At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a talented team to build innovative digital solutions and drive AI adoption.
- Company: Join Findel, a leading education resources business transforming technology.
- Benefits: Flexible hybrid working, real ownership, and opportunities for growth into a CTO role.
- Other info: Collaborative culture focused on innovation and sustained digital transformation.
- Why this job: Make a significant impact in education tech while shaping the future of digital experiences.
- Qualifications: Proven leadership in software engineering and hands-on technical expertise required.
The predicted salary is between 80000 - 100000 £ per year.
Ready to shape the future of technology in one of the UK's leading education resources businesses? Findel is embarking on an exciting multi‐year technology transformation — modernising our platforms, elevating our digital experiences, and unlocking new ways to support schools, MATs and nurseries across the country. We're looking for a Head of Software Engineering & Innovation who can lead that charge.
This role is designed for a future CTO in the making — someone who combines strategic thinking, hands‐on engineering leadership, and a passion for delivering real customer and business impact.
The Opportunity
- Shape our application and solution architecture for the next 2–3 years.
- Lead a talented engineering team to build scalable, secure, modern digital solutions that effectively leverage automation, data insights and AI capabilities.
- Drive innovation across the organisation by championing AI adoption, intelligent automation and modern engineering practices that accelerate delivery and performance.
- Partner closely with colleagues across Technology, Product, Data, Commercial and Operations to create seamless, end‐to‐end, AI‐enabled solutions that enhance customer and colleague experiences.
- Act as a trusted technical advisor to the Leadership and Executive teams, providing clear guidance on opportunities, risks, governance and emerging technologies.
- Play a key role in Findel's digital transformation — improving customer experience, operational efficiency and colleague productivity.
- Be accountable for the organisation's AWS cloud platform, ensuring appropriate governance, cost management, security and operational reliability.
This is a hands‐on, strategic, and highly visible role. You’ll get to influence major technology decisions and help design the foundations of Findel's future from a technology perspective.
What You’ll Lead & Deliver
- Modern, scalable software engineering practices and standards
- End‐to‐end delivery of digital products and platforms
- Solution architecture and technical direction
- Adoption of agile, DevOps and CI/CD ways of working
- Innovation, AI solutions, applications & solutions prototyping and continuous improvement
- Improvements in platform reliability, quality and speed of delivery
- Cross‐functional collaboration and stakeholder engagement
What You Bring
- Proven leadership in software engineering or platform delivery
- Strong architectural thinking and engineering judgment
- Hands‐on technical expertise across modern stacks, cloud and integrations
- Experience delivering high‐quality digital products at pace
- Ability to simplify complexity and communicate clearly
- Curiosity, energy and a growth mindset
- Desire to shape and one day step into a CTO‐level role
If you’re passionate about building modern engineering cultures, love creating practical solutions to real business challenges, and want to make a big impact in a sector with real purpose — this is the role for you.
Why Findel?
- A leadership team committed to real, sustained digital transformation
- Opportunity to build, influence and grow into the future CTO function
- A collaborative, supportive and ambitious culture
- Hybrid working with flexibility
- Real ownership, visible impact, and the ability to make change happen quickly
Ready to Lead the Change? Apply now and help shape the next chapter of Findel's technology journey.
Head of Software Engineering in Manchester employer: Findel
Findel is an exceptional employer, offering a unique opportunity for the Head of Software Engineering & Innovation to lead transformative technology initiatives in a collaborative and ambitious environment. With a commitment to digital transformation, employees benefit from hybrid working arrangements, real ownership of projects, and the chance to grow into future leadership roles, including the potential to step into a CTO position. Join us to make a meaningful impact in the education sector while enjoying a supportive work culture that values innovation and personal development.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Software Engineering in Manchester
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in your industry on LinkedIn or at tech meetups. A personal connection can often get you noticed faster than a CV.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! Create a portfolio or GitHub repository showcasing your projects. This gives potential employers a taste of what you can do and how you think.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by practising common questions and scenarios related to software engineering leadership. We recommend doing mock interviews with friends or mentors to build confidence.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in joining us at Findel.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Software Engineering in Manchester
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to highlight your experience in software engineering and leadership. We want to see how your skills align with our vision for the future of technology at Findel.
Showcase Your Achievements:Don’t just list your responsibilities; share specific examples of how you’ve driven innovation or improved processes in your previous roles. We love seeing tangible results that demonstrate your impact!
Be Authentic:Let your personality shine through in your application. We’re looking for someone who’s not only technically skilled but also passionate about making a difference in education. Show us what makes you unique!
Apply Through Our Website:For the best chance of success, make sure to apply directly through our website. This helps us keep track of your application and ensures it gets the attention it deserves. We can’t wait to hear from you!
How to prepare for a job interview at Findel
✨Know Your Tech Inside Out
Make sure you’re well-versed in the latest software engineering practices, cloud technologies, and AI solutions. Brush up on your knowledge of AWS and be ready to discuss how you can leverage these tools to drive innovation at Findel.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Style
Prepare examples that highlight your leadership experience and how you've successfully led teams in the past. Think about times when you’ve driven change or improved processes, as this role is all about leading a talented engineering team.
✨Understand the Business Impact
Be ready to discuss how your technical decisions can impact customer experience and operational efficiency. Show that you can connect the dots between technology and business outcomes, which is crucial for a future CTO.
✨Ask Insightful Questions
Prepare thoughtful questions that demonstrate your interest in Findel’s digital transformation journey. Inquire about their current challenges and how they envision the role of Head of Software Engineering contributing to their goals.
