Chris Hill

Software Director | Software Engineering Management & Technical Programme Leadership | Scaling High-Performing Cloud Platform Teams

Greater Ipswich Area

About

Scaling software is not just a technical problem. It is a clarity, trust, execution, and leadership problem. My 20+ years in software have taken me from hands-on engineering to software engineering management, technical leadership, programme delivery, and Director of Software Engineering responsibilities across SaaS platforms, customer portals, APIs, mobile applications, charging management systems, near-real-time systems, and B2B enterprise platforms. I help companies turn ambitious software goals into focused, high-performing delivery. That often means bringing structure to fast-growing teams, improving engineering practices, aligning delivery with commercial priorities, and creating an environment where good people can do their best work. As a Software Director and Technical Programme Manager, I have scaled engineering functions from start-up size to 40+ people, leading teams across software engineering, QA, architecture, design, DevOps, infrastructure, and cloud platforms. I combine people-first leadership with strong technical judgement, delivery discipline, commercial awareness, and cross-functional stakeholder management. I have introduced Agile delivery, DevOps, CI/CD, infrastructure-as-code, engineering governance, software architecture, and secure-by-design practices to improve delivery pace, quality, resilience, scalability, and operational confidence. My recommendations consistently reflect the leadership style I aim to bring: calm under pressure, clear in direction, technically credible, trusted by teams, and focused on helping people deliver their best work. I am at my best where technology, people, and business meet: scaling teams, modernising delivery, mentoring leaders, and ensuring software creates measurable business impact. If you are hiring for senior software leadership, software engineering management, engineering transformation, or technical programme delivery, I would welcome a conversation.

Experience

  • Director of Software at EO Charging
    Dec 2019 - Aug 2025 · 5 yrs 9 mos

    • Scaled the software function from 5 to 45+ engineers by building 5 multidisciplinary squads across engineering, QA, architecture, design, DevOps, and infrastructure, creating the leadership and delivery capacity to support EO Charging’s growth into an enterprise-scale platform provider • Delivered Azure-native, microservices-based SaaS and B2B enterprise platforms, supporting 20k+ chargers across Europe and beyond, enabling enterprise customers including Amazon, Tesco, Go-Ahead, and others to operate at scale • Improved software delivery capability by introducing Agile, DevOps, CI/CD, infrastructure-as-code, secure-by-design practices, and engineering governance, enabling production releases multiple times per week while strengthening quality, resilience, and scalability • Strengthened platform reliability and enterprise readiness by aligning engineering strategy, architecture, operational ownership, security practices, and delivery governance, supporting larger customers, more complex deployments, and more demanding operational requirements • Built a culture of trust, accountability, and technical ownership by empowering engineering leaders, removing delivery blockers, and creating clarity around priorities, resulting in high team retention, strong morale, and consistent delivery under pressure • Strengthened cross-functional execution by aligning software engineering with product, operations, infrastructure, security, and senior stakeholders, improving decision-making and ensuring software delivery stayed connected to commercial priorities • Developed future engineering leaders by mentoring managers, technical leads, architects, and senior contributors, increasing leadership capacity across the software organisation

  • Itron, Inc. (Full-time · 17 yrs 4 mos)
    • Technical Program Manager
      Dec 2017 - Dec 2019 · 2 yrs 1 mo

      • Managed cross-functional, distributed software development teams across multiple regions, delivering enterprise-scale solutions for global utility clients • Collaborated with senior leadership to align software development with business strategy • Managed executive stakeholder relationships, aligning program outcomes with strategic and commercial objectives

    • R&D Manager
      2012 - Dec 2017 · 6 yrs

      • Led R&D team delivering software products for global utility markets. Delivered software solutions, supported mission-critical systems, and engaged directly with clients

    • Systems Performance Analysis Team Leader
      Mar 2010 - Nov 2012 · 2 yrs 9 mos

      • Led team of analysts optimizing enterprise-scale systems for scalability, security, and reliability. Developed performance analysis frameworks, tripled core platform scalability

  • Application Engineer at Catapult Technology Ltd
    Dec 2001 - Aug 2002 · 9 mos

    • Configured and deployed banking software solutions, working with clients to meet business requirements