Interim Head of Software Engineering, Higher Education
Posted 1 day ago by Tria Recruitment
£725 Per day
Inside
Hybrid
London, UK
Summary: The role of Interim Head of Software Engineering involves leading an established engineering function during a significant technology transformation within a large organization. The position focuses on providing stability, technical leadership, and oversight while supporting strategic initiatives. This interim assignment is expected to last between 3 to 6 months and requires strong stakeholder engagement and governance capabilities. The role is hybrid, based in London, and classified as inside IR35.
Key Responsibilities:
- Lead an engineering function of approximately 20 FTEs across software development, integration, BI & analytics, and engineering governance/project approvals.
- Provide pragmatic leadership across BAU operations and contribute technical input into transformation programmes.
- Oversee current initiatives including AI and automation programmes, multi-cloud transformation, cloud migration, central data repository initiatives, cost optimisation, and introduction of new products and systems.
Key Skills:
- Strong software engineering leadership background.
- Experience in complex enterprise environments.
- Ability to stabilise and lead engineering teams in an interim capacity.
- Credibility in providing technical oversight and engineering direction.
- Strong stakeholder engagement and governance capability.
- Integration experience/awareness is highly desirable.
- Previous experience in the Higher Education sector is strongly preferred.
Salary (Rate): £850/day
City: London
Country: UK
Working Arrangements: hybrid
IR35 Status: inside IR35
Seniority Level: undetermined
Industry: IT
Interim Head of Software Engineering
Contract | Inside IR35 | London/Hybrid
We are supporting a large, complex organisation undergoing significant technology transformation in the search for an experienced Interim Head of Software Engineering.
This is an initial 3-6 month interim assignment focused on providing stability, technical leadership, and engineering oversight during a period of substantial change and ongoing delivery.
This role is less about owning every aspect of a traditional permanent Head of function remit, and more about ensuring the engineering operation continues to run effectively, supporting strategic initiatives, and providing senior technical leadership across the organisation.
The OpportunityYou will lead an established engineering function of approximately 20 FTEs across:
- Software Development
- Integration
- BI & Analytics
- Engineering governance/project approvals
Working closely with senior stakeholders, you will provide pragmatic leadership across BAU operations while contributing technical and engineering input into a broad portfolio of transformation programmes.
Current initiatives include:
- Large-scale AI and automation programmes
- Multi-cloud transformation across AWS and Azure
- Cloud migration activity
- Central data repository initiatives
- Cost optimisation programmes
- Introduction of new products and systems
What We're Looking For
We are keen to speak with candidates who can demonstrate:
- Strong software engineering leadership background
- Experience operating within complex enterprise environments
- Ability to stabilise and lead engineering teams in an interim capacity
- Credibility providing technical oversight and engineering direction to projects and programmes
- Strong stakeholder engagement and governance capability
- Integration experience/awareness highly desirable
- Previous Higher Education sector experience is strongly preferred
Contract Details
- Initial 3-month contract with likely extension to 6 months
- Inside IR35
- £800-£850/day (inclusive of fee, excluding VAT)
- Hybrid working/London-based environment
- Interview process commencing shortly
- Start date required by mid-June at the latest
