At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a dynamic team to transform software for managing device fleets.
- Company: Pioneering tech firm focused on IoT and network infrastructure.
- Benefits: Flexible hours, generous leave, health coverage, and pension contributions.
- Other info: Collaborative environment with opportunities for personal and professional growth.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on a cleaner, safer future with innovative technology.
- Qualifications: Proven leadership in software development and strong technical skills.
The predicted salary is between 63000 - 77000 £ per year.
Help grow a safer, cleaner, healthier future for everyone, every day.
About Us
We are a pioneer in network infrastructure monitoring with IoT technology, and develop innovations that keep critical resources flowing for water and wastewater utilities. Our customers operate large fleets of our sensors and dataloggers, with tens or hundreds of thousands of devices. Good software is critical to managing those fleets.
About the Role
The Hardware Lifecycle team is responsible for the software that enables HWM and our customers to manage device fleets at every stage of their lifecycle: deliver, deploy, run and renew. We're looking for an experienced Lead Software Engineer to lead the transformation of this software. Our strategy is to focus on three core products:
- An installation and deployment app, used by field engineers (mobile)
- A fleet monitoring cloud application for internal use (Ruby on Rails)
- A customer fleet administration cloud application (C# .NET and React)
Today we have five. Two existing mobile apps need to be combined and rationalised into the single installation and deployment app, and a legacy desktop application will receive maintenance changes only until our support commitments end. Leading the team to that target state, and making these three products a genuine differentiator for HWM, is the core of this role. The role also carries a significant element of product ownership. You'll work closely with Product Management and the Head of Digital Delivery, but we're looking for someone self-driven who takes real ownership of the product. With the support of a designer, you'll get close to customers and field engineers, understand their problems and turn that into clear direction for the team, rather than working through tickets defined elsewhere. You'll lead three direct reports. The team is deliberately small, with a focused set of three products and extensive use of AI-assisted development tools such as Claude Code. The team sits within our wider Digital team, alongside several similarly shaped teams working on other priority areas. These teams share knowledge, help each other out and form tiger teams when a problem needs it, so you won't be working in isolation. This is a hands-on leadership role. We expect up to 40% of your time to be spent coding, varying with the phase of work, so you'll keep your technical skills sharp while leading the team.
Key Objectives for the first 12 months
- Deliver measurable improvements in fleet operations, such as faster provisioning and deployment, and fewer support requests per thousand devices
- Agree a roadmap and target architecture for consolidating onto the three core products
- Evaluate the mobile platform options (.NET MAUI and Flutter), make a recommendation and begin delivering the combined installation and deployment app on the chosen platform
- Build on the team's existing use of AI-assisted development to make it a core strength, and use it to accelerate the modernisation of our legacy code
Responsibilities
- Lead the Hardware Lifecycle software team, providing technical guidance, mentorship and coaching, and improving team processes
- Own the technical direction and architecture of the team's software, and clearly articulate engineering trade-offs to technical and non-technical colleagues
- Act as product owner, working with Product Management, customers and colleagues across the business to shape and prioritise the backlog, and take responsibility for the outcomes delivered
- Manage legacy applications through to end of support, limiting changes to essential maintenance
- Design, develop and maintain high-quality software across our tech stack (C# .NET, React, Xamarin/.NET MAUI, Ruby on Rails, Azure, Git)
- Support our move from a Windows-centric environment to a more platform-agnostic approach, including Linux
- Identify and mitigate technical risks, and develop strategies to address technical debt
- Provide responsive support for urgent user issues
Role Requirements
Leadership Skills
- Proven experience of leading a software team, including:
- Experience of leading a team through a legacy modernisation or re-platforming
- A strong sense of product ownership, with experience of shaping requirements and priorities rather than only implementing them
- Excellent communication skills, with stakeholders and team members alike
- A cool head with excellent problem-solving and troubleshooting skills
Technical Skills
- Significant experience in software development, with strong C# .NET skills
- Experience of mobile app development (Xamarin, .NET MAUI or Flutter) and web development, ideally React
- Open-minded and willing to work across multiple technology stacks, including those new to you
- Regular, hands-on use of AI-assisted development tools
- Experience with Linux as well as Windows environments
- Familiarity with cloud-based services, especially Azure, and security fundamentals
- Experience with CI/CD pipelines, Git and automated testing
- Significant experience with RDBMS and SQL
Desirable
- Experience with Flutter/Dart or Ruby on Rails
- Experience of IoT, device management or fleet/asset management systems
- Experience in the utilities or critical infrastructure sector
- Personal or open-source projects outside of work (links welcome with your application)
What we Offer
37.5 hours per week with core working hours and flexible options. Benefits include 26 days of annual leave plus bank holidays, the option to buy or sell holidays, a pension plan with employer contribution up to 10.5%, a salary sacrifice car scheme, health coverage, parental leave, and an employee assistance programme.
Lead Software Engineer - Hardware Lifecycle employer: Halma plc
Halma plc is an exceptional employer that prioritises the growth and development of its apprentices through a unique blend of practical experience and academic learning. With a strong focus on Lean methodologies and continuous improvement, employees are encouraged to innovate and contribute meaningfully in a supportive, fast-paced environment. The company fosters a collaborative culture where teamwork and safety are paramount, making it an ideal place for aspiring engineers to thrive.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Lead Software Engineer - Hardware Lifecycle
✨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 Halma plc 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 Halma plc.
✨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 Halma plc.
✨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 Halma plc 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 Lead Software Engineer - Hardware Lifecycle
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 Halma plc.
Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at Halma plc 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 Halma plc
✨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 Halma plc 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.
