Head of Engineering
foundational
Head of Engineering
About this role
Head of Software Engineering, ELS
Job Family: Technology
Job Category: Engineering
Career Architecture Role: Software Engineer
Role Summary
Leads a multidisciplinary Innovation Engineering capability, accountable for translating emerging technologies into scalable, enterprise-ready products and platforms. Sets strategic direction, prioritization, and execution standards across innovation squads, ensuring alignment with business objectives, product strategy, and enterprise architecture.
Drives technical excellence, accelerates experimentation-to-production cycles, and builds organizational capability across engineering, data science, and AI—delivering measurable commercial and operational impact.
Key Responsibilities
1. Strategic & Functional Leadership
Define and execute the innovation engineering strategy, aligning with ELS business priorities, product roadmaps, and enterprise technology standards
Set multi-quarter priorities, investment focus, and capacity planning across innovation initiatives
Act as a senior technical authority across innovation domains (AI, platforms, emerging tech), influencing enterprise-wide direction
2. Innovation Delivery & Execution
Lead delivery of complex, cross-functional innovation programmes, from concept through to scaled deployment
Drive experimentation, prototyping, and MVP development, accelerating time-to-value and adoption
Ensure solutions are scalable, secure, and production-grade, aligned with enterprise architecture and governance
3. Team Leadership & Capability Building
Build, lead, and develop a high-performing, cross-functional team (engineering, data science, AI, and specialists)
Foster a culture of collaboration, learning, and continuous improvement, strengthening innovation capability across squads
Coach and develop senior technical leaders, creating succession pipelines and future capability depth
4. Technical Excellence & Standards
Establish and uphold engineering best practices, including architecture, DevOps, CI/CD, and platform reliability
Drive improvements in release velocity, quality, and defect reduction through modern engineering practices
Ensure alignment with security, data governance, and compliance standards
5. Cross-Functional Influence & Stakeholder Alignment
Partner closely with Product, Platform, and Business leadership to prioritise and deliver high-impact innovation outcomes
Influence decision-making at senior levels, translating technical possibilities into commercial value propositions
Represent Innovation Engineering in executive and cross-functional forums
Skills & Competencies
Leadership & Collaboration
Collaboration (Advanced): Influences and aligns multiple senior stakeholders across Engineering, Product, and Business
People Leadership (Advanced): Builds inclusive, high-performing teams and develops future leaders
Technical Expertise
Software Design & Architecture (Advanced)
Cloud Computing, API & Platform Engineering (Advanced)
Deep understanding of scalable, distributed systems and enterprise integration
Innovation & Problem Solving
Innovation & Strategic Thinking (Advanced): Applies emerging technologies (AI, automation, data) to business problems
Problem Solving (Advanced): Navigates ambiguity and drives breakthrough solutions
Risk, Security & Compliance
Data Security & Information Security (Advanced)
Strong understanding of enterprise governance and regulatory frameworks
Future-Focused Capabilities
Artificial Intelligence & AI Agents (Advanced)
Learning Agility & Adaptability (Advanced): Continuously evolves capability in line with emerging technologies
Qualifications & Experience
Significant experience leading software engineering and innovation teams in complex enterprise environments
Proven track record delivering large-scale, cross-functional technical programmes
Deep expertise in software architecture, cloud-native systems, and emerging technologies (AI/ML platforms)
Experience influencing and operating at senior leadership / executive level
Demonstrated ability to build and scale multidisciplinary technical teams globally
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the salary disclosed for the Head of Engineering position at Pearson?
The salary for this Head of Engineering role at Pearson is not publicly listed. Click "Apply Now" to learn more about the compensation package on their official careers page.
Where is the Head of Engineering position at Pearson located?
This Head of Engineering role at Pearson is based in United Kingdom. The position is listed as on-site or hybrid. Check the full job description or apply directly to confirm the work arrangement.
Is the Head of Engineering role at Pearson full-time or part-time?
This is listed as a Full time position. It is posted as a Head of Engineering role at Pearson.
How do I apply for the Head of Engineering position at Pearson?
Click the "Apply Now" button on this page. You will be redirected to Pearson's official application portal hosted on oraclecloud where you can submit your application directly.
When was the Head of Engineering job at Pearson posted?
This Head of Engineering position at Pearson was posted on Jun 15, 2026. Apply as soon as possible — early applications are often reviewed first.
Head of Engineering
Pearson
You'll be redirected to Pearson's official application page on oraclecloud.