Director of Next Generation Engineering

Camstgroup; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - GBP 120,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading technology consulting firm in the UK is seeking a Director of Next Generation Engineering to transform and scale its software engineering function. The role involves setting a vision for embedding AI into delivery processes and ensuring high-performance engineering practices. Candidates should have a minimum of 10 years’ experience in software engineering, a proven record of AI/ML implementation, and strong leadership skills. The position requires collaboration in-office at least twice a week.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in software engineering.
• Strong background in scaling teams and platforms.
• Proven track record of implementing AI/ML tooling at scale.

Responsibilities

• Lead the transformation of the software engineering function.
• Set the vision for next-generation engineering.
• Drive the adoption of AI throughout software development.

Skills

AI/ML-enabled tooling

DevOps

SRE

Cloud-native design

Modern engineering practices

Collaboration and leadership

Tools

GitHub Copilot

CI/CD accelerators

Job description

Career Opportunities: Director of Next Generation Engineering (11020)

Requisition ID11020-Posted - Years of Experience (1) -Consulting- Where (1)

Sprint Reply is the ReplyGroup company specialisedin Intelligent Process Automation. Our mission is to create automation platforms capable of solving concrete business problems, supporting our customers in the transformation towardsthe IntelligentEnterprise and the adoption of a scalable and efficient Digital Workforce. In Sprint Reply we combine anexecution orientedengineering approach with strong experiences on 4 technology families, Robotic Process Automation, Computer Vision & ICR, AI & Machine Learning and Process Mining, dedicating constant attention to R&D on various Artificial Intelligence issues. www.sprint.reply.com

Role Overview:

As Director of Next Generation Engineering, you will be responsible for transforming and scaling our software engineering function into an AI-native, high-performance organisation. You will set the vision and establish standards, tools, and ways of working that embed AI across the entire software delivery lifecycle, ensuring engineering is faster, smarter, more secure, and impactful. This role requires both strategic leadership with senior stakeholders and hands‑on guidance for engineering teams, spanning everything from developer experience and DevOps to automation and testing, making intelligent, scalable engineering the standard.

Responsibilities:

• Lead the transformation and scaling of the software engineering function into an AI-native, high-performance organisation.
• Set the vision for next‑generation engineering aligned with business goals and the generative AI era.
• Define and implement standards, tools, and best practices across the engineering lifecycle.
• Drive the adoption of AI throughout software development to enhance speed, intelligence, security, and impact.
• Oversee the integration of AI into developer experience, DevOps pipelines, testing, and telemetry.
• Own the engineering playbook, ensuring consistent, scalable, and intelligent delivery practices.
• Provide strategic leadership, collaborating closely with the C‑suite and senior stakeholders.
• Offer hands‑on guidance and mentorship to engineering teams on platform design and automation.
• Evaluate and implement new technologies, code automation patterns, and proof‑of‑value solutions.
• Foster a culture of innovation, continuous improvement, and high performance within engineering.

About the Candidate:

• 10+ years’ experience in software engineering, with a strong background in scaling teams and platforms in dynamic environments.
• Proven track record of implementing AI/ML‑enabled tooling (e.g., GitHub Copilot, test generation, CI/CD accelerators) at scale.
• Deep expertise in modern engineering practices: DevOps, SRE, IaC, composable architecture, and cloud‑native design (Azure/AWS/GCP).
• Demonstrated ability to drive measurable improvements in engineering velocity, quality, and scalability.
• Experience building and scaling product‑led or consultancy‑based delivery models.
• Recognised thought leader in engineering strategy and next‑generation software practices.
• Visionary technologist with the ability to set direction and realise future engineering trends.
• Performance‑driven, passionate about delivering measurable outcomes and optimising delivery systems.
• Skilled at building reusable frameworks, tools, and systems that empower engineering teams.
• Strong integrator and empowering leader, fostering collaboration, unlocking team potential, and building robust technical communities.
• The role requires regular in‑office collaboration (minimum two days per week).

Reply is an Equal Opportunities Employer and committed to embracing diversity in the workplace. We provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type regardless of age, sexual orientation, gender, identity, pregnancy, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, disability, medical history, skincolour, marital status or parental status or any other characteristic protected by the Law.

Reply is committed to making sure that our selection methods are fair to everyone. To help you during the recruitment process, please let us know of any Reasonable Adjustments you may need.