At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead frontend architecture and write production code for customer-facing products.
- Company: Join Ford Credit, shaping the financial future of electric vehicles in Europe.
- Benefits: Flexible work arrangements, competitive salary, and a collaborative team environment.
- Other info: Dynamic Manchester office with a focus on craft and continuous improvement.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on millions while mentoring and leading innovative projects.
- Qualifications: 7+ years in frontend engineering with expertise in React and TypeScript.
The predicted salary is between 70000 - 90000 £ per year.
Ford Credit is building the financial infrastructure behind Ford’s electric future in Europe — and we need a brilliant frontend engineer to help lead the charge. You will be the technical lead for a team building customer‑facing products used by millions of people across Europe. That means writing great code, making smart architectural calls, and raising the bar for everyone around you. This is a hands‑on technical leadership role, not a people‑management one. You won’t be managing headcount; you’ll be mentoring engineers, shaping how we build, and ensuring we ship things we’re proud of.
Responsibilities
- Leading frontend architecture: Making the big calls on how we build, structure, and scale our applications
- Writing production code: This is an 80%+ hands‑on role; you’ll be deep in the codebase, not just reviewing it
- Owning code quality: Driving timely, constructive code reviews and tackling recurring issues before they become habits
- Setting technical direction: Thinking 6–12 months ahead, spotting risks early, and building a plan to address them
- Partnering with Product: Providing sharp estimates, shaping discovery, and making sure technical decisions are grounded in business value
- Mentoring the team: Supporting junior and mid‑level engineers through pairing, feedback, and real investment in their growth
- Championing agile practices: Keeping the team aligned, collaborative, and continuously improving
Qualifications
- 7+ years of frontend engineering experience, with deep expertise in React and TypeScript
- A track record of leading frontend architecture, component design, performance, micro‑frontends
- Strong grasp of testing practices, Jest, React Testing Library, Cypress or similar
- Experience with CI/CD pipelines, GitHub Actions, and modern frontend tooling
- The ability to influence technical direction without formal authority, and communicate clearly with both engineers and stakeholders
- A genuine passion for mentoring and raising the level of those around you
Nice to Have
- Cloud experience, GCP preferred
- Familiarity with other technologies (Java / Spring Boot) to collaborate effectively across the stack
- Experience in regulated industries, fintech, banking, or similar
- Exposure to security and quality tooling, SonarQube, Checkmarx, FOSSA
Our Manchester office runs a 3‑day in‑office hybrid model (Ford’s standard is 4 days; Manchester currently has 3 due to space). You will be joining a team that cares deeply about craft, collaboration, and getting things right.
Lead Software Engineer in Manchester employer: Ford Motor Company
Contact Detail:
Ford Motor Company Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Lead Software Engineer in Manchester
✨Tip Number 1
Get your networking game on! Connect with folks in the industry, attend meetups, and don’t be shy about reaching out to current employees at Ford Credit. A friendly chat can sometimes lead to opportunities that aren’t even advertised.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! Create a portfolio or GitHub repository showcasing your best work, especially projects that highlight your expertise in React and TypeScript. This gives potential employers a taste of what you can bring to the table.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for technical interviews by brushing up on your coding skills and architectural knowledge. Practice common frontend challenges and be ready to discuss your thought process on design decisions and code quality.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in joining the team at Ford Credit and contributing to their exciting projects.
We think you need these skills to ace Lead Software Engineer in Manchester
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Lead Software Engineer role. Highlight your experience with React and TypeScript, and showcase any leadership in frontend architecture you've done. We want to see how you can lead the charge in building customer-facing products!
Show Off Your Code Skills: Since this role is hands-on, include links to your GitHub or any projects that demonstrate your coding prowess. We love seeing real examples of your work, especially if they involve CI/CD pipelines or modern frontend tooling. Let us know what you're proud of!
Mentorship Matters: Don’t forget to mention your passion for mentoring! Share specific instances where you've supported junior engineers or helped shape a team’s technical direction. We’re all about raising the bar together, so show us how you’ve contributed to others' growth.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets the attention it deserves. Plus, you can easily attach your FWA request form if you need flexible working arrangements. Let’s get your application rolling!
How to prepare for a job interview at Ford Motor Company
✨Know Your Tech Stack Inside Out
Make sure you’re well-versed in React and TypeScript, as these are crucial for the role. Brush up on your knowledge of frontend architecture and be ready to discuss your past experiences with component design and performance.
✨Showcase Your Mentoring Skills
Since this role involves mentoring junior engineers, prepare examples of how you've supported others in their growth. Think about specific instances where your guidance made a difference and be ready to share those stories.
✨Prepare for Technical Direction Questions
Expect questions about how you would set technical direction and spot risks early. Be prepared to discuss your thought process and provide examples of how you’ve successfully navigated similar challenges in the past.
✨Emphasise Collaboration and Agile Practices
Highlight your experience with agile methodologies and how you keep teams aligned and collaborative. Be ready to discuss how you’ve implemented continuous improvement practices in previous roles.