At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead engineering projects, mentor teams, and engage directly with clients to deliver impactful solutions.
- Company: Dynamic technology consultancy working across diverse sectors like healthcare and defence.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible working options, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Join a collaborative environment focused on continuous improvement and client success.
- Why this job: Shape innovative digital products while making a real difference in various industries.
- Qualifications: Experience in C#, .NET, and leading technical teams; strong communication skills required.
The predicted salary is between 63000 - 77000 £ per year.
We’re looking for a Lead Engineer who enjoys being the person who can bridge the gap between great engineering, good technical decisions and successful client outcomes. You’ll be joining a growing technology consultancy that works with organisations across sectors including healthcare, defence and the wider public and private sectors, helping them solve complex problems and build better digital products and services. This isn’t a role where you’ll disappear into a technical silo. You’ll be expected to lead from the front, shaping solutions, supporting engineers, working directly with clients and making sure what gets designed actually gets delivered.
What you’ll be doing:
- Taking technical ownership of projects, products or engineering work-streams from discovery and design through to production
- Leading and mentoring engineers, helping raise engineering standards and developing those around you
- Making pragmatic architectural and technical decisions across the full delivery lifecycle
- Working directly with technical and non-technical client stakeholders, translating complex technical concepts into clear conversations and decisions
- Challenging requirements and helping clients understand what they actually need, rather than simply building what they initially ask for
- Contributing to technical design, architecture, estimation and delivery planning
- Remaining hands-on with C# and .NET, rather than moving entirely into management
- Working with cloud-native technologies, particularly Azure, alongside modern CI/CD and containerised environments
- Championing automated testing, engineering best practice and continuous improvement
- Helping teams navigate ambiguity and turning complex problems into practical solutions
- Thinking commercially, understanding that successful consultancy is about delivering the right outcome for the client, not just producing technically impressive software
What we’re looking for:
- You’ll ideally have strong commercial experience as a Lead Engineer, Technical Lead, Lead Developer or equivalent
- Deep hands-on experience with C# and modern .NET
- Experience leading a team, workstream or technical delivery — with the ability to bring engineers with you
- Strong understanding of software architecture and technical design
- Experience working with Azure or another major cloud platform
- Good knowledge of CI/CD, containerisation and modern engineering practices
- A strong approach to automated testing and quality
- Excellent communication skills with both technical and non-technical audiences
- Experience working in a consultancy, client-facing or product-focused environment
- The commercial awareness to understand how technical decisions affect clients, delivery and the wider business
React / TypeScript experience would be beneficial, as would experience within healthcare, defence, public sector or technology consultancy.
The important bit… We’re not just looking for the strongest coder in the room. We’re looking for someone who can lead a technical team, influence a client, make good decisions when the answer isn't obvious and take responsibility for the outcome. Someone who enjoys being hands-on, but is also thinking about the bigger picture. Someone who can walk into a room with a CTO, Product Director or senior client stakeholder and confidently explain why something should be built, not just how to build it. If that sounds like you, we’d love to hear from you.
Lead Software Engineer employer: Inara
Join an award-winning technology consultancy that values innovation and quality in software development. As a Senior QA Automation Engineer, you'll enjoy a collaborative remote work culture that encourages professional growth and the opportunity to shape the quality strategy of exciting new projects. With competitive rates and a focus on cutting-edge technologies, this role offers a meaningful chance to make a real impact in the tech industry.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Lead Software Engineer
✨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 Inara 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 Inara.
✨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 Inara.
✨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 Inara 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
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 Inara.
Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at Inara 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 Inara
✨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 Inara 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.
