Interim Head of Software Engineering

Company: itecopeople
Apply for the Interim Head of Software Engineering
Location: London
Job Description:

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 lramm@itecopeople.co.uk

Services advertised are those of an Employment Business.

Posted: May 25th, 2026