At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead technical direction and mentor engineers while delivering innovative AI-native solutions.
- Company: Grant Thornton, a forward-thinking firm redefining audit, tax, and advisory services.
- Benefits: Flexible working options, inclusive culture, and opportunities for personal growth.
- Other info: Engage in meaningful projects that give back to society and foster personal development.
- Why this job: Join a transformative journey and make a real impact in a dynamic environment.
- Qualifications: Experience in software engineering, particularly with Python or C# .Net, and AI tools.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 € per year.
At Grant Thornton we do things differently - looking to the future, driving ambitious growth and pioneering positive change in our industry. Providing audit, tax and advisory services, we empower clients through strategic insight, curiosity, and genuine partnership. And we empower our people with real opportunity, an inclusive culture and work life balance.
Grant Thornton UK LLP is part of a global network of independent audit, tax and advisory firms, made up of some 58,000 people in over 135 countries. We're a team of independent thinkers who put quality, inclusion and integrity first. All around the world we bring a different experience to our clients. A better experience. One that delivers the expertise they need in a way that goes beyond. Personal, proactive, and agile.
Every day our teams help people in businesses and communities to do what is right and achieve their goals. Grant Thornton is building a new digital function at the heart of a £500m transformation of how the firm works and delivers for clients. We're hiring Lead Engineers to be the senior technical voice in our delivery teams – hands-on engineers who can work confidently in an AI-native environment, solving problems natively in the platform or through AI-enabled engineering from prototyping through to deployment.
We’re happy to talk flexible working and consider reduced hours and job shares, we’ll support you to balance your work and life.
A look into the role
As a Lead Engineer within our team, you'll own technical direction and delivery quality across one or two small teams, working directly alongside product managers and senior business stakeholders. You'll be a hands-on individual contributor, building solutions while mentoring the engineers around you, setting the standard for how problems get solved, and being accountable for what gets shipped. You'll work in a matrix, being embedded in a service line for day-to-day delivery and connected to a wider engineering function for craft, standards and career.
Key responsibilities
- Set technical direction for your team(s) and own the quality of what is delivered
- Mentor engineers on craft, and develop their judgement about when and how to use AI tooling
- Build and maintain the integrations, MCP builds, API connections and infrastructure that sit beneath and around our GenAI platform
- Build systems, tools and solutions in an AI-native way
- Represent engineering credibly with senior stakeholders, translating between technical design and business need in both directions
- Keep technical debt visible, trade-offs explicit, and delivery pace predictable
- Contribute to our engineering standards and help the wider function improve over time
Knowing you’re right for us
Joining us as a Lead Engineer, the minimum criteria you’ll need is:
- Engineering depth. You've written and shipped production-grade software – most likely in Python, C# .Net, or both (or similar). You think in systems, hold the line on fundamentals, and know what AI tooling is doing under the hood.
- AI-native judgement. You're fluent across AI-native engineering, from building natively in the platform, using AI-enabled tools to accelerate your own craft, and taking coalface experiments through to production-grade operationalised solutions.
- Delivery credibility. You've owned end-to-end delivery in a team-based model. You surface problems early, bring options, and keep stakeholders informed without being managed.
- Stakeholder presence. You can work directly and credibly with non-technical people at a senior level, and translate technical constraints into business language without losing precision.
It would be great if you had following skill, but don’t worry if you don’t tick the box, we’ll help you develop along the way.
- AI and LLM experience - you're comfortable using GenAI tools such as Copilot, Claude or ChatGPT.
Knowing we’re right for you
Embracing uniqueness, the culture at Grant Thornton thrives on the contributions of all our people, we never settle for what is easy, we look beyond to deliver the right thing, for everyone. Building an inclusive culture, where we value difference and respect our colleagues helps our people to perform at the best of their ability and realise their potential.
Our open and accessible culture means you’ll interact with leaders who are interested in you and everything you bring to our firm. The things that set you apart, we value them. That’s why we give you the freedom to bring your whole self to work and pursue your passions inside and outside of work.
Beyond the job
Life is more than work. The things you do, and the people you’re with outside of work matter, that’s why we’re happy to look at flexible working options for all our roles, and we’ll always do our best to keep your work and life in balance.
The impact you can make here will go far beyond your day job. From secondments, to fundraising for local charities, or investing in entrepreneurs in the developing world, you’ll be giving back to society. It’s that drive to do the right thing that runs through our every move, grounded in our firm’s values – purposefully driven, actively curious and candid but kind.
We’re looking for people who want to contribute, spark fresh ideas and go beyond expectations. People who want to be able to proudly do what’s right, for the firm, our clients, our people and themselves. It’s how it should be.
Lead Engineer / Tech Lead in Leeds employer: Grant Thornton
At Grant Thornton, we pride ourselves on fostering an inclusive culture that empowers our employees to thrive both personally and professionally. As a Lead Engineer, you'll be part of a dynamic team driving innovation in a £500m transformation, with ample opportunities for mentorship and growth in a flexible work environment that values work-life balance. Join us in redefining the future of our industry while making a meaningful impact in the communities we serve.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Lead Engineer / Tech Lead in Leeds
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to current employees at Grant Thornton on LinkedIn. Ask them about their experiences and any tips they might have for the interview process. A friendly chat can give you insider info that could set you apart.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for the technical interview by brushing up on your coding skills. Practice common algorithms and system design questions, especially in Python or C#. We want to see how you think and solve problems, so be ready to showcase your engineering depth!
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your AI-native judgement! Be prepared to discuss how you've used AI tools in your past projects. We love seeing candidates who can translate complex tech into business value, so practice explaining your work in simple terms.
✨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 our team at Grant Thornton. Let’s make this happen together!
We think you need these skills to ace Lead Engineer / Tech Lead in Leeds
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Technical Skills:Make sure to highlight your engineering depth in your application. We want to see your experience with production-grade software, especially in Python or C#. Don’t just list your skills; give us examples of how you've used them in real projects.
Be Authentic:Let your personality shine through! We value uniqueness and want to know what makes you tick. Share your passions and interests outside of work, as they can give us a better sense of who you are and how you might fit into our inclusive culture.
Demonstrate Your Problem-Solving Skills:In your application, talk about how you've tackled challenges in the past. We’re looking for candidates who can surface problems early and bring options to the table. Show us that you can think critically and deliver solutions effectively.
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’ll find all the details about the role and our company culture there!
How to prepare for a job interview at Grant Thornton
✨Know Your Tech Inside Out
As a Lead Engineer, you need to be well-versed in the technologies mentioned in the job description, like Python and C# .Net. Brush up on your coding skills and be ready to discuss your past projects in detail, showcasing how you've tackled challenges and delivered quality solutions.
✨Showcase Your AI-Native Skills
Since the role involves working in an AI-native environment, prepare to discuss your experience with AI tools and how you've integrated them into your engineering processes. Be ready to share specific examples of how you've used AI to enhance your work or solve problems.
✨Communicate Like a Pro
You'll need to translate technical jargon into business language for non-technical stakeholders. Practice explaining complex concepts in simple terms, and think of examples where you've successfully communicated with senior management or clients.
✨Emphasise Mentorship and Teamwork
The role requires mentoring other engineers, so be prepared to discuss your approach to leadership and collaboration. Share experiences where you've guided team members, fostered a positive team culture, and contributed to collective success.
