Director of Delivery – Software Engineering (m/f/d)
Cologne area (hybrid)
We are a fast-growing, product-led fintech scale-up building modern payment infrastructure. As we continue to evolve, we are looking for a Director of Delivery to lead a core software engineering team and play a key role in shaping the future of our technology organization.
The Role
This is a hands-on leadership position focused on driving delivery, raising engineering standards, and working closely with developers on a day-to-day basis.
You will lead a team of ~15 engineers, ensuring high-quality delivery while staying close to the codebase, architecture, and technical decisions. You will act as a bridge between leadership and engineering, helping shape how the company builds and scales its product moving forward.
What You’ll Do
* Lead and develop a team of software engineers (backend-focused)
* Drive delivery, execution, and engineering quality across the team
* Work closely with developers through code reviews and technical discussions
* Stay close to the codebase and actively engage with the tech stack (Node.js environment)
* Guide architectural decisions and challenge technical approaches where needed
* Build strong relationships across teams and with senior leadership
* Help shape a modern, high-performance engineering culture
* Take ownership of outcomes and drive continuous improvement
What We’re Looking For
Must-Have
* Strong experience leading software engineering teams (ideally 10+ engineers)
* Recent, hands-on experience with JavaScript / Node.js in production environments
* Ability to work closely with developers (code reviews, technical discussions, guidance)
* Background in software development (not purely DevOps / infrastructure)
* Strong ownership mindset with the ability to drive change directly
* Experience in dynamic environments (scale-up, SaaS, or agency/consulting delivery)
* Willingness to be on-site regularly in Cologne (hybrid setup)
Nice to Have
* Experience in fintech or other regulated environments
* Background in SaaS or product-driven companies
* Scale-up experience
* German language skills
What Sets You Apart
* You lead by example, not just through others
* You are close to the technology, not removed from it
* You challenge ideas constructively and bring your own perspective
* You thrive in fast-moving, evolving environments
* You focus on delivery, impact, and accountability
This role is ideal for someone who wants to combine technical depth, people leadership, and real impact, while helping shape the future direction of a growing engineering organization.