Director of Software Engineering

White Collar Factory (95009), United Kingdom, London, London

Director of Software Engineering

About this role 

We are looking for a Director of Software Engineering to lead a team of 100+ engineers. We’re looking for someone who is results-oriented, able to partner with business leaders and go toe-to-toe with the best engineers on technical rigour.

You’ll be responsible for all the technologists within a series of our ‘outcome teams’: established to drive forward business outcomes. You’ll be an excellent leader of people and communicator. You’ll be able to seamlessly switch from executive-level progress conversations, to diving deep into solutions, to contributing to strategic discussions around roadmaps. You’ll be able to provide clear thinking and direction to cut through ambiguity.

You’ll be able to partner well with the local business leadership team and with enterprise stakeholders; providing objective assessments of the likely cost and risk trade-offs for different solutions, and clear paths forward.

What you’ll do

Leadership of a team of 100+ technologists (Software Engineers, Quality Engineers and Architects): operating engineering at scale within a complex regulated environment

Work together with Product and Design teams on the overall product roadmap for key business capabilities and goals

Elevate great talent and ensure you have a clear agenda for development in the team. Actively manage performance across the team to develop talent over time

Drive for effective delivery with pace and precision across the different outcome teams

Liaising with and managing enterprise stakeholders primarily based in the US, who often have deep expertise on particular domains

Manage a team with a blend of associates and third party engineers, and ensure effective oversight of the relevant third parties within the domain.

Seek and share the context of the wider organisation, its purpose, commitments and opportunities to enable and engage your team with customer and organisational outcomes

Stay up to date with the latest relevant changes in regulation and enterprise process

Maintain broad knowledge and awareness of the latest relevant technologies and engineering practices

Be a key voice in technical design reviews - ensuring a clear and consistent approach to engineering practices

Support the career growth and development of the team

What we’re looking for

You’ll have a clear track record of leading large software engineering teams, and a proven track record of driving high performance

You’ll be able to solve complex challenges across people, process and technology. A high level of intellectual curiosity and comfort with ambiguity is essential. You will have the ability to deep dive on different technology options quickly and provide recommendations on a path forward. 

You will have excellent critical thinking skills and be able to provide thoughtful and effective counsel to leaders across the business

You’re passionate about recruiting and developing great engineering talent

You’ll be able to drive results quickly individually, whilst enabling others through the establishing of clear patterns and practices for engineering teams.  

You’ll possess excellent communication skills, with an ability to adapt and communicate compellingly and with authenticity to any audience (including internal and external stakeholders)

You’ll be aware of the latest native developments within AWS and have real world experience

You’ll have an understanding of the latest cybersecurity trends and how they impact engineering practice

You’ll be able to work within enterprise policies/guidelines while customising to fit the UK to strike the right balance

You’re comfortable in reaching pragmatic outcomes between short-term and long-term business needs

Knowledge of the UK / US regulatory, consumer lending and technology landscapes (preferred)

Where and how you'll work

This is a permanent position based in our London offices.  

We have a hybrid working model which gives you flexibility to work from our offices and from home. 

We’re big on collaboration and connection, so you’ll be based in our London office 3 days a week on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.

What’s in it for you

Bring us all this - and you’ll be well rewarded with a role contributing to the roadmap of an organisation committed to transformation

We offer high performers strong and diverse career progression, investing heavily in developing great people through our Capital One University training programmes (and appropriate external providers)

Immediate access to our core benefits including pension scheme, bonus, generous holiday entitlement and private medical insurance – with flexible benefits available including season-ticket loans, cycle to work scheme and enhanced parental leave

Open-plan workspaces and accessible facilities designed to inspire and support you. Our Nottingham head-office has a fully-serviced gym, subsidised restaurant, mindfulness and music rooms. In London, you can heighten your mood with a run on our rooftop running track or an espresso at the Workshop Coffee café

What you should know about how we recruit

We pride ourselves on hiring the best people, not the same people. Building diverse and inclusive teams is the right thing to do and the smart thing to do. We want to work with top talent: whoever you are, whatever you look like, wherever you come from. We know it’s about what you do, not just what you say. That’s why we make our recruitment process fair and accessible. And we offer benefits that attract people at all ages and stages.

We also partner with organisations including the Women in Finance and Race At Work Charters, Stonewall and upReach to find people from every walk of life and help them thrive with us. We have a whole host of internal networks and support groups you could be involved in, to name a few:

REACH – Race Equality and Culture Heritage group focuses on representation, retention and engagement for associates from minority ethnic groups and allies

OutFront – to provide LGBTQ+ support for all associates

Mind Your Mind – signposting support and promoting positive mental wellbeing for all

Women in Tech – promoting an inclusive environment in tech

EmpowHER - network of female associates and allies focusing on developing future leaders, particularly for female talent in our industry

Enabled - focused on supporting associates with disabilities and neurodiversity

Capital One is committed to diversity in the workplace.

If you require a reasonable adjustment, please contact   All information will be kept confidential and will only be used for the purpose of applying a reasonable adjustment.

For technical support or questions about Capital One's recruiting process, please send an email to

Capital One does not provide, endorse nor guarantee and is not liable for third-party products, services, educational tools or other information available through this site.

Capital One Financial is made up of several different entities. Please note that any position posted in Canada is for Capital One Canada, any position posted in the United Kingdom is for Capital One Europe and any position posted in the Philippines is for Capital One Philippines Service Corp. (COPSSC).

Who We Are

At Capital One, we're building a leading information-based technology company. Still founder-led by Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Richard Fairbank, Capital One is on a mission to help our customers succeed by bringing ingenuity, simplicity, and humanity to banking. We measure our efforts by the success our customers enjoy and the advocacy they exhibit. We are succeeding because they are succeeding.

Guided by our shared values, we thrive in an environment where collaboration and openness are valued. We believe that innovation is powered by perspective and that teamwork and respect for each other lead to superior results. We elevate each other and obsess about doing the right thing. Our associates serve with humility and a deep respect for their responsibility in helping our customers achieve their goals and realize their dreams. Together, we are on a quest to change banking for good