At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead engineering squads to deliver AI-powered features in SaaS products.
- Company: Join a fast-growing AI SaaS organisation at the forefront of technology.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible work environment, and opportunities for career growth.
- Other info: Dynamic role with hands-on technical leadership and a focus on continuous improvement.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by driving AI-first development and mentoring talented engineers.
- Qualifications: Experience in software engineering and managing teams, with a strong understanding of AI.
The predicted salary is between 80000 - 100000 £ per year.
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a strong Software Development Manager to join one of the fastest growing AI SaaS organisations, best in what they do and truly an AI-first business. Their engineering teams are shipping AI-powered features into production right now, not experimenting, not planning, BUILDING!
The Opportunity
You'll lead three engineering squads building AI-first features into our SaaS products. This means owning both the people and the projects: coaching engineers, running delivery, and making sure the technical direction is sound. Your teams include fast-moving, highly skilled developers who are deep in AI. You need to be a credible technical partner to them, not just a process manager who delegates the hard questions. This role sits at the intersection of hands-on technical leadership and people management. You'll be reviewing architectural decisions, challenging implementation choices, and pushing AI-first thinking across development and QA workflows while also running 1:1s, growing careers, and keeping delivery on track.
What Will You Do?
- Lead three engineering squads delivering AI-powered features into our SaaS products for accountancy, payroll, and practice management.
- Provide genuine technical guidance to your squads, not just repeat what your team tells you.
- Champion AI-first development: ensure developers and QAs are using AI tools effectively as part of their daily workflows.
- Run agile delivery with a focus on outcomes, not ceremonies.
- Coach, mentor, and grow engineers through structured 1:1s, career development, and honest feedback.
- Collaborate with product to translate business requirements into well-scoped technical work.
- Drive continuous improvement in how we build, test, and ship software.
- Hire well. You'll help us find and onboard engineers who raise our bar.
- Communicate delivery status, risks, and technical trade-offs to stakeholders clearly and without surprises.
What We Need From You?
Must Haves
- You've been a software engineer. Not a project manager who worked near engineers, someone who has written production code and understands what it takes to build great products.
- You've managed engineering teams and can point to teams you've built, grown, or turned around.
- You understand AI beyond the surface. You can explain how an LLM works, distinguish RAG from fine-tuning, and evaluate an architecture proposal that includes AI without needing someone to translate it for you.
- You have genuine curiosity about AI. You experiment with tools and models, follow the field, and build things using AI or containing it.
- Our engineers live in this space. You need to be a credible conversational partner.
- You know what great agile software development looks like and have a track record of delivering quality software, preferably SaaS or E-commerce.
- You can hold the room with technically strong engineers. You'll earn respect through competence, not title.
Preferred
- Experience with .NET, C#, JavaScript or Azure, our primary stack. Our engineers are polyglot and we use technologies beyond these, but familiarity with some of our core stack is useful.
- Hands-on experience building AI-powered features, not just adopting AI developer tools.
- Experience managing multiple teams simultaneously.
- SaaS product development background.
Interested? Please apply and one of the team will be in touch!
Development Manager employer: InterCity Partners Ltd
Join a dynamic and innovative AI SaaS organisation that prioritises growth and development, offering a collaborative work culture where your technical expertise will be valued. As a Development Manager, you'll have the opportunity to lead talented engineering squads, fostering their careers while driving impactful AI-first projects. With a focus on continuous improvement and hands-on leadership, this role provides a unique chance to shape the future of software development in a fast-paced environment.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Development Manager
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with folks in the AI and SaaS space. Attend meetups, webinars, or even just grab a coffee with someone in the industry. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! If you've got a portfolio of projects or contributions to open-source software, make sure to highlight them. Create a GitHub profile that showcases your work, especially anything related to AI or SaaS. This is your chance to demonstrate your technical chops beyond just a CV.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for those interviews! Research the company and its products thoroughly. Be ready to discuss how your experience aligns with their needs, especially around AI-first development. Practice common interview questions and think about how you can showcase your leadership and technical skills.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! We love seeing applications come directly from candidates who are genuinely interested in joining us. Tailor your application to reflect your passion for AI and your experience in managing engineering teams. Let’s get you on board!
We think you need these skills to ace Development Manager
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Technical Side:Make sure to highlight your hands-on experience as a software engineer. We want to see that you’ve been in the trenches, writing code and making architectural decisions, not just managing from the sidelines.
Be AI-Savvy:Since we’re all about AI, it’s crucial to demonstrate your understanding of AI concepts like LLMs and RAG. Share any projects or experiences where you’ve integrated AI into your work to show us you’re genuinely curious and knowledgeable.
Focus on Leadership Experience:We’re looking for someone who can lead and grow engineering teams. In your application, mention specific examples of how you’ve coached engineers, managed multiple squads, and driven successful outcomes in previous roles.
Apply Through Our Website:Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your application and get you in front of the right people. We can’t wait to see what you bring to the table!
How to prepare for a job interview at InterCity Partners Ltd
✨Know Your Tech Inside Out
Make sure you brush up on your technical knowledge, especially around AI, LLMs, and RAG. Be ready to discuss architectural decisions and implementation choices in detail. This isn't just about knowing the buzzwords; you need to demonstrate a deep understanding of how these technologies work.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Style
Prepare to talk about your experience managing engineering teams. Highlight specific examples where you've coached or mentored engineers, and how you've fostered a culture of continuous improvement. They want to see that you can lead by example and inspire your team.
✨Be Agile and Outcome-Focused
Familiarise yourself with agile methodologies and be ready to discuss how you've successfully implemented them in past projects. Emphasise your focus on outcomes rather than just processes, and share examples of how you've driven delivery while keeping the team motivated.
✨Communicate Clearly and Confidently
Practice articulating complex technical concepts in a way that's easy to understand. You'll need to communicate delivery status, risks, and trade-offs to stakeholders, so being clear and concise is key. Confidence in your communication will help you earn respect from both your team and interviewers.
