Head of Engineering - Hands-On

About the Role

We are partnering exclusively with a venture-backed tech company in Dublin gearing up for a critical phase of product and commercial expansion. The company has established a robust, data-driven consumer platform with a dedicated user base and ambitious growth plans. Following recent investment, they are enhancing their technology leadership and scaling both the platform and engineering function.

This senior-most engineering role involves a unique blend of technical leadership, people management, and active involvement in product development. The successful candidate will work directly with the founders and product teams to align technical priorities, elevate team performance, and prepare the platform for scalability aligned with business objectives.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead, mentor, and grow a compact but established engineering team.
• Define and implement the technical vision, translating business priorities into concrete engineering plans.
• Maintain a hands-on presence in architecture, system design, coding, and delivery processes.
• Enhance engineering workflows, emphasizing efficiency without adding unnecessary complexity.
• Elevate standards related to code quality, testing, deployment methods, and documentation practices.
• Bolster the scalability, security, and reliability of the platform.
• Develop a structured approach to managing technical priorities and addressing technical debt.
• Guide the team in responsible and effective adoption of AI-assisted development tools.
• Collaborate with product and specialist teams to simplify complex requirements into user-friendly solutions.
• Communicate technical decisions and trade-offs clearly to stakeholders without technical backgrounds.
• Facilitate recruitment efforts and help shape the evolving engineering organization.

Candidate Profile

The ideal candidate is a strong engineering leader who enjoys both hands-on product development and nurturing team members. They will likely have experience as a Head of Engineering, Engineering Manager, Technical Lead, or a senior individual contributor with leadership responsibilities. More emphasis is placed on problem-solving scope and leadership impact than on job titles or years of experience.

• Proven experience in leading, mentoring, or developing software engineering teams.
• Expertise in software architecture and system design.
• A willingness and ability to contribute substantially through hands-on technical work.
• Track record in creating or evolving web, mobile, or data-driven products.
• Familiarity with modern JavaScript or TypeScript frameworks and technologies.
• Knowledge of cloud infrastructure, deployment strategies, and ensuring platform reliability.
• Ability to judiciously balance rapid delivery, technical excellence, and business goals.
• Experience in start-up, scale-up, or other fast-paced product-focused environments.
• Practical understanding of AI-assisted software development.
• Strong communication skills and the confidence to provide constructive challenges.

Experience with consumer apps, subscription models, data-centric platforms, or science-based products is desirable but not mandatory. The company welcomes candidates stepping into their first full engineering leadership role as well as established managers.

Compensation and Benefits

• Competitive salary around €120,000, negotiable based on experience.
• Opportunity to participate in company growth through share options.
• Significant influence on technology strategy, engineering culture, and product delivery.
• Lead an existing team while staying engaged with hands-on technology work.
• Direct access and collaboration with company founders.
• Scope to grow the role alongside the expanding engineering organization.
• Flexible hybrid working arrangements based in Dublin.