Head of Software Engineering

Join to apply for the Head of Software Engineering role at Travel ChapterAre you the right candidate for this opportunity Make sure to read the full description below.Location: Hybrid (Minimum 2 days/week in Bideford HQ)Hours: Full-time, Monday to Friday (9am–5.30pm)OverviewLead the Next Chapter in UK Travel Tech. We’re Travel Chapter – the holiday home people – and we’re on a mission to make every UK break unforgettable. From Cornwall cottages to coastal escapes in the Scottish Highlands, our platform connects thousands of travellers with the perfect place to stay. As a certified B Corp, we’re proud to meet high standards of social and environmental impact. We’re looking for a Head of Software Engineering to shape the future of our tech and lead a growing team of high-performing engineers.We’ve built a collaborative, curious, and caring culture rooted in the South West. We’ve grown into a UK market leader while keeping a start-up spirit in how we think, move, and evolve.What You’ll Be DoingDefining and executing the engineering strategy aligned with business goalsDriving best practices in DevOps, CI/CD, automated testing, and cloud architectureLeading and mentoring Principal Engineers, Technical Leads, and ICsPartnering with Product, UX, and Delivery teams to ship meaningful, scalable productsAdvocating for secure, stable, and scalable systems — built for real-world trafficChampioning a high-performance culture with space for growth, autonomy, and learningDriving innovation through AI tooling, automation, and emerging techMaintaining documentation and cross-functional clarity with Platform EngineeringOwning agile practices and ensuring effective sprint planning and delivery ritualsWhat we’re looking forWe know the perfect candidate doesn’t exist — if you meet most of the below, we’d love to hear from you.Tech & ArchitectureDeep knowledge of distributed systems, microservices, and cloud-native architecturesExperience with CI/CD pipelines, containerisation (Docker, Kubernetes), and AWS/Azure/GCPBackground in high-traffic platforms — ideally e-commerce or bookingsFamiliarity with payment systems, PCI compliance, and search/recommendation toolingIndustry ContextBonus if you’ve worked in travel tech, PMS, or with seasonal productsLeadership & CultureExperience leading senior engineers and building technical teamsStrong belief in collaboration, mentoring, and autonomySkilled at balancing speed with long-term platform stabilityDelivery MindsetExpertise in Agile, Lean, and DevOps ways of workingExcellent communicator across technical and non-technical audiencesWhat’s in it for you?We believe people do their best work when they feel supported, connected, and inspired — and that’s why we’ve built a culture where work-life balance isn’t just a buzzword. At Travel Chapter, you’ll enjoy:25 days’ holiday + bank holidays + your birthday off£500 holiday discount to spend on your own getawayVolunteer day to give back to a cause you care aboutFamily and friends discount schemeHybrid working with time to collaborate in our vibrant Bideford HQ (beach walks included)Life assurance for peace of mindCommunity groups like the Parenting Circle, Events Team, and Sports ClubWellbeing & interest clubs — from sustainability to nutrition and pet-loversFun social calendar including legendary Christmas parties and surprise perksAnd, of course, the opportunity to work for a proud B Corp, where impact matters just as much as outputWhy Travel Chapter?We’re proudly rooted in the South West, but our ambitions reach far and wide. We’re growing, we’re investing in our people, and we’re building tech that makes booking brilliant holidays easier, faster, and more human. If you want to work somewhere friendly and fair, where people back each other and believe in what they do — this could be the place for you. Diversity and inclusion matter to us. If you need adjustments to the application or interview process, just let us know — we’re happy to help. xpwpeyx Seniority levelDirectorEmployment typeFull-timeJob functionEngineering and Information TechnologyIndustries: Travel ArrangementsReferrals increase your chances of interviewing at Travel Chapter by 2xGet notified about new Head of Software Engineering jobs in Bideford, England, United Kingdom.Bradford, England, United Kingdom — 1 week agoOkehampton, England, United Kingdom — 2 days agoWe’re unlocking community knowledge in a new way. Experts add insights directly into each article, started with the help of AI.