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Agent guide: [/agents.md](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/agents.md). --- # Interim Head of Engineering - AI Transformation (Hybrid) - **Company:** Data Science Talent Ltd - **Location:** Swindon, UK - **Experience:** Expert - **Contract:** Contract - **Skills:** .NET Framework, Artificial Intelligence, Microsoft Azure, Programming Tools, GitHub Copilot, Software Coding, Devsecops - **Published:** August 30, 2026 - **Apply:** https://www.collegerecruiter.com/job/2815529546-interim-head-of-engineering-ai-transformation-hybrid ## About the Role You are a hands-on engineering leader - technically credible enough to challenge your team's decisions and forward-thinking enough to know where engineering practice needs to go. Specifically: * Deep .NET and Azure background - the legacy estate is .NET and the infrastructure is Azure-first. You don't need to be writing code every day, but you need to be able to when it matters. * Proven experience leading engineering transformation in a regulated financial services environment - not just running a stable function, but changing one. * A genuine, practiced point of view on AI-assisted development - candidates who treat this as a checkbox will not thrive here. * Experience with DORA metrics and modern DevSecOps - ideally having implemented them, not just been aware of them. * The personal authority to assess capability fairly, have difficult conversations where needed, and build trust quickly with a team going through significant change. ## Description * Taking ownership of an engineering function of ~45 people and restructuring it into mission-aligned squads with clear backlogs, accountabilities, and outcomes - including legacy retirement, process automation, and new digital proposition delivery. * Driving a real step-change in engineering practice: introducing DORA metrics, embedding DevSecOps, integrating quality engineers into squads, and building a culture where engineers own quality end-to-end. * Leading the adoption of AI development tooling - including GitHub Copilot and agentic development tools - in a way that is thoughtful, secure, and sustainable in a regulated financial services environment. This is not a 'switch it on and see' brief; it needs someone with a clear point of view and the authority to execute it. * Working closely with a newly appointed Chief Architect to establish coherent engineering and architectural standards, and ensuring delivery teams are building to agreed principles from day one. * Assessing the capability of existing engineering leadership - Technical Leads and Engineering Managers - and making clear, fair judgements about where people can grow into the new model and where changes are needed. * Representing engineering at senior stakeholder level, with visibility up to Board level. Why This Role Is Interesting * Real authority - you'll have the mandate and the CTO's backing to make changes that stick, not just recommendations. * A clear brief - the CTO knows exactly what good looks like and has already secured Board alignment. You won't be fighting for direction. * High pace - The board wants outcomes, not process. The bureaucracy is low; the expectation of delivery is high. * Permanent conversion potential - this is a critical long-term leadership role. The right interim will be a serious candidate for the permanent position. ## Related Videos - [DevSecOps: Injecting Security into Mobile CI/CD Pipelines](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/273-devsecops-injecting-security-into-mobile-ci-cd-pipelines) - [This Is Not Your Father's .NET](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/967-this-is-not-your-father-s-net) - [AI Pair Programming with GitHub Copilot at SAP: Looking Back, Looking Forward!](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/1546-ai-pair-programming-with-github-copilot-at-sap-looking-back-looking-forward) - [The New Org Chart: When AI Joins the Workforce](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/100036-the-new-org-chart-when-ai-joins-the-workforce) - [AI Won't Fix Your Engineering Culture](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/100266-ai-won-t-fix-your-engineering-culture) - [DevSecOps: Security in DevOps](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/36-devsecops-security-in-devops) ## Related Articles - [Navigating the AI Shift](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/629-navigating-the-ai-shift) - [How to Become an AI Engineer](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/331-how-to-become-an-ai-engineer) - [What is Software Engineering in the Age of AI?](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/640-what-is-software-engineering-in-the-age-of-ai) - [Coffee with Developers - Maria Apazoglou - Making AI understandable for all in production](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/475-coffee-with-developers-maria-apazoglou-making-ai-understandable-for-all-in-production) - [Dev Digest 120 - Apple and peers](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/455-dev-digest-120-apple-and-peers) - [Dev Digest 137 - AI'm not sure about this](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/485-dev-digest-137-ai-m-not-sure-about-this)