Head of Digital Engineering

About The Business

Quilter plc is a leading wealth management business, dedicated to enabling brighter financial futures for every generation. Managing £141.2 billion in customer investments (as of December 2025), Quilter offers comprehensive financial advice, robust investment platforms, diverse multi-asset investment solutions, and expert discretionary fund management. The business operates across two key segments: Affluent and High Net Worth.

The Affluent segment encompasses Quilter Financial Planning, the Quilter Investment Platform, and Quilter Investors, which focuses on multi-asset investment solutions.

The High Net Worth segment features Quilter Cheviot, its discretionary fund management arm, and Quilter Cheviot Financial Planning, providing highly personalised services to private clients, charities, trustees, and professional partners across the UK, Ireland, and the Channel Islands.

Quilter is a dynamic organisation, continuously transforming and modernising to become even more customer-centric. With a foundation built on extraordinary expertise and a commitment to innovation, it's an ideal time to join if you are ambitious, bring new ideas, and want to challenge and evolve existing practices.

About The Role

Reporting into the Head of Software Engineering, the Head of Digital Engineering is a pivotal permanent role within Quilter's Group Technology Solutions department, level 5. This hybrid role, based in Southampton with home working flexibility, is responsible for managing the features, performance, security, and risk of Quilter's Digital Solutions and Applications, including web and mobile apps.

You will oversee both the 'Run' and 'Change' aspects of Digital solutions, ensuring they align with Quilter’s risk appetite and cost profile, and deliver fit-for-purpose functionality across the organisation. As part of a vertically integrated business, you will be deeply involved in Quilter-wide Business and IT transformation initiatives, collaborating closely with the Digital Proposition team to implement changes. Your contributions will be key to building out digital capabilities, driving growth and efficiency, and improving operating margins. A core focus will be on embedding solutions and propositions, and introducing modern technology and features to enhance customer financial security and support adviser businesses.

Your primary responsibility will be for Quilter’s Digital Solutions, encompassing its websites, mobile applications, and Extranet solutions.

Key Areas of Responsibility

• Lead the function to ensure all delivered solutions support Quilter's strategic goals and are well-designed, operationally resilient technology solutions.
• Set the overall direction for the organisation's Digital platform strategy, identifying opportunities for implementation and customisation.
• Lead and mentor development teams, focusing on skill development, performance, and continuous improvement through regular check-ins.
• Supervise the design, implementation, and deployment of Digital solutions, ensuring compliance with organisational requirements and software quality.
• Manage relationships with flex delivery partners, maintaining a sustainable plan for Technology Suppliers, including performance, spend, and status.
• Take responsibility for managing the budget for Digital development and implementation.
• Own product delivery using appropriate methodologies, managing the entire lifecycle from inception, analysis, design, development, and testing through to delivery and maintenance.
• Provide effective stakeholder communication and act as a key point of contact for Digital solutions delivery and operation.
• Ensure a single view of Technology risks for Digital Platform solutions and drive a prioritised risk mitigation process.
• Ensure team members are clear about business priorities and performance expectations.
• Drive the adoption of best practices in software development, including agile methodologies and DevOps.
• Stay updated with the latest trends and technologies in digital engineering and integrate them into the team's strategy.
• Foster a culture of continuous improvement and innovation within the digital engineering team.

About You

The ideal candidate will possess a strong technology background, with considerable experience managing development and technical teams and deliverables, including new and emerging technologies. A proven history across various IT roles, such as systems analysis, architecture, development, and project management, would be highly beneficial, along with an understanding of technology best practices and trends within a business context.

We are seeking someone with technical knowledge and experience in the Wealth Management industry, specifically with customer-facing digital solutions, who can demonstrate the following competencies:

• Extensive experience leading software development and digital engineering.
• Proficiency in programming languages such as C#, Next.js, and React.
• Knowledge of Azure cloud platforms and technologies.
• Experience with agile methodologies and DevOps practices.
• Excellent problem-solving and analytical skills.
• Understanding of cybersecurity principles and practices.
• Strong people management skills with the capability to lead, coach, mentor, and influence others.
• Proven experience leading and managing the delivery of software development projects in a structured environment throughout the entire lifecycle, including QA.
• In-depth knowledge of a variety of software development approaches and methodologies, including Agile and Waterfall.
• Experience in Solution Architecture, implementation-level software design, DevOps, and Release Management.
• Ability to influence and drive projects to meet key milestones and overcome challenges.
• Effective communication with stakeholders across the organisation and collaboration with other teams (IT, business units) to ensure successful implementation.
• Knowledge of Risk Management, Information Security, and Business Continuity Planning.

Additionally, the successful candidate will have the following personal qualities:

• Results-orientated with a strong delivery focus.
• Ability to build high-functioning teams.
• Ability to engage effectively with technical and non-technical teams at all levels.
• Good negotiation, facilitation, and consensus-building skills.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Strong listening and stakeholder engagement skills.

Inclusion & Diversity

Quilter values diversity and strives to promote inclusivity, ensuring equal opportunities for all applicants regardless of background, based solely on skills, qualifications, experience, and potential. They celebrate unique contributions and foster a respectful, nurturing environment where every colleague can thrive.

Values

• Do the right thing: Acting with integrity, committed to going above and beyond for clients and communities.
• Always curious: Continuously seeking new ideas and knowledge, encouraging experimentation to create brilliant solutions.
• Embrace challenge: Aiming high to transform potential into meaningful outcomes, with ambition and commitment to growth.
• Stronger together: Combining diverse talents for collective accomplishment, open communication, mutual support, and empowered decision-making.

Core Benefits

Quilter offers a comprehensive benefits package, including 182 hours (26 days) holiday, participation in the Quilter Incentive Scheme, and a non-contributory company pension scheme with options for personal contributions. Health benefits include single cover Private Medical Insurance (with options to extend to family), Life Assurance (4x salary), and Income Protection (75% of salary after 26 weeks absence). Jersey employees also receive a Healthcare Cash Plan. Additionally, UK employees can choose from a range of flexible benefits via salary deduction.

Key skills/competency

• Digital Solutions Management
• Software Development Leadership
• C#, Next.js, React
• Azure Cloud Platforms
• Agile & DevOps
• Solution Architecture
• Team & Budget Management
• Wealth Management Technology
• Cybersecurity Principles
• Stakeholder Engagement