Senior Lead Software Engineer in Cambridge

Senior Lead Software Engineer in Cambridge

Cambridge Full-Time 63000 - 77000 £ / year (est.) No working from home possible
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At a Glance

  • Tasks: Modernise software practices and improve developer productivity using AI.
  • Company: Global organisation transforming software engineering across 250+ businesses.
  • Benefits: Competitive salary, remote work, and opportunities for continuous learning.
  • Other info: Join a dynamic team dedicated to redefining software engineering practices.
  • Why this job: Influence the future of software development and solve diverse engineering challenges.
  • Qualifications: Strong software engineering fundamentals and experience with AI-assisted tools.

The predicted salary is between 63000 - 77000 £ per year.

  • Senior Lead Software Engineer
  • Remote | AI Transformation Team
  • Be part of a global organisation that acquires, grows and supports more than

250 market-leading software businesses operating across a wide range of specialist industries.

As AI reshapes the software industry, we're helping these businesses modernise the way they engineer, deliver and operate software.

Our Business AI Transformation Team works directly with engineering organisations to improve software engineering practices, accelerate delivery and embed AI across the software development lifecycle.

We're looking for exceptional software engineers who are passionate about the future of software development—not necessarily building AI products, but using AI to fundamentally improve how software is designed, developed, tested and delivered.

If you love solving complex engineering problems, learning new technologies and helping engineering teams become more effective, this could be the most varied role of your career.

This isn't a traditional software engineering position where you'll spend years working on a single product. It isn't management consulting either.

Instead, you'll embed directly with engineering teams across a diverse portfolio of software companies, helping them improve engineering practices, modernise development workflows and adopt AI throughout the software development lifecycle.

One engagement might focus on introducing AI-assisted development practices into an established engineering team.

The next could involve improving software architecture, modernising delivery pipelines, increasing developer productivity or coaching technical leaders on modern engineering approaches.

Every project is different. Every company has new challenges to solve.

  • What you'll be doing
  • Modernise software architecture and engineering practices
  • Improve developer productivity through AI-assisted workflows
  • Introduce AI into the software development lifecycle—from planning and coding through testing, deployment and operations
  • Improve code quality, testing strategies and CI/CD pipelines
  • Coach engineers on modern software engineering practices
  • Accelerate engineering delivery without compromising quality
  • Evaluate emerging AI development tools and identify where they genuinely create value
  • Deliver hands-on technical improvements rather than simply producing recommendations

You'll also help deliver AI accelerator programmes, working with software engineers, engineering managers, product teams and CTOs to help organisations adopt modern engineering practices and experiment with new ways of building software.

What we're looking for

Exceptional software engineering fundamentals. We're looking for engineers first.

You should have strong experience building and maintaining production software, with expertise across areas such as:

  • Software architecture
  • Engineering best practices
  • Testing and quality engineering
  • CI/CD and Dev Ops
  • Cloud platforms
  • API design
  • Performance and scalability
  • Maintainable, well-structured code

You'll be comfortable discussing technical trade-offs with experienced engineering teams across a range of languages and technology stacks.

You'll already be using tools such as Claude, GPT models, coding agents, MCP, LLM APIs or other AI-assisted development tooling, and you're naturally curious about what's coming next.

You don't need to know every language or framework, but you do need the confidence to learn quickly, ask the right questions and become productive in unfamiliar environments.

You'll build trust with engineering teams, challenge existing ways of working and help organisations adopt better engineering practices that last long after your engagement ends.

Why join us?

  • Work across a portfolio of
  • 250+ software businesses
  • Solve new engineering challenges every few weeks
  • Influence how software is built across a diverse range of products and industries
  • Collaborate directly with engineering leaders and CTOs
  • Stay at the forefront of modern software engineering and AI-enabled development
  • Join a growing transformation team helping define the future of software engineering

Who will thrive here?

This role is ideal for someone who combines outstanding software engineering fundamentals with curiosity, adaptability and a passion for continuous learning.

If you're excited by the idea of helping engineering teams evolve how they build software—using AI to enhance every stage of the software development lifecycle rather than simply creating AI features—we'd love to hear from you.

Senior Lead Software Engineer in Cambridge employer: Grove Talent

As an AI Business Transformation Manager at our dynamic international software group, you'll be part of a forward-thinking team that thrives on innovation and collaboration. We offer a vibrant work culture that encourages creativity and personal growth, with ample opportunities for professional development across diverse markets in the UK, Europe, and North America. Join us to make a real impact by transforming how businesses operate through AI, all while enjoying the benefits of a supportive environment that values your contributions and fosters meaningful change.

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Contact Details:

Grove Talent Recruitment Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Senior Lead Software Engineer in Cambridge

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 Grove Talent 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 Grove Talent.

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 Grove Talent.

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 Grove Talent 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 Senior Lead Software Engineer in Cambridge

Software Engineering Fundamentals
Software Architecture
Engineering Best Practices
Testing and Quality Engineering
CI/CD
DevOps
Cloud Platforms

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 Grove Talent.

Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at Grove Talent 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 Grove Talent

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 Grove Talent 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.