At Gecko, our mission is clear: to revolutionise student engagement. We’re dedicated to creating innovative software that transforms how universities and colleges connect with their students. Every line of code and feature we develop is driven by our passion for making a real difference in the education sector.  But what truly sets us apart is our commitment to excellence, our vibrant culture, and our amazing team. 

We strive to be the world’s most successful student engagement platform, pushing boundaries with groundbreaking technology and exceptional customer service. Join us in building something extraordinary and shaping the future of student engagement.

Engineering Leadership That’s About Execution, Not Bureaucracy.

Are you anengineering leaderwho thrives in afast-paced, execution-driven environment? Do you cut through the noise, make high-impact decisions, and drive teams todeliver at speed? If so, we want to talk.

AtGecko, we’re revolutionising howhigher education institutions engage with students. Our SaaS platform is used by some of the world’s leading universities, and we need aHead of Engineeringwho can take ourengineering team to the next level.

The Role ✅

This is not a ‘sit-back-and-observe’ leadership role. As ourHead of Engineering, you will be hands-on -leading, coaching, making critical calls, and ensuring flawless execution. You’llown delivery, drive high performance, and optimise processesto keep our engineering team aligned and efficient.

You’ll manage a team of16 engineers, includingTech Leads, an Engineering Manager, and QA, while working cross-functionally with Product, Security, CS, and Sales. We need someone who canmake rapid, high-impact decisionsand create an engineering culture that’s focused onoutcomes, speed, and impact.

What You’ll Be Doing ⚙️

• Own Engineering Delivery: Ensure projects, features, and system improvements are deliveredon time and at a high standard.
• Lead & Scale the Team: Manage and coachTech Leads and an Engineering Manager, ensuringclarity, accountability, and professional growth.
• Optimise Engineering Processes: Refine sprints, stand-ups, and planning tocut inefficiencies, eliminate unnecessary meetings, and remove roadblocks. Drive a lean approach to engineering execution that maximises impact while minimising wasted effort.
• Drive Technical & AI Strategy: Oversee theharmonisation of our PHP-based stack, ensuring we’re AI-ready and scalable.
• Cut Through Noise & Focus on Impact: Makefast, pragmatic decisionsthat accelerate delivery.
• Ensure Security & Compliance: Work closely with our Security & Compliance Manager to embed best practices and industry standards (ISO, SOC2, etc.).
• Manage Stakeholders & Resources: Work withProduct, CS, Sales, and Securityto align priorities, while keeping AWS and software costs under control.

What We’re Looking For 

• Proven Engineering Leadership: Experience leading10+ engineersin a SaaS or scale-up environment.
• Delivery-Driven Mentality: A no-nonsense,get-it-doneapproach to execution, with a strong focus on measuring and improving performance to track velocity and continuously optimise output.
• Technical Background: Deep understanding of backend engineering,ideally PHP (Laravel, Lumen) and AWS infrastructure.
• AI & Machine Learning Exposure: Familiarity withAI-driven technologiesand their application within SaaS products.
• Startup DNA: Comfortable working inan agile, fast-moving environmentwhere priorities shift and execution speed is king.
• Process Optimisation Mindset: Experienceimproving engineering velocitywhile maintaining high-quality output.
• High-Impact Decision Maker: Able to makebold, pragmatic decisionsquickly.
• Security & Compliance Awareness: Understanding of best practices and industry standards (ISO, SOC2, GDPR, etc.).
• Excellent Communication & Stakeholder Management: Ability to engage with engineers, leadership, and customers to drive results.

What’s In It for You? 

• Work-Life Balance:33 days of holiday, optional compressed 4-day workweek, and flexible working arrangements.
• JFDI Attitude:We believe in getting things done within a short 34-hour workweek - work with a team that moves fast and delivers real impact.
• Remote Flexibility:Embrace remote working with a stellar home office setup, also including MacBook Pro and headphones of your choice.
• Workation:Take your work on the road and explore new horizons.
• Perks Galore:Private healthcare, pension, death in service, EAP, and employee discounts & benefits via Perkbox.
• Dynamic Virtual Environment:Work with some of the best in the biz in a dynamic, energetic, and super fun vibrant virtual office environment, where collaboration knows no bounds.
• You can find out more about working with ushere⬅️

Ready to Lead, Build, and Deliver? 

If you’re the kind ofHead of Engineeringwhomakes things happen, leads from the front, and thrives in a high-performance culture, then we want to hear from you. 

ClickApply Nowand let’s talk...

Using AI in Your Application

At Gecko, we encourage you to use AI tools to enhance your application, but we value authenticity and honesty. Use AI to refine your content, but do ensure it truly reflects your skills and experiences.

For more on responsible AI use in job applications, visit ourAI guidance page

We’re excited to see your authentic skills and experiences shine!

*Please note that we can only accept applications from UK-based applicants who already have a valid right to work in the UK.

**Agencies, we kindly ask that you read thisHiring Noticebefore getting in touch.