Head of Engineering

7 days ago

Sydney, New South Wales, Australia Salient Group Full time $120,000 - $250,000 per year

Head of Engineering

Location:
Sydney [Hybrid]

Our client is on a mission to create original, category-defining experiences and scale their product platforms globally. They're seeking a Head of Engineering to set technical direction, lead with empathy, and bring deep technical expertise. This is a hands-on leadership role where you'll shape the product, platform, and engineering culture while driving excellence across multiple squads.

About the Role

This is both a strategic and hands-on role for an engineering leader who enjoys building, mentoring, and guiding high-performing teams. You'll partner closely with product, design, and cross-functional stakeholders to deliver fast, scalable, and secure digital experiences.

You'll thrive here if you're energized by ambiguity, take ownership of outcomes, and care deeply about creating a high-trust, high-impact environment.

What You'll Do

Define & Own Technical Strategy:
Set the direction for scalable, secure, and adaptable architecture across product domains.

Lead by Example:
Provide hands-on technical guidance, owning delivery from scoping through execution.

Mentor & Empower Teams:
Grow engineering managers and senior engineers, creating clarity and raising the technical bar.

Collaborate Cross-Functionally:
Work with Product, Design, and CX to translate bold ideas into seamless customer experiences.

Drive Culture & Delivery:
Foster a culture of empathy, accountability, and high-velocity iteration.

Embrace AI & Innovation:
Explore AI/ML, automation, and emerging technologies to accelerate development and enhance product capability.

Unblock & Enable:
Proactively resolve friction, manage trade-offs, and ensure performance, compliance, and customer needs are met.

What You Bring

Core Experience & Capabilities

  • Proven experience leading engineering teams and shipping complex, high-impact SaaS or consumer products.
  • Strong grounding in modern web and backend technologies (e.g. JavaScript/TypeScript, Python, .Net, PHP/Laravel, PostgreSQL, AWS or similar).
  • Ability to set technical strategy, guide architecture, and implement modernisation initiatives.
  • Track record of building secure, compliant, and data-sensitive platforms.
  • Experience delivering with CI/CD practices and modern DevOps approaches.
  • Skilled communicator able to bring clarity to both technical and non-technical audiences.

Leadership & Traits

  • High-ownership mindset, acting fast when things need fixing.
  • Empathetic leadership that uplifts people, not just processes.
  • Comfortable guiding senior engineers and managers, while staying hands-on where needed.
  • Thrives in ambiguity and fast-moving environments.
  • Product-focused pragmatism: balancing craft with speed to market.

Bonus Points

  • Experience in early-stage or scale-up environments.
  • Familiarity with AI/ML, LLMs, or consumer-grade infrastructure.
  • Knowledge of observability tooling (logging, tracing, metrics).
  • Track record of designing migration strategies in mission-critical SaaS environments.

Why Join

  • Build a truly original platform at the intersection of creativity, technology, and human connection.
  • Shape foundational decisions across product, engineering, and culture.
  • Be part of a fast-growing, global tech company with flexible working and strong benefits.
  • Competitive salary, equity, and perks tailored to learning, wellbeing, and growth.

To learn more or apply, get in touch

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