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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a team in delivering cloud and data solutions while shaping architecture and tooling.
- Company: Join a mission-driven consultancy making a real-world difference in intelligence and secure data.
- Benefits: Enjoy a £140k+ package, hybrid work, private healthcare, and 25 days holiday.
- Why this job: Be part of impactful work, with ownership and autonomy in a growing company.
- Qualifications: Senior/Lead Software Engineer experience, especially in cloud-native or high-scale data environments.
- Other info: 3-stage interview process with a tech test and minimal in-office requirements.
The predicted salary is between 84000 - 196000 £ per year.
Our client is a mission-driven consultancy delivering high-impact intelligence, research, and technical services to governments and private sector clients globally. As we continue to expand, we’re hiring a Lead Software Engineer/Founding Engineer to take the reins of a specialist engineering unit delivering microservice-based cloud and data solutions at scale. This is a hands-on technical leadership role where you will work closely with the CTO, shape architecture and tooling, and directly influence the future of our engineering capability.
What You’ll Be Doing:
- Leading a growing team (currently 2 engineers + external partners) across complex data and cloud engineering projects
- Designing and delivering distributed solutions on an AWS-centric stack, with open-source flexibility
- Working with Databricks, Apache Iceberg, and Kubernetes in a cloud-agnostic environment
- Guiding architecture and implementation of large-scale data pipelines for structured and unstructured data
- Steering direction on software stack, best practices, and legacy tech modernisation
- Collaborating with a multidisciplinary group including intelligence analysts, researchers, and domain specialists
- Supporting clients working in highly sensitive and secure environments
Ideal Background:
- Senior/Lead/Founding Software Engineer, startup/hands on CTO, or Lead Architect experience, ideally in cloud-native or high-scale data environments
- Deep experience with Software Engineering, cloud deployments (especially AWS), and orchestration technologies
- Proven delivery of big data solutions—not necessarily at FAANG scale, but managing high-volume, complex data (structured/unstructured)
- Experience working with Databricks, Apache Iceberg, or similar modern data platforms
- Experience of building software environments from the ground up, setting best practice and standards
- Experience leading and mentoring teams
- Worked in a startup/scaleup background and someone that is adaptable
Tech Stack Snapshot:
- Languages: Python
- Cloud: AWS preferred, cloud-agnostic approach encouraged
- Data: SQL, Databricks, Iceberg, Kubernetes, large-scale data pipelines
- CI/CD & Ops: Open source tools, modern DevOps principles
Why Join Us?
- Impactful Work – Help solve security problems that truly matter
- Ownership & Autonomy – Freedom to shape the stack and drive strategy alongside the CTO
- Growth – A growing company at the cutting edge of data and intelligence
- Flexibility – Hybrid and remote-friendly, with minimal in-office requirements
Compensation & Process:
- £140k base salary with flexibility
- 10% performance based bonus
- Pension
- Private Healthcare
- 25 days holiday + bank holidays
- L&D
- Great company culture and socials
- 3-stage interview process (tech test and final stage onsite)
Lead Software Engineer employer: developrec
Contact Detail:
developrec Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Lead Software Engineer
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with the specific technologies mentioned in the job description, such as AWS, Databricks, and Kubernetes. Having hands-on experience or projects that showcase your skills with these tools will give you a significant edge during the interview process.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare to discuss your leadership style and experiences in mentoring teams. Since this role involves leading a growing team, demonstrating your ability to guide and inspire others will be crucial in making a strong impression.
✨Tip Number 3
Research the company’s mission and recent projects they’ve undertaken. Being able to articulate how your values align with theirs and how you can contribute to their impactful work will show your genuine interest in the role.
✨Tip Number 4
Practice articulating your experience with building software environments from scratch. Be ready to share specific examples of how you've set best practices and standards in previous roles, as this is a key aspect of the position.
We think you need these skills to ace Lead Software Engineer
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights relevant experience in cloud and data orchestration. Emphasise your leadership roles, particularly in software engineering and any experience with AWS or similar technologies.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Write a cover letter that showcases your passion for impactful work and your ability to lead teams. Mention specific projects where you've successfully delivered big data solutions and how they relate to the role.
Highlight Technical Skills: In your application, clearly outline your technical skills, especially those related to Python, SQL, Databricks, and Kubernetes. Provide examples of how you've used these technologies in previous roles.
Showcase Leadership Experience: Detail your experience in leading teams and mentoring engineers. Discuss how you've shaped architecture and tooling in past projects, as this is crucial for the Lead Software Engineer position.
How to prepare for a job interview at developrec
✨Showcase Your Technical Leadership
As a Lead Software Engineer, it's crucial to demonstrate your ability to lead and mentor teams. Be prepared to discuss your previous experiences in guiding engineering projects and how you've influenced architectural decisions.
✨Familiarise Yourself with the Tech Stack
Make sure you have a solid understanding of the technologies mentioned in the job description, such as AWS, Databricks, and Kubernetes. Be ready to discuss how you've used these tools in past projects and how they can be applied to the role.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect questions that assess your problem-solving skills in real-world scenarios. Think about challenges you've faced in cloud and data engineering projects and how you overcame them, especially in high-volume data environments.
✨Emphasise Your Adaptability
Given the dynamic nature of the consultancy sector, highlight your experience in startup or scale-up environments. Discuss how you've adapted to changing requirements and led teams through transitions, showcasing your flexibility and resilience.
