Head of Engineering

Head of Engineering required to join a privately backed, fast-growing Edinburgh-based startup to lead the build of a greenfield technology platform that will transform how the organisation operates and ultimately evolve into a commercial SaaS product.

The Opportunity

This is a rare chance to take ownership of a full end-to-end technology build, starting from a largely manual, fragmented operational environment and shaping it into a fully integrated, API-driven platform.

You'll be the most senior technical hire in the organisation, responsible for defining the architecture, leading hands-on development, and setting the long-term engineering direction. The initial focus is on building a central platform that connects multiple internal and external systems, automates key workflows, and creates a single source of truth across the business.

As the platform matures, there is a clear ambition to take this technology to market externally, forming the foundation of a new SaaS product and software business.

The Company

A privately funded, entrepreneurial business with a strong track record across multiple industries. The organisation is now making a deliberate shift to bring technology in-house, moving away from outsourced development to build a long-term internal engineering capability.

Technology is viewed as a key strategic priority, with significant investment being made to modernise systems, improve efficiency, and unlock future growth through software.

Although still a relatively small business, the company has recently achieved record revenue performance and is now entering an ambitious phase of growth and expansion. The leadership team is focused on building a workplace where people are genuinely valued, supported, and given the space to do their best work. There is a strong emphasis on trust and you will be encouraged to take ownership, contribute ideas, and have a real say in how the business and its technology evolve.

As the business scales, they are looking to attract individuals who are excited by that journey -people who want to help shape the culture, contribute to rapid growth, and be part of building something significant from an early stage.

What you'll be doing

You'll take ownership of the design and development of a Java-based platform that will sit at the centre of the business. This will involve architecting scalable systems capable of integrating multiple APIs and data sources, building robust backend services and user-facing interfaces, and ensuring the platform can evolve as the business grows.

A key part of the role will be replacing manual, spreadsheet-driven processes with automated, reliable systems that improve efficiency and consistency across the organisation. You'll also be responsible for establishing engineering standards, implementing CI/CD pipelines, and setting up the cloud and infrastructure foundations needed to support scale.

As the business transitions away from external development partners, you'll play a central role in bringing capability in-house and shaping how the engineering function is built over time.

Who you are

You are an experienced technical lead ready to step into a Head of Engineering role or already operating at that level and still able to contribute technically to the build.

You will have strong experience working with Java, ideally Spring Boot, alongside modern front-end frameworks, and you'll be confident designing and delivering systems that rely heavily on APIs, integrations, and data flows. You'll have previously worked in environments where you've helped shape architecture, particularly in early-stage or evolving technical landscapes.

Beyond your technical capability, you'll bring a strong sense of ownership and commercial awareness. You're comfortable operating with ambiguity, enjoy building structure where none exists, and are motivated by the opportunity to create something meaningful from the ground up.

Why this role?

** A true greenfield opportunity to design and build a platform from scratch

** Head of Engineering role with full ownership, autonomy, and the ability to shape and define the technical direction

** Chance to turn internal systems into a future SaaS product and software business

** Significant influence over architecture, tooling, and long-term technical direction

** Opportunity to build and lead a high-performing engineering team over time

** Equity aligned to the success and commercialisation of the platform

The Offer

The salary on offer is £90,000 - £120,000 plus benefits. The role is based in a central Edinburgh office, with a strong preference for in-person collaboration as the team is built, alongside some flexibility for hybrid working.

This is a rare opportunity to build a platform from scratch, directly improve core business operations, and play a key role in developing a product that could be taken to market in the future.

If this sounds interesting, please apply or reach out to Murray Simpson.

Cathcart Technology is acting as an Employment Agency in relation to this vacancy