At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and scale our software engineering team, driving innovation with AI tools.
- Company: Join a forward-thinking firm focused on cutting-edge technology and collaboration.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible working options, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Why this job: Shape the future of engineering while making a real impact in a dynamic environment.
- Qualifications: Proven experience in product management and AI integration, with strong leadership skills.
- Other info: Be part of a culture that values continuous improvement and technical excellence.
The predicted salary is between 90000 - 120000 £ per year.
Responsibilities
- Lead the evolution and scaling of the firm’s software engineering capability.
- Own software engineering delivery, culture, and standards.
- Lead a high‑performing team that solves business problems efficiently, through native AI tooling where appropriate and through bespoke solutions where necessary, within the regulatory and security constraints of a professional services environment.
- Own engineering delivery, quality, and pace, ensuring that delivery is predictable, transparent and aligned to business needs.
- Establish and embed standards, tooling, and ways of working that scale with the team.
- Use engineering health metrics to track progress and drive continuous improvement.
- Keep technical debt visible and managed, integrated into delivery planning and not allowed to constrain pace.
- Contribute to make/buy/integrate decisions with clear commercial rationale.
- Ensure engineering teams implement and adhere to the firm’s security and compliance standards, working closely with Information Security on vulnerability management and response.
- Lead the shift to an AI‑native software engineering culture, embedding the use of AI tooling as an integral part of the development lifecycle.
- Set the standards for how AI is used responsibly across engineering, both in the products that are built and the tools our engineers use.
- Own evaluation and governance of AI developer tooling, defining adoption policy, security criteria, and usage guardrails.
- Own platform engineering, covering CI/CD, developer tooling, environment management, and the application/infrastructure interface.
- Maintain architecture governance that preserves coherence across the platform while enabling team autonomy.
- Ensure the engineering stack is documented and maintainable as the team grows.
- Own the engineering relationship with other digital teams, governing API usage, dependencies, and integration patterns.
Qualifications
- Significant product management experience with a track record of strategic ownership, defining what to build and why rather than just managing delivery.
- End‑to‑end delivery of digital products in complex, multi‑stakeholder environments and proven ownership of AI or data products, including model behaviour, prompt iteration, evaluation design, and human‑in‑the‑loop workflows.
- Sufficient technical literacy to assess feasibility, challenge engineering estimates, and make informed build decisions in an API‑ and platform‑driven environment.
- Commercial acumen to connect product decisions to business outcomes and contribute to investment cases.
- Excellent stakeholder management and the credibility to influence senior leaders without authority in a complex, multi‑stakeholder environment.
- Experience managing managers and individual contributors.
- Hands‑on exposure to AI/LLM engineering, including integration patterns, evaluation frameworks, or RAG pipeline design.
- Familiarity with Azure, Microsoft 365 and AI platform services in a production environment.
- Experience owning or contributing to an engineering career framework.
- Background in Developer Experience (DevEx) or platform engineering.
Head of Engineering in Manchester employer: Grant Thornton UK LLP
Contact Detail:
Grant Thornton UK LLP Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Engineering in Manchester
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the industry, attend meetups, and engage on platforms like LinkedIn. We all know that sometimes it’s not just what you know, but who you know that can help you land that dream job.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its culture. We recommend practising common interview questions and even some technical ones relevant to the role. Show them you’re not just a fit for the job, but for the team too!
✨Tip Number 3
Don’t forget to showcase your achievements! When discussing your experience, focus on specific projects where you led teams or implemented successful strategies. We want to see how you’ve made an impact in previous roles.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive about their job search. Let’s get you that Head of Engineering role!
We think you need these skills to ace Head of 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 AI. We want to see how your skills align with our needs, so don’t be shy about showcasing relevant projects or achievements!
Showcase Leadership Skills: As a Head of Engineering, we’re looking for someone who can lead a high-performing team. Share examples of how you've successfully managed teams, driven culture, and delivered results in previous roles. This is your chance to shine!
Be Clear and Concise: When writing your application, keep it straightforward and to the point. We appreciate clarity, so avoid jargon and focus on what makes you the best fit for the role. Remember, less is often more!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to submit your application through our website. It’s the easiest way for us to review your details and get back to you. Plus, it shows you’re keen on joining the StudySmarter team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Grant Thornton UK LLP
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you’re well-versed in the latest trends and technologies in software engineering, especially around AI tooling. Brush up on your knowledge of Azure and Microsoft 365, as well as any relevant experience you have with AI or data products. This will show that you’re not just a manager but someone who understands the technical landscape.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Style
Prepare to discuss your approach to leading high-performing teams. Think about specific examples where you've fostered a strong engineering culture or improved delivery standards. Be ready to explain how you manage technical debt and ensure quality while keeping pace with business needs.
✨Be Ready for Scenario Questions
Expect questions that ask you to solve hypothetical problems related to engineering delivery or team dynamics. Practice articulating your thought process clearly and logically. This is your chance to demonstrate your strategic thinking and how you would handle real-world challenges in a professional services environment.
✨Connect the Dots
During the interview, make sure to link your past experiences to the responsibilities outlined in the job description. Highlight how your commercial acumen has led to successful product decisions and how you’ve influenced stakeholders in complex environments. This will help the interviewers see you as a perfect fit for their needs.