at the same time.Success in the First 12 Months● A clear, evidenced baseline of delivery and quality performance, and a publishedimprovement plan against it.● Measurable reduction in defect escape rate and production incidents.● Release predictability materially improved against committed dates.● A strengthened leadership team with succession identified for every criticalengineering role.● At least two innovation initiatives progressed from concept to a production decision.What We Offer● A senior leadership seat with genuine scope, executive visibility and a clear route forfurther progression.● Competitive base salary and performance-related bonus, benchmarked to theupper quartile of the Delhi NCR market, plus comprehensive benefits.● The opportunity to lead engineering for a global business whose work protects thepublic in more than 200 countries and territories.● Working from our Noida office with occasional work-from-home arrangements.● Occasional international travel.