Specialism 09 · Engineering Leadership
Engineering leaders for iGaming.
CTOs, VPs of Engineering and Heads of Engineering for operators, studios and suppliers. Senior, often confidential search work that we handle personally across Europe.
Engineering leadership in iGaming
The hire that sets the tempo.
Engineering leadership in iGaming is different from most sectors. The right leader has to ship consistently in a regulated real-money environment, scale a team through growth or restructuring, keep the platform standing under sports peaks, and stay credible with both the board and the engineers doing the work. Rare mix of skills, and the search is rarely about who is actively looking.
The roles vary in scope. Engineering managers own a squad, senior engineering managers own several. Heads of Engineering own a function or business area. VPs of Engineering own the wider engineering org. CTOs sit at the executive table, owning technology strategy end to end. In smaller operators these titles compress, in larger groups they are distinct. Getting the right level for the actual role is half the work of a good search.
What we look for at every level is the same short list of things that actually predict success: technical credibility, ability to build and retain a team, delivery track record at meaningful scale, comfort with regulator and board conversations, and the judgement to know what to change fast and what to leave alone. We run these searches personally and confidentially, and we protect both sides of the process throughout.
The engineering leadership market in iGaming is smaller than most executives realise. The pool of leaders who have run real platforms at scale in a regulated real-money environment is a few hundred people across Europe, most of whom are known to us. Compensation is highly individual, with base, bonus, equity and retention structures that vary considerably between operators, groups and suppliers. We run these searches confidentially, we map the target list carefully, and we represent both the role and the candidate fully throughout the process. This is high-stakes work handled personally.
Who we place
The engineering leadership roles we recruit.
Senior and executive search across operators, studios and suppliers.
What we assess
Leadership, not just a CV.
For engineering leadership we assess the things that actually predict success. Team built, strategy set, delivery record, credibility with the board and with the engineers.
Why a specialist
Senior engineering hires are won quietly.
We assess real leadership
We look past the title to the team built, the platform shipped and the impact delivered. Your shortlist reflects substance, not seniority on paper.
We know the iGaming context
Regulated, real-money, 24/7. We can tell who will thrive in it and who only looks good elsewhere.
Discreet and confidential
Leaders rarely apply. We approach them personally and protect both sides throughout a sensitive process.
A real network at the top
Genuine relationships with engineering leaders across Malta, Gibraltar, Cyprus, the UK and remote Europe.
FAQ
Engineering leadership hiring, answered.
What is the difference between a CTO, VP Engineering and Head of Engineering?
They overlap by operator. Broadly, a CTO sits at the executive table and owns technology strategy, a VP Engineering owns the engineering org, and a Head of Engineering leads a specific function. In smaller operators one person often carries all three.
Are your leadership searches confidential?
Yes. We run senior searches discreetly and protect both the hiring company and the candidate throughout. We can also handle sensitive replacements quietly.
Do you place remote engineering leaders?
Yes. We run searches across Malta, Gibraltar, Cyprus and the UK, and for fully remote leadership roles open across Europe.
How quickly can I have a shortlist?
Typically ten to twenty working days for engineering leadership roles, depending on seniority and confidentiality requirements.
What salary ranges should we expect for engineering leadership roles?
Engineering leadership compensation is highly individual and often confidential. Engineering managers in Malta typically sit €90-120k, Heads of Engineering €120-170k, VPs of Engineering €150-220k, CTOs from €180k and up depending on scope, equity and group size. UK and fully remote European roles carry different bands. We share current market data on the specific role during the intake conversation.
Hiring an engineering leader?
Talk to us in confidence about the search, and we'll find the right person to lead it. Send over the job spec or a rough brief, and within one working day we'll come back with a view on the current market, realistic salary bands, likely time to shortlist, and whether we already have candidates worth introducing. If you're not quite ready to run a full search, we can also help you scope the role first.