At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead software engineering for airport platforms, ensuring seamless data integration and compliance.
- Company: Join easyJet, a leading low-cost airline with a vibrant culture.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, bonuses, flexible working, and discounted travel perks.
- Other info: Hybrid working model with opportunities for career growth and innovation.
- Why this job: Shape the future of travel technology while making a real impact.
- Qualifications: Strong software engineering skills and experience in team leadership.
The predicted salary is between 72000 - 88000 £ per year.
We are easyJet – a FTSE-250 listed, multi-billion low-cost airline that serves tens of millions of customers every single year. We fly more than 1,207 routes, connecting 38 countries across Europe, and employ more than 18,000 colleagues. We’re on a mission to make low-cost travel easy.
Role Summary
Ready to help us build the future of airport experiences? Are you a technical leader who thrives on solving complex, large-scale engineering challenges? Do you want to shape the technology that powers safe, compliant, and efficient operations across a global network of over 150 airports? We are looking for a Lead Software Engineer – Departure & Compliance to own the technical strategy, architectural direction, and engineering excellence for our mission-critical airport platforms.
Role Overview
In this role, you will lead the evolution of the software and data platforms that underpin our Departure & Compliance product area. You will ensure that departure-critical data—including passenger, flight, and regulatory information—is perfectly integrated and highly resilient across a distributed ecosystem of Departure Control Systems (DCS), reservation systems, and government authority platforms. The position combines hands-on software engineering with practical squad leadership, focusing on technical delivery, code quality, and supporting a small team of engineers.
Key Responsibilities
- The Lead Software Engineer is primarily a senior technical contributor with light leadership responsibilities.
- The role involves significant hands-on coding (60%+), technical decision-making, and guiding a squad of 1–4 engineers.
- Collaboration with the Engineering Manager and Product Owner is essential to align technical delivery with business priorities.
- The position requires strong engineering fundamentals, experience with modern practices (CI/CD, automated testing, cloud), and mentoring skills.
- AI-assisted development tools are to be integrated into the squad’s workflow.
- Success is measured by predictable, high-quality software delivery, team support and clarity, sound technical decisions, and continuous improvement.
Qualifications Responsibilities
- Design, build, test, and operate production software in a hands-on capacity.
- Lead the squad’s technical delivery: break down problems, align the team, and maintain momentum.
- Make squad-scoped technical decisions, balancing speed, quality, maintainability, and sustainability.
- Set and uphold engineering standards through design, code review, testing discipline, and operational ownership.
- Strengthen engineering practices, including CI/CD, automated testing, observability, and reliable production operations.
- Encourage a culture of continuous improvement, learning, and technical curiosity.
Key Skills
- Strong software engineering fundamentals with a proven track record in building, shipping, and operating production systems.
- Experience leading technical work within a small team while remaining hands-on.
- Full-stack experience across backend, frontend, and cloud, in multiple languages/frameworks.
- Familiarity with modern engineering practices: CI/CD, automated testing, cloud infrastructure, and production support.
- Experience mentoring, coaching, or supporting other engineers, with strong interpersonal skills.
- Initiative in using AI-assisted engineering tools (e.g., Cursor, Claude Code, Codex), with a formed perspective on their use.
Desirable
- Experience with production systems in regulated or operationally complex environments (airport or airline operations is a strong plus).
Success Criteria
- The squad delivers meaningful software predictably and to a high standard of engineering quality.
- Engineers in the squad feel supported, challenged, and clear on expectations.
- Technical decisions at the squad level are sound, pragmatic, and well communicated.
- The codebase and engineering practices improve over time, not degrade under delivery pressure.
- AI-assisted tools and Agentic SDLC are thoughtfully used to improve speed, quality, and effectiveness.
How to Apply:
If you are a self-starter who can identify opportunities to drive greater success for the team and have a track record of building strong relationships with internal stakeholders, we would love to hear from you. Apply now to join our dynamic team!
What you’ll get in return:
- Competitive base salary
- 20% bonus potential.
- 25 days holiday, pension scheme, life assurance, and a flexible benefits package.
- Discounted staff travel scheme for friends and family
- Annual credit for discount on easyJet holidays
- ‘Work Away’ scheme, allowing you to work abroad for 30 days a year
- Electric vehicle lease salary sacrifice scheme
Location & Hours of Work
We operate a hybrid working policy of 40%-60% of the month spent with colleagues.
Application Process:
Interested candidates should apply through our careers portal.
Reasonable Adjustments:
At easyJet, we are dedicated to fostering an inclusive workplace that reflects the diverse customers we serve across Europe. We welcome candidates from all backgrounds. If you require specific adjustments or support during the application or recruitment process, please contact us at ma.recruitment@easyjet.com.
Lead Software Engineer – Departure & Compliance in London employer: Easyjet
easyJet is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment where innovation and sustainability are at the forefront of our mission. As a Future Fuels Manager based in Luton, you'll benefit from a strong focus on employee growth, competitive bonuses, and excellent travel perks, all while contributing to our ambitious sustainability goals. Our collaborative culture encourages you to build meaningful relationships with industry leaders, ensuring your role is both impactful and rewarding.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Lead Software Engineer – Departure & Compliance in London
✨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 Easyjet 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 Easyjet.
✨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 Easyjet.
✨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 Easyjet 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 – Departure & Compliance in London
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 Easyjet.
Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at Easyjet 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 Easyjet
✨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 Easyjet 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.
