Engineering Director | hybrid + remote | Remote

Engineering Director | UK (hybrid + remote) | Multiple roles Office:
United Kingdom Remote: UK Apply for this role

About Cleo

At Cleo, we're not just building another fintech app. We're embarking on a mission to fundamentally change humanity's relationship with money. Imagine a world where everyone, regardless of background or income, has access to a hyper-intelligent financial advisor in their pocket. That's the future we're creating.

Cleo is a rare success story: a profitable, fast-growing unicorn with over $300 million in ARR and growing over 2x year-over-year. This isn't just a job; it's a chance to join a team of brilliant, driven individuals who are passionate about making a real difference. We have an exceptionally high bar for talent, seeking individuals who are not only at the top of their field but also embody our culture of collaboration and positive impact.

If you’re driven by complex challenges that push your expertise, the chance to shape something truly transformative, and the potential to share in Cleo’s success as we scale, while growing alongside a company that’s scaling fast, this might be your perfect fit.

Follow us on Linked In to keep up to date with new product features and insights from the team.

Cleo is building something genuinely different -- a financial best friend that millions of people actually want to talk to. And we're looking for an Engineering Director who wants to help shape how we get there.

This is a pillar‑level leadership role with real scope. You'll own people, delivery, and strategy across an entire pillar -- building and leading a team of Engineering Managers, Tech Lead Managers, Tech Leads, and Staff Engineers. You won't just be executing someone else's plan; you'll be setting the vision, designing the org, and making the calls that determine how your pillar grows and performs.

You’ll be responsible for hiring the right leaders and developing them into the kind of engineering bench that sustains Cleo at scale -- not just for the next term, but for the next two years and beyond. This is a role where you'll have the autonomy to build the team and structure you believe in.

Delivery matters too. You'll work hand‑in‑hand with Product Directors and Staff Engineers to shape a compelling strategy for your pillar, own OKR delivery, and make sure your teams are focused on the highest‑impact work -- not just staying busy.

Beyond your pillar, you'll have a real seat at the table. You'll contribute to how Engineering at Cleo operates as a whole, helping us build the technical foundations and culture to scale. If you care about engineering culture, craft, and doing things the right way, there's genuine room to lead on that here.

Want to hear directly from the team? Check out this blog post from a few of our engineering managers.

We're looking for an Engineering Director who's energised by building -- not just maintaining. Someone who wants to make their mark on both the people and the product. On top of that:

• You lead people first, technology second. You know that your job is to create the environment where great engineers do their best work -- and you've got the track record to prove it. You balance pace with sustainability, and you hold yourself to the same standard you set for your teams.
• You've been a hands‑on engineer before, and it shows. You earn credibility with your Tech Leads and Staff Engineers because you understand the work -- even if you're now leading through others rather than doing it yourself.
• You communicate with clarity and confidence at every level. Whether you're in the weeds with an EM or in a room with execs, you can make your point, push back when needed, and bring people with you.
• You've managed managers before and you know what it takes to build a great leadership team -- not just hire one. You invest in your people's growth, hold a high bar on performance, and you're not afraid of the hard stuff: the honest feedback conversations, managing underperformance head‑on, and making tough calls when the situation demands it. You don't let things fester.
  
  You think seriously about succession and you leave teams stronger…