Head of Engineering, Crypto platform - Dubai

Ap Executive are working with a crypto start-up who are still in stealth mode to hire a Head of Engineering. The business has big ambitions with a solid business plan, and is lead by a very experienced professional who started his career in tier-1 global investment banks before moving into the start-up space.

This is a senior executive position and is responsible for all technology strategy, engineering, AI systems, blockchain infrastructure, security, and innovation.. This leader will architect, build, and oversee the next‑generation AI-driven digital asset trading platform, blockchain tokenisation systems, and institutional infrastructure powering the firm's operations.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

- Define and execute the firm's long-term technology strategy across AI, data, blockchain, trading systems, DevOps, and cybersecurity.

- Architect an AI-driven algorithmic trading platform, including signal generation, execution engines, reinforcement learning models, and backtesting systems.

- Lead development of blockchain infrastructure, including smart contracts, multi-chain interoperability, tokenisation lifecycle engines, and on-chain automation.

- Manage data engineering pipelines for market data, order books, on-chain analytics, and external API integrations (CEX/DEX/connectivity).

- Ensure system resilience, low-latency performance, and institutional-grade reliability.

- Oversee all cloud infrastructure operations, DevOps/MLOps, containerisation, security, monitoring, and scaling.

- Establish secure key-management protocols (HSM/MPC) for digital-asset custody and trading.

- Recruit, manage, and mentor a world-class engineering organisation across AI, quant development, blockchain, infra, and security.

- Lead technical due diligence, vendor evaluation, security audits, and regulatory technology compliance.

- Own the entire SDLC, from architectural design to testing, deployment, and optimisation.

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE

- 10-15+ years in software engineering with at least 5+ years in senior leadership roles in crypto, fintech, quant trading, AI, or high-frequency environments.

- Deep expertise in AI/ML, predictive modelling, reinforcement learning, and data science.

- Proven experience building enterprise-grade algorithmic trading systems.

- Strong blockchain engineering background: Solidity, Rust, smart contract architecture, cross-chain protocols.

- Experience with AWS/GCP/Azure, Kubernetes, Docker, Kafka, Redis, Terraform.

- Proven ability to scale high-performance engineering teams.

- Experience with cryptographic security, MPC, HSMs, custody systems, and secure infra design.

To apply for this position please send your CV to Don Fletcher via [email protected]

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