Lead Software Engineer

Lead Software Engineer

Full-Time 60000 - 80000 £ / year (est.) Home office (partial)

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead the design and delivery of innovative software solutions for a world-class retail engineering function.
  • Company: Join Kingfisher, a diverse team dedicated to creating better homes and lives for everyone.
  • Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, flexible working, and opportunities for personal and professional growth.
  • Other info: Collaborative hybrid work model with a focus on continuous learning and development.
  • Why this job: Make a real impact in retail technology while driving innovation and solving complex challenges.
  • Qualifications: Strong software engineering skills and proven technical leadership experience required.

The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.

We’re Kingfisher, a team made up of over 74,000 passionate people who bring Kingfisher - and all our other brands: B&Q, Screwfix, Brico Depot, Castorama and Koctas to life. Guided by our purpose Better Homes. Better Lives. For Everyone. We believe a better world starts with better homes, and we work every day to make that a reality. Join us and help shape the future of home improvement.

Join us at a pivotal stage of transformation as we build a world-class retail engineering function. We're looking for an experienced Lead Software Engineer with deep Fluent OMS expertise to design and optimise complex workflows, rulesets, event flows, and integrations that power scalable and reliable Order Management solutions. In this role, you'll take ownership of Low-Level Design (LLD), influence High-Level Design (HLD), and provide technical leadership across your squad. As a hands‑on engineering leader, you'll navigate complexity, drive innovation, and deliver high‑impact outcomes. If you're passionate about solving challenging problems, building exceptional software, and helping shape the future of retail technology, we'd love to hear from you. This is an opportunity to make a real impact in a fast‑moving, growth‑focused environment. Please note that this role is based in London (Paddington) with an expectation of four days per month in the office.

  • Technical Leadership: Provide technical direction, coaching, and mentorship to engineers, influencing squad objectives and long‑term engineering goals.
  • Solution Delivery: Lead the design and delivery of complex, scalable solutions, partnering with Engineering Leads, Principal Engineers, and Architects to develop effective low‑level designs.
  • Engineering Excellence: Champion engineering best practices, quality standards, and continuous improvement initiatives that drive measurable impact.
  • Talent Development: Support recruitment, onboarding, and ongoing development activities, helping to build and retain high‑performing engineering teams.
  • Knowledge Sharing: Foster a culture of collaboration through effective documentation, knowledge sharing, and technical leadership across the wider engineering community.
  • Stakeholder Engagement: Build strong relationships across engineering and business teams, ensuring alignment and successful delivery of strategic objectives.
  • Continuous Learning: Take ownership of personal development while promoting a culture of learning, innovation, and adoption of emerging technologies.
  • Innovation & Problem Solving: Drive experimentation and creative thinking to solve complex technical challenges and deliver innovative solutions.

Strong software engineering expertise with the ability to design robust solutions and write high‑quality code across multiple technologies. Proven technical leadership skills, inspiring and motivating engineers to deliver impactful outcomes. Deep understanding of software engineering, architecture, and quality practices, with the ability to apply technical concepts to business needs. Excellent problem‑solving and decision‑making skills, leading the delivery of complex technical solutions. Strong communication and stakeholder management skills, influencing technical discussions and driving alignment. Proactive, self‑driven mindset with experience defining non‑functional requirements and fostering innovation and continuous improvement.

We believe in flexibility and balance. Our hybrid model blends home working for focus with time spent connecting and collaborating - whether in our offices or at off‑site locations. On average within our Engineering team - 20% of your time involves in‑person collaboration.

We offer an inclusive environment where your potential is limited only by your imagination. We encourage new ideas, support experimentation, and strive to create a workplace where everyone can be their best self. We also offer a competitive benefits package and plenty of opportunities to stretch and grow your career.

Our customers come from all walks of life - and so do we. We’re committed to ensuring all colleagues, future colleagues, and applicants are treated equally, regardless of age, gender, marital or civil partnership status, ethnicity, culture, religion, belief, political opinion, disability, gender identity, gender expression, or sexual orientation.

Interested? Great, apply now and help us to Power the Possible.

Lead Software Engineer employer: 慨正橡扯

At 慨正橡扯, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer that champions innovation and collaboration in the field of Behavioral Economics and Retirement Research. Our hybrid working model not only offers flexibility but also nurtures a vibrant work culture where employees are encouraged to grow and develop their skills through meaningful projects and leadership opportunities. Join us in Europe, where your expertise will directly contribute to enhancing investor outcomes and shaping impactful business strategies.

Contact Details:

慨正橡扯 Recruitment Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Lead Software Engineer

Join Local Tech Meetups

Get out there and mingle with fellow developers by joining local tech meetups. It’s a fantastic way to meet people who might be working at 慨正橡扯 or know someone who does. Plus, you can pick up some trendy tech skills and trends while you're at it!

Contribute to Open Source Projects

Show off your coding chops by jumping into open-source projects. Not only does this give you practical experience, but it also gets you noticed in the dev community. You'll create a killer portfolio that speaks volumes about your skills to 慨正橡扯.

Tap into Online Developer Communities

Don’t underestimate the power of online developer communities like GitHub, Stack Overflow, and even Reddit. Participate in discussions, share your projects, and build your visibility. We can often find opportunities through these channels that can lead to a full-time gig at companies like 慨正橡扯.

Explore Job Boards Specifically for Tech Roles

Keep your eyes peeled on job boards that focus on tech roles. Sites like TechCareers or Stack Overflow Jobs can often have listings for companies like 慨正橡扯 that might not show up on broader job sites. Make it a habit to check these regularly, and don’t hesitate to apply directly through our website!

We think you need these skills to ace Lead Software Engineer

Fluent OMS expertise
Low-Level Design (LLD)
High-Level Design (HLD)
Technical Leadership
Solution Delivery
Engineering Best Practices
Talent Development

Some tips for your application 🫡

Show off your coding skills:When applying for a software engineering role, it's super important to showcase your coding skills. Make sure your CV includes your tech stack, any relevant programming languages you’re comfortable with, and examples of projects you've worked on. If you have a GitHub profile, link it up! We love to see code in action.

Tailor your portfolio:For a full-time role, we’d expect to see some solid examples of your work in your portfolio. Make sure to include at least two or three projects that highlight your problem-solving skills and your ability to work with different technologies. Focus on the projects that are most relevant to the position at 慨正橡扯.

Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at 慨正橡扯 and how your skills align with the role. Show us your passion for software development. We dig enthusiastic candidates who understand the value of collaboration and continuous learning!

Be clear and concise:When it comes to writing your CV and cover letter, clarity is key. Avoid jargon that could confuse us and stick to simple, direct language. Highlight your achievements with quantifiable results where possible, and keep everything easy to read. A well-organised application goes a long way!

How to prepare for a job interview at 慨正橡扯

Brush Up on Your Coding Skills

For a full-time software engineering role, it's crucial that we stay sharp with our coding abilities. Expect technical questions that might involve solving problems on the spot or discussing algorithms. Practise on platforms like LeetCode or HackerRank to get comfortable with the types of questions that often come up.

Know Your Tools and Frameworks

Make sure we’re well-acquainted with the tools and technologies listed in the job description. Familiarise ourselves with any specific frameworks or programming languages mentioned. If 慨正橡扯 uses React or Node.js, for instance, be ready to discuss how we’ve used them in previous projects or coursework.

Showcase Your Projects

Bring along a portfolio that highlights our best work. This could be code samples, GitHub repositories, or any side projects we’ve built. Make sure we can talk through our thought process for each project, especially the challenges we faced and how we solved them—this shows our problem-solving skills in action.

Prepare for Behavioural Questions

While technical skills are key, full-time positions also require cultural fit. Be ready to discuss our previous experiences and how we handle teamwork, conflict, and deadlines. Brush up on the STAR method—Situation, Task, Action, Result—to clearly articulate our past experiences when discussing how we've contributed to a team.