Interim Head of Software Engineering

3-Month Contract Initially | C £700 pd Inside IR35 | Hybrid London

A prestigious London-based organisation is seeking an experienced Interim Head of Software Engineering to provide operational leadership cover during a period of transition and organisational change and recruitment of a permanent Head of Software Engineering.

This is a senior leadership role focused on maintaining operational stability, supporting multidisciplinary technical teams and ensuring continuity across a broad enterprise technology estate whilst a permanent appointment is made.

The environment is complex, stakeholder-heavy and operationally critical, requiring a calm, resilient and highly credible technology leader who can "hold the fort", keep services running effectively and maintain momentum across ongoing initiatives.

The Role

You will lead a multidisciplinary function spanning:

* Software engineering
* Enterprise applications
* Integrations and APIs
* Data and reporting services
* Operational support and service management

The focus is very much on:
* Keeping the lights on
* Operational continuity
* Supporting stretched teams through transition
* Managing stakeholder expectations
* Maintaining delivery momentum
* Ensuring stable and resilient services

This is not a large-scale transformation programme or greenfield engineering role. Instead, the organisation requires a safe pair of hands with strong operational leadership capability within a complex enterprise environment.

Key Experience Required

* Experience leading enterprise application / software engineering / integration functions within large complex organisations ideally with experience within Higher Education or large public-sector organisations
* Strong operational leadership and service management experience
* Experience managing multidisciplinary technical teams and team leaders
* Strong stakeholder engagement and communication skills
* Experience operating within Higher Education, Public Sector, NHS, Housing or similarly complex regulated environments
* Ability to manage competing priorities within stretched operational teams
* Calm, resilient and pragmatic leadership style

Desirable
* Experience across enterprise integrations, data/reporting platforms and operational governance
* ITIL / service management background

Contract Details
* 3 months initially, likely extension
* Rate c £700 per day Inside IR35
* Hybrid working - London 2 days a week.
* Immediate / short notice availability preferred

To progress matters please send your CV to (url removed)

Services advertised are those of an Employment Business.