The Head of IT and Platform Development will take end-to-end responsibility for the technical strategy, systems architecture, platform development, deployment, and ongoing support of MES’s digital infrastructure.
This is a hands-on leadership role, ideal for someone who combines deep technical capability with strong strategic oversight and operational delivery skills. The ideal candidate will thrive in a fast-paced, high-trust environment and will be instrumental in scaling our technology function to meet future growth. A significant focus of this role will be to identify and implement opportunities to embed Artificial Intelligence into our platform to enhance automation, decision-making, data processing, and client engagement.
Key Responsibilities
* Lead the development, deployment, and maintenance of MES’s core web-based platform, built primarily using Node.js, React.js, and PostgreSQL.
* Architect and oversee scalable cloud infrastructure using AWS (including EC2, RDS, S3, IAM, etc.).
* Spearhead the design and integration of AI-powered features into the MES platform, including automation, data analysis, document processing, and user-facing tools.
* Define and execute IT strategy, ensuring alignment with business objectives and regulatory requirements.
* Manage DevOps pipelines, CI/CD processes, security controls, and performance monitoring.
* Collaborate with leadership to prioritise development roadmaps and technical investments.
* Ensure robust cybersecurity standards, data integrity, and disaster recovery protocols.
* Manage and mentor in-house developers or external contractors as the team expands.
* Oversee internal IT systems and provide strategic recommendations for continuous improvement.
* Maintain documentation, technical standards, and compliance with relevant data and financial regulations.
Key Requirements
Essential:
* Proven experience in a senior IT or development leadership role.
* Strong hands-on experience with Node.js and React.js for backend and frontend development, PostgreSQL for relational database design and optimisation and AWS services and infrastructure management.
* Familiarity with or interest in AI tools, frameworks, and APIs (e.g. LLMs, machine learning models, natural language processing).
* Deep understanding of web application architecture, security best practices, and RESTful APIs.
* Experience with deployment pipelines, Git-based version control, and issue tracking tools.
* Strong problem-solving, communication, and project management skills.
Desirable:
* Experience within the financial services or regulated environments.
* Understanding of GDPR, ISO 27001, or other security/compliance frameworks.
* Prior work integrating AI features or tools into operational platforms.
What We Offer
* The opportunity to shape and lead MES’s technology roadmap from the ground up.
* A collaborative, supportive team culture that values innovation and initiative.
* Hybrid working flexibility and autonomy.
* Competitive salary and benefits package.
* A chance to make a meaningful impact in a company committed to digital excellence in financial services.