Head of Engineering | S5 | Chief Digital Office (CDiO) | Milton Keynes | Internal Mobility

IT STARTS HERE

Santander (www.santander.com) is evolving from a global, high-impact brand into a technology-driven organisation, and our people are at the heart of this journey. Together, we are driving a customer-centric transformation that values bold thinking, innovation, and the courage to challenge what’s possible.

This is more than a strategic shift. It’s a chance for driven professionals to grow, learn, and make a real difference.

Our mission is to contribute to help more people and businesses prosper. We embrace a robust risk culture and all our professionals at all levels are expected to take a proactive and responsible approach toward risk management.

THE DIFFERENCE YOU MAKE

CDiO is looking for a Head of Engineering based out of UNITY PLACE – MILTON KEYNES. FTC - Position.

We are looking for a dedicated individual to join us as an S5 Head of Engineering within CDiO, Support the overall Customer Interactions domain, acting as deputy to the Technical Lead and providing technical leadership and coordination across the domain. The role will help ensure alignment across Customer Interactions platforms, initiatives and teams, maintaining a consistent view of technical priorities, dependencies, risks and delivery commitments.

Work closely with the Customer Interactions Technical Lead and Domain lead to support technical decision-making, architecture alignment and execution of the domain roadmap. Act as a point of coordination across the different capabilities within Customer Interactions, helping connect business priorities with technology delivery and ensuring that cross-platform dependencies are identified and managed effectively.

Provide technical oversight across Customer Interactions initiatives, supporting the evolution, simplification and resilience of the domain’s technology landscape. This includes helping drive alignment across customer communications, digital interaction channels, content and experience platforms, personalisation and associated integration capabilities.

Act as deputy for the Technical Lead when required, representing Customer Interactions in technical discussions, governance forums and cross-domain conversations. Help maintain continuity of technical leadership, facilitate decisions and ensure that agreed actions, risks and dependencies are followed through.

Support the definition and execution of the Customer Interactions technology roadmap, identifying opportunities for platform convergence, simplification, reuse and reduction of technical debt, while maintaining appropriate focus on resilience, security, regulatory requirements and operational stability.

We’re shaping the way we work through innovation, cutting-edge technology, collaboration and the freedom to explore new ideas. To succeed in this role, you will be responsible for:

• Drive cross-functional coordination to ensure successful delivery of domain objectives, effective risk management, and alignment with business priorities and technology strategy.
• Provide oversight and challenge across programmes, projects, and operational activities to ensure successful outcomes and continuous improvement.
• Owning end-to-end outcomes from prioritisation through to delivery, adoption, and value realisation.
• Maintain an end-to-end technical view of the Customer Interactions domain, rather than focusing on an individual platform or initiative.
• Support the evolution and delivery of the Customer Interactions technology roadmap.
• Drive simplification, convergence and reuse of capabilities where appropriate.
• Maintain focus on resilience, security, obsolescence, technical debt and operational stability.
• Connect technical decisions to customer experience and business outcomes.
• Represent Customer Interactions in relevant technical and governance forums.
• Provide continuity of technical leadership and act as an escalation and coordination point across initiatives.

Act as deputy to the Customer Interactions Technical Lead, providing cover and technical leadership when required.

WHAT YOU’LL BRING

Our people are our greatest strength. Every individual contributes unique perspectives that make us greater as a team and as an organisation. We’re enabling teams to go beyond by valuing who they are and empowering what they bring.

The following requirements represent the knowledge, skills, and abilities essential for success in this role. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Professional Experience

• Proven experience in delivery leadership across complex, multi-domain technology environments (Required).
• Great experience managing senior stakeholders and operating across organisational boundaries (Required).
• Demonstrated ability to drive end-to-end ownership from delivery through to value realisation (Required).
• Experience leading transformation, automation, or efficiency-driven initiatives (Required).
• Experience in large-scale transformation or cost optimisation programmes (Preferred).

Soft Skills

• Excellent communication and influencing skills (Required).

Hard skills

• Familiarity with Santander delivery frameworks, tools, and practises (Preferred).
• Understanding of modern engineering, automation, or AI-driven delivery environments (Preferred).

WE VALUE YOUR IMPACT

At Santander, your contribution matters. We recognise the difference you make every day, and we make sure you feel valued, supported and rewarded in return.
Here, recognition goes beyond pay. It’s about the pride you feel in your work, the impact you have on customers and communities, and the opportunities you have to grow and thrive — personally and professionally.

Salary Range:

£114,000.00 - £171,000.00 per annum (depending on experience)

This salary range represents the expected remuneration for the role. Annual salary is based on a standard 35-hour working week. Actual salary offered will depend on skills, experience, qualifications and location.

• Competitive rewards that reflect the real impact you make and the value you bring.
• Wellbeing that goes beyond work — we work with a range of wellbeing partners across our 4 pillars of wellbeing (physical, mental, social and financial) to give you access to a suite of apps, discounted gym and fitness access, weekly online classes, flexible healthcare and mental health support.
• Support for every life stage — from menopause and pregnancy to parenthood and beyond, with enhanced family leave, childcare options and tailored wellbeing support.
• Time to give back through volunteering opportunities that let you make a difference in the communities we serve.
• Global growth opportunities to shape your career, learn new skills and explore what’s possible across our international network.

Ready to be recognised? It starts with you.

LOCAL COMPLIANCE

At Santander, we’re proud to be an inclusive organisation that provides equal opportunities for everyone — regardless of age, gender, disability, civil status, race, religion or sexual orientation.

We’re committed to creating a recruitment experience that’s accessible, fair and welcoming for all candidates.

We want our people to thrive — at work and at home — while delivering the best outcomes for our customers and supporting each other to grow.

To make this possible, our roles are site-based with a hybrid working pattern, where colleagues are expected to attend the office at least 12 days per month (pro-rata for part-time roles).

When applying, please consider the travel distance, time and cost to your chosen office location(s). 

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR INTERNAL APPLICANTS:

SECONDMENT OR FTC ROLES:

• If you are currently employed by Santander UK plc on TSB Legacy terms and choose to apply for this Santander fixed term vacancy, please be aware that, if successful, you will move onto full Santander terms and conditions of employment and will no longer be part of the TSB Legacy population with effect from the start date of your new role.  Please also note that if the role you accept is a secondment role, this change will also apply to your substantive/home role (i.e. the role to which you would normally return at the end of your secondment): you will no longer be TSB Legacy for either your secondment role or your substantive/home role with effect from the start date of the secondment role.  If you have any questions about what this means, you should raise them during the application process or log a ticket with Ask HR.

• If you are currently employed by TSB and the role you accept is a secondment role (rather than a fixed term contract), this will not impact the terms and conditions of your substantive/home role (and you will remain employed by TSB on your current terms and conditions until your employment transfers to Santander under TUPE). 

WHAT TO DO NEXT

If this sounds like a role you are interested in, then please apply.

For further Guidance please visit Internal Mobility -  Candidate Guidance.

If you want to know more about the opportunity:

Please contact: Roberto Munoz De Miguel [email protected]

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