Job Description
Job Purpose
We are seeking a dynamic and experienced Head of Engineering to lead the engineering function for our Connect Cloud platform. This is a strategic leadership role with end-to-end responsibility for the delivery, operation, and evolution of a platform that enables high-performance, real-time processing of financial transactions and regulatory reporting. This is a hybrid working role, with 3 days per week in the office based out of Bristol and also open to candidates also based in Solihull.
This role is ideal for someone with a deep understanding of financial services technology, particularly in capital markets and post-trade infrastructure. You’ll oversee the development and QA teams, working closely with product, cloud, sales, and customer delivery functions to ensure we deliver robust, scalable solutions that meet the needs of our clients and the demands of global regulatory environments.
Key Responsibilities
* Lead and inspire a multi-disciplinary team of software engineers and QA professionals focused on Connect Cloud.
* Own the software delivery roadmap, aligning with priorities set by Product Management, and ensure on-time, high-quality releases.
* Champion engineering excellence, drive adoption of best practices, and continuously improve delivery processes.
* Represent the Connect Cloud engineering function across the business—supporting pre-sales efforts, resolving client issues, and contributing to customer success.
* Collaborate with peer engineering leaders to align technical strategy, share components, and promote integration across the Gresham product portfolio.
* Navigate complex technical challenges, including integration with trading platforms (e.g., Bloomberg TOMS), SWIFT gateways, and multi-protocol message exchange.
Key Skills
* Proven leadership experience in managing high-performing, cross-functional engineering teams in a regulated financial services environment.
* A strong technical foundation, ideally with hands-on experience in Java and cloud-native architectures.
* Track record of delivering mission-critical, high-volume, near real-time systems for capital markets or similar domains.
* Deep appreciation of the operational, compliance, and security requirements of large financial institutions.
* Ability to translate business priorities into actionable engineering plans, manage change, and communicate impact clearly.
* Excellent stakeholder engagement and communication skills, both internally and externally.
Desirable Technical Experience
* Low-latency, server-side real-time Java development.
* Operating systems: Windows, Linux; Cloud platforms: AWS.
* Database technologies: MS SQL Server, MongoDB.
* Containerisation and orchestration technologies.
* Apache NiFi for data flow and integration.
* Financial messaging and transport protocols:
Protocols: FIX, SWIFT, MQ, JMS, Kafka, SFTP, TCP/IP
Formats: FIX, SWIFT (MT & ISO 20022), JSON, XML
* Data mapping, transformation, and harmonisation.
Desirable Domain Experience
* Order and Execution Management Systems (OMS/EMS) and associated workflows.
* Straight Through Processing (STP) and regulatory reporting within capital markets.
* Familiarity with asset classes and financial instruments.
* Knowledge of global financial regulations: MiFID II, Dodd-Frank, FINRA TRACE.
* Payments workflows using SWIFT messaging standards.
* Information security frameworks (e.g., ISO 27001, SOC) and process controls.
Key Stakeholders
* Reports to Chief Technology Officer
* Chief Product Officer and Senior Leadership
* Engineering and QA Teams
* Customer Delivery and Support
* Sales and Pre-Sales
* Clients