Head of Engineering, Crypto platform

Head of Engineering, Crypto platform - Dubai

Join to apply for the Head of Engineering, Crypto platform - Dubai role at AP Executive - Global Executive Search Agency

Ap Executive are working with a crypto start-up who are still in stealth mode to hire a Head of Engineering. The business has big ambitions with a solid business plan, and is led by a very experienced professional who started his career in tier‑1 global investment banks before moving into the start‑up space.

This is a senior executive position and is responsible for all technology strategy, engineering, AI systems, blockchain infrastructure, security, and innovation. This leader will architect, build, and oversee the next‑generation AI‑driven digital asset trading platform, blockchain tokenisation systems, and institutional infrastructure powering the firm’s operations.

• Define and execute the firm’s long‑term technology strategy across AI, data, blockchain, trading systems, Dev Ops, and cybersecurity.
• Architect an AI‑driven algorithmic trading platform, including signal generation, execution engines, reinforcement learning models, and backtesting systems.
• Lead development of blockchain infrastructure, including smart contracts, multi‑chain interoperability, tokenisation lifecycle engines, and on‑chain automation.
• Manage data engineering pipelines for market data, order books, on‑chain analytics, and external API integrations (CEX/DEX/connectivity).
• Ensure system resilience, low‑latency performance, and institutional‑grade reliability.
• Oversee all cloud infrastructure operations, Dev Ops/MLOps, containerisation, security, monitoring, and scaling.
• Establish secure key‑management protocols (HSM/MPC) for digital‑asset custody and trading.
• Recruit, manage, and mentor a world‑class engineering organisation across AI, quant development, blockchain, infra, and security.
• Lead technical due diligence, vendor evaluation, security audits, and regulatory technology compliance.
• Own the entire SDLC, from architectural design to testing, deployment, and optimisation.

• 10‑15+ years in software engineering with at least 5+ years in senior leadership roles in crypto, fintech, quant trading, AI, or high‑frequency environments.
• Deep expertise in AI/ML, predictive modelling, reinforcement learning, and data science.
• Proven experience building enterprise‑grade algorithmic trading systems.
• Experience with AWS/GCP/Azure, Kubernetes, Docker, Kafka, Redis, Terraform.
• Proven ability to scale high‑performance engineering teams.
• Experience with cryptographic security, MPC, HSMs, custody systems, and secure infra design.

To apply for this position please send your CV to Don Fletcher via

AP Group is acting as an introductory service in relation to this vacancy. By submitting your CV for consideration, you are consenting to its retention for the purpose of securing you work. Any information you provide to AP Group and its subsidiaries will be subject to the protection of Data Protection Laws, our policy for which can be found at