Head Of Engineering

We’re looking for an executive engineering leader to set the direction for engineering excellence across Nationwide as we evolve our software delivery lifecycle (SDLC). 

Reporting directly to the Chief Technology Officer, this is a strategic engineering leadership role with impact across Nationwide. You’ll set the direction for how we simplify and modernise the tools, practices and architecture that underpin software delivery. By enabling teams to bring changes to market faster, more safely and at lower cost, you’ll help Nationwide respond more quickly to customer needs and deliver secure, resilient and high-quality digital services that are easier for our customers and members to use and rely on.

Working in close partnership with the Engineering Practice and engineering leaders across the organisation, you’ll provide thought leadership and drive improvements in how we build software, adopt artificial intelligence and modern engineering tools, and measure and improve engineering performance. 

This is primarily a strategy and thought-leadership role, shaping the direction, roadmaps and architecture of engineering across Nationwide. You’ll also remain close to the engineering, taking a practical, hands-on approach where it adds value through targeted proofs of concept and testing new capabilities in the tools already in our estate. This practical involvement will ensure our strategy and standards are grounded in real engineering insight and can be adopted effectively by engineering teams.

We are happy to consider flexible working approaches to help you perform at your best.

At Nationwide we offer hybrid working wherever possible. More rewarding relationships are supported through our hybrid approach, bringing colleagues together across our UK wide estate, whilst also supporting generous access to home working. We value our time in the office to solve problems, to learn, and to feel connected.

For this role, you'll be based at your nearest regional office or hub. We value time spent together to connect with colleagues for collaboration so there will be a requirement to attend our Swindon site sometimes once or twice per month for team and other collaboration events. If you are based at an office location, you'll be expected to meet our hybrid working requirement of at least two days a week, or 40% of your working time if part-time, in the office. If you’re based at our Glasgow office, this will apply from 1 April 2027 and ahead of that there will be a need to regularly connect with colleagues for collaboration events. If your application is successful, your hiring manager will provide further details on how this works.

If we receive a high volume of relevant applications, we may close the advert earlier than the advertised date, so please apply as soon as you can.

What you’ll be doing

You’ll collaborate extensively with our Chief Information Officers, engineering and testing leaders, and practice areas across the software delivery lifecycle to agree the tooling architecture, roadmap and measures that underpin engineering excellence.

You’ll shape how modern continuous integration, continuous delivery, automation and artificial intelligence capabilities are used to help teams deliver high-quality software faster and more safely for our customers and members. You’ll establish a consistent view of software delivery performance, using meaningful measures to identify improvement opportunities and demonstrate progress.

Although this role is primarily focused on strategy and thought leadership, you’ll remain close to the engineering. You’ll take a practical, hands-on approach where it adds value—using proofs of concept to test new capabilities in tools already in our estate, evaluating emerging products and techniques, and exploring developments such as future programming languages and AI-enabled engineering. This will ensure our direction is grounded in real engineering insight and focused on practical improvements to software delivery and wider business outcomes.

You’ll continually scan the market and engineering landscape, assess supplier and product roadmaps, and use those insights to simplify our tooling catalogue, optimise investment and ensure Nationwide is ready to adopt the capabilities that matter next.
 

About you

As a minimum requirement, you’ll have:

• Highly experienced technical engineering background, with hands-on experience in software development and coding, and a track record of leading teams that deliver complex production software
• Deep knowledge of modern software delivery, engineering tooling and SDLC practices, with practical AI literacy and experience shaping strategy, architecture and roadmaps at scale. You’ll understand the foundations needed to adopt AI safely, assess evidence rather than hype, and balance cost, risk and benefit
• Outstanding communication and storytelling skills, able to explain the what and why - not just the how - and connect engineering decisions to customer, colleague and business value
• Credibility with engineers and executives, with the ability to influence senior technical and non-technical stakeholders and make complex ideas clear
• A data-led approach to leadership: seeking different perspectives, weighing evidence and trade-offs, and forming a clear point of view that drives action
• A collaborative, low-ego leadership style, able to unite teams with different views and focus them on the best outcomes for customers and colleagues
• Creative, curious and able to think long term and enterprise-wide, while going deep into technical detail when needed

Our customer first behaviours put customers and members at the heart of how we work together. They are the set of behaviours that every colleague needs to display, in every role:

• Feel what customers feel - We step into our customers’ shoes, using their feedback and insights to empathise with them and to understand their needs, so that every decision we make starts and finishes with our customers in mind

• Say it straight - We are brave in speaking out and saying what we think – we’re honest and direct with good intent, openly sharing diverse perspectives to reach the best conclusions and using language everyone can understand

• Push for better - We don’t settle for mediocrity, we challenge the status quo, taking responsibility for continuous improvement and personal development

• Get it done - We prioritise what will have the greatest impact, we are decisive, and we take accountability for delivering brilliant customer outcomes

You can strengthen your application by showing how our customer first behaviours resonate with you, and where you may have already demonstrated these.
 

The extras you’ll get

There are all sorts of employee benefits available at Nationwide, including:

• 30 days holiday, pro rata

• Private medical insurance

• A highly competitive pension to help you build a strong foundation for retirement

• Access to an annual performance-related bonus

• Training and development to help you progress your career

• A great selection of additional benefits through our salary sacrifice scheme

• Life assurance to provide peace of mind for you and your loved ones in the event of your death

• Wellhub – access to a range of free and paid options for health and wellness

• Up to 2 days of paid volunteering a year

Banking – but fairer, more rewarding, and for the good of society

We forge our own path at Nationwide.

As a mutual, we’re owned by our members - those customers who bank, save or have a mortgage with us. We challenge the financial sector status quo. We don’t see customers as the engine of our own profit. We share our profits with them and put their needs first. Always there when they need us. Supporting them and their lives.

If you’re inspired by fairer finances, passionate about making a meaningful impact, and truly care about our customers, you’re one of us.

At Nationwide, you are challenged to grow and rewarded for doing so. Valued. Recognised. Inspired to be your best. As a community, we want our working lives to count. As a team, we celebrate what we achieve. As a standard-setter, we work for the good of customers, communities, and broader society.

We are purpose-driven. Uncompromisingly customer. Unstoppably Nationwide.

What to do next

If this role is for you, please click the ‘Apply Now’ button. You’ll need to attach your up-to-date CV and answer a few quick questions for us. 

We respond to everyone, so we will be in contact shortly after the closing date to let you know the outcome of your application. 

Keeping your data and personal information confidential is important to us. To find out more about how we use and process your data, please read our Privacy policy.

If you want to find out more about using AI in our recruitment process, please read more here.

Disability Confident 

We’re not just guided by data, we’re driven by the real experiences of our people. We’re a Disability Confident Level 3 Leader, the highest level. 

That’s why we’re constantly evolving our policies and practices to make sure everyone feels genuinely supported, valued, and empowered to champion inclusion. Whatever your needs, we’re here to support you. If you need any additional support throughout your application journey, email our team at Recruitment Support. 

Apply safely with Nationwide

Recruitment scams can look convincing, so take a moment to check the role is listed on our official careers site and read our guidance on Don’t be conned by a job scam.

Please note that should you be successful in securing this role, the job title on our internal systems will be Engineer – E5.