Chief Software Engineer / Tech Lead

By Alyson Emmerson | February 12, 2026 | Comments Off on Chief Software Engineer / Tech Lead
  • Full Time
  • UK Remote
  • Highly competitive USD / Year
  • Salary: Highly competitive

Chief Software Engineer / Tech Lead – FinTech Startup – London / UK Remote – Highly Competitive Salary

We are on the hunt for a highly skilled, forward-thinking Chief Software Engineer or Tech Lead to join the founding team of a new FinTech startup, which is affiliated to an existing and incredibly successful organisation / brand.

This is a greenfield opportunity, with the venture destined to be a market leader, so we’re looking for someone who has the capabilities to define the technical direction, infrastructure and culture from the get-go. 

Joining as the Founding Chief Software Engineer / CTO / Tech Lead, you will be responsible for architecting and building the full FinTech platform from scratch, leading the technical product decisions alongside the Founder, designing secure, scalable infrastructure fit for SCA / ESCA / MiFID-regulated environments and building and managing the first engineering team. 

Suitable candidates will be hands-on leaders, experienced in building from the ground up in a rapid-growth finance startup environment. Working closely with the founders, you will actively turn their bold and exciting ideas into scalable, secure and elegant financial technology.

What will make our client happy? 

Motivation, passion, drive and hunger for success combined with career-defining, technical prowess. 

 

Key responsibilities as the Chief Software Engineer: 

  • Leading the scoping and planning of technical implementation details for the platform
  • Defining backend architecture 
  • Building secure APIs
  • Researching, evaluating and recommending third-party integrations / vendors, APIs and tech partners
  • Making key decisions on tech stack
  • Designing and implementing security, scalability and infrastructure strategies suitable for finance-grade systems
  • Owning DevOps, cloud architecture, data security and system resilience 
  • Establishing initial architecture and overseeing early-stage build out, being hands-on when required 
  • Solid understanding of P2P / Crowdfunding 
  • Staying ahead of emerging AI tools and methodologies, leveraging them responsibly to accelerate delivery and innovation
  • Working closely with founders / leadership team to align technology with the business strategy


What we’re looking for: 

  • Highly experienced senior tech engineer / leader with a strong track record of architecting, building and scaling complex fintech / payments / regulated platforms
  • Demonstrable experience building from zero to scale
  • Ability to work both strategically and operationally with demonstrable ability to design long-term technology whilst directly contributing to early builds
  • Deep understanding of modern development frameworks, cloud infrastructure and security best practices
  • Comfortable in AWS or similar cloud environments
  • Experienced in integrating KYC / AML providers, payment rails and banking APIs
  • Passion for creating technology that transforms financial experiences
  • Entrepreneurial energy and mindset 
  • Passion, drive and enthusiasm to build successful platforms


Interested in finding out more?

If this exciting new role sounds of interest and you have demonstrable experience in similar roles, we’d love to hear from you! Please submit your CV as soon as possible, quoting ‘AE – CTO – FinTech’

 

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Alyson Emmerson

Alyson is a highly effective recruitment consultant recognised for combining traditional, relationship-led recruitment with modern headhunting and search methodologies. This blended approach ensures a thorough, targeted process that leaves no stone unturned in identifying and securing high-quality talent for an international client base. Alyson works closely with established organisations, fast-growing startups, international scaleups, technology companies and digital marketing agencies, supporting organisations at critical stages of growth. Her honest, no-nonsense approach is frequently cited by clients as a refreshing alternative to transactional recruitment, enabling clear decision-making and efficient outcomes. Known for her consultative mindset, Alyson partners with clients to add genuine value through a candid, professional and responsive recruitment service. Her ability to quickly understand commercial objectives, role requirements and organisational culture has allowed her to build strong, trusted relationships and rapidly establish credibility with new clients. As a member of IPTER (International Partner Team of Executive Recruiters), Alyson has access to a global network of specialist recruitment partners, enabling her to deliver international search solutions and secure talent across multiple markets with confidence and discretion.