About Unilink
Unilink Software is a fast-growing, international company and the leading provider of innovative, award-winning software solutions for the criminal justice sector. Our mission is to empower governments and businesses around the world to effectively secure their operating environments, intuitively manage their data, become more efficient, and foster a culture of rehabilitation.
Our purpose is to create technologies that people can rely on so that justice systems work well. We foster a culture of continuous improvement, innovation and excellence. We care about our staff, our customers, the environment and everything we do - principles encompassed in our social purpose statement.
We work with fantastic customers - government and private sector organisations in the UK, Europe and Australia - who use our software solutions to reduce the administrative burden on staff, improve the information flow and security as well as to implement digital solutions to assist in rehabilitation of people in their care.
We are growing quickly, expect that growth to accelerate and are looking for enthusiastic, passionate and driven individuals to join our team. Our offices are located in London, Southampton and Newcastle but our staff are located throughout the UK, in Europe and Australia. We offer flexible working, a good benefits package and competitive salary.
Technical Director
About the role
Unilink Software Ltd is seeking a Technical Director to lead, manage, and develop our engineering organisation. This role is accountable not only for technical strategy and delivery, but for the effectiveness, performance, and wellbeing of our people.
The Technical Director is expected to be an excellent people manager and communicator, capable of aligning engineering teams, engineering managers, and senior stakeholders around clear goals, expectations, and outcomes. This role combines strategic leadership with day-to-day ownership of how our engineering teams operate, communicate, and deliver.
Responsibilities & Duties
Core Accountability
The Technical Director is ultimately accountable for:
* The performance and effectiveness of all Engineering Managers
* Clear, consistent communication across the engineering function
* High-quality delivery across all development projects
* A healthy, accountable, and well-led engineering culture
Key Responsibilities
People Leadership & Management
* Line manage and actively develop Engineering Managers, holding regular 1-to-1s focused on:
* Performance
* Delivery outcomes
* Leadership capability
* Team health and engagement
* Set clear expectations for Engineering Managers around people leadership, communication, and delivery.
* Ensure Engineering Managers are effective people managers themselves, not just delivery coordinators.
* Address performance issues promptly, constructively, and consistently.
* Support career development, progression, and succession planning across engineering roles.
* Build a culture of accountability, trust and continuous improvement.
* Champion inclusive leadership and strong team dynamics across all engineering teams.
Communication & Alignment
* Act as the primary communication bridge between engineering and the wider business.
* Ensure technical direction, priorities, and decisions are:
* Clearly explained
* Well-documented
* Consistently understood across teams
* Translate complex technical concepts into clear, concise, business-focused language for senior stakeholders.
* Set expectations for high-quality written and verbal communication within engineering teams.
* Proactively surface risks, trade-offs, and delivery concerns early and transparently.
* Ensure teams communicate progress, blockers, and dependencies effectively and predictably.
Engineering Leadership & Delivery Oversight
* Provide oversight of all development projects, ensuring consistent delivery standards.
* Ensure Engineering Managers are planning and delivering work realistically and sustainably.
* Balance delivery pressure with long-term technical health and team wellbeing.
* Work closely with Product, Delivery, and QA to align priorities and manage dependencies.
* Identify and manage delivery and technical risks before they impact outcomes.
Technical Strategy & Governance
* Define and own Unilink’s overall technical strategy and architectural direction.
* Set and enforce engineering standards, best practices, and governance.
* Provide architectural oversight and guidance on complex or high-risk initiatives.
* Ensure systems are secure, scalable, maintainable, and fit for long-term use.
* Guide teams in managing technical debt responsibly.
Culture, Capability & Growth
* Build and sustain a high-performing, communicative engineering organisation.
* Support recruitment and onboarding of senior engineering and management roles.
* Encourage learning, coaching, and leadership development at all levels.
* Promote modern engineering practices and continuous improvement.
* Lead by example in professionalism, communication, and decision-making.
Stakeholder & Client Engagement
* Represent Unilink in senior technical and client-facing discussions when required.
* Build strong, trusted relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
* Ensure engineering is seen as a reliable, communicative, and collaborative partner within the business.
Qualifications, Competencies & Experience
Essential
* Proven experience in a senior engineering leadership role with direct people management responsibility.
* Demonstrated success managing and developing Engineering Managers.
* Strong background in software engineering with broad technical understanding.
* Track record of delivering complex software projects through well-led teams.
* Exceptional communication skills, both written and verbal.
* Experience aligning technical teams with business priorities.
Desirable
* Experience in public sector or regulated environments.
* Experience scaling teams or improving engineering maturity.
* Exposure to AI-assisted development or modern engineering tooling.
Personal Attributes
* People-first leader who values clarity, honesty, and accountability.
* Confident communicator who adapts messaging to different audiences.
* Calm, pragmatic, and decisive.
* Trusted mentor and coach.
* Comfortable holding difficult conversations when required.