Head of Software Engineering - Store Operations in London
Head of Software Engineering - Store Operations

Head of Software Engineering - Store Operations in London

London Full-Time 72000 - 108000 £ / year (est.) No home office possible
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Marks and Spencer

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead a dynamic team to create innovative software solutions for millions of customers.
  • Company: Join the iconic M&S brand, known for its ethical values and commitment to excellence.
  • Benefits: Enjoy a 20% discount, competitive holidays, and tailored training from day one.
  • Why this job: Be part of a digital transformation and make a real impact in retail technology.
  • Qualifications: Proven experience in software engineering and leadership across diverse tech stacks.
  • Other info: Inclusive culture with strong support for personal development and wellbeing.

The predicted salary is between 72000 - 108000 £ per year.

As part of the M&S Software Engineering team, you will be joining a well-loved historic brand, working on solutions that serve millions of loyal customers and thousands of colleagues! With ethical values that run right through the company’s core and technology leaders that truly understand software engineers and engineering, it’s an exciting time as we are redefining ourselves into a digital first and engineering-led organisation, with the quality of our engineering team being a key differentiator.

We are seeking a passionate Head of Engineering who will provide technical expertise, ship thoughtfully and operate with excellence. Being creative, curious, and confident, you will be an integral part of our empowered, self-managing, multi-disciplinary Engineering teams – designing, building, releasing, and maintaining products. Working as an equal partner with the Product and Delivery teams, you will deliver sophisticated and robust solutions to solve daring problems for our customers and colleagues.

You will play a key role in driving our ambition to create a best-in-class software Engineering team, environment, and culture. We are looking for people to join our community of engineers to drive this transformation, build a modern digital ecosystem using exciting technologies, and do the best work of their careers.

Your key accountabilities will include:

  • Lead Software Engineering Managers to build and maintain high quality and reliable software
  • Responsible for the Engineering excellence in Store Ops: championing engineering best practices including agile methodologies, DevOps, continuous integration and deployment, test automation, and code quality
  • Drive modernisation of legacy systems whilst ensuring stability and security across our technology estate
  • Line manage and develop Engineering Managers to ensure they have the right skills, development plans and bias to learning.
  • Maintain and cultivate effective relationships with Product, Delivery, Architecture and InfoSec counterparts to prioritise, problem solve & maximise value to market.
  • Work with the wider Technology function to implement the technical strategy, adopting the North Star principles. You will define and execute the software engineering strategy aligned with our broader business objectives. This includes establishing technical vision, adopting architecture standards, and engineering practices that enable scalability, reliability, and innovation across our digital platforms, e-commerce and POS systems, supply chain technology, and in-store solutions.

Your skills and experience will include:

  • Previous polyglot hands-on senior software engineer
  • Excellent knowledge in TechOps/DevOps, Infrastructure, and/or IoT
  • Excellent knowledge in all stack areas, from front-end through to back-end
  • Extensive background in software engineering with several years’ experience in a variety of systems and technologies
  • Consistent track record in delivering, operating, leading, hiring and shifting at Product Group level and above
  • Excellent understanding of System Design, Software Architecture, Cloud and Infrastructure best practices

M&S uses a variety of technologies. For this role that includes:

  • Java, Micronaut, PL/SQL
  • ReactJS, Next.js
  • Mule, Kafka, MQ
  • Cloud – Azure
  • CI/CD – AzureOps and GitHub Actions
  • Observability: Dynatrace

Working at M&S means being part of something bigger – helping to deliver quality, value and service to millions of customers every day. We’re inclusive, fast-moving and always evolving, with a strong sense of purpose and a focus on doing the right thing.

20% colleague discount on all M&S products and many third-party brands for you and someone in your household, available once you’ve completed your probation

Competitive holiday allowance with the option to buy more

Discretionary bonus schemes linked to your performance and ours

Strong pension and life assurance to help plan for the future

Tailored induction and training to support your development from day one

Exclusive perks and savings through our M&S Choices portal

Market-leading family policies, including parental, adoption and neonatal leave

24/7 wellbeing support, including virtual GP access and mental health services

One paid volunteer day a year to support a cause that matters to you

We are ambitious about the future of retail. We’re disrupting, innovating and leading the industry into a more conscientious, inspiring digital era. We’re transforming how we work together and offering our most exciting opportunities yet. Marks & Spencer strives to be an inclusive organisation, trusted and admired by our colleagues, customers and suppliers. Join us and make change happen.

We are committed to building diverse and representative teams, where everyone can bring their whole selves to work and be at their best. We support each other and work together to win together.

If you feel you’d benefit from any support or reasonable adjustments during any stage of the recruitment process, please don’t hesitate to let us know when completing your application. This information will be picked up by our team, so we can try and put steps in place to help you be at your best through this process.

Head of Software Engineering - Store Operations in London employer: Marks and Spencer

Joining M&S as the Head of Software Engineering means becoming part of a historic brand that values ethical practices and innovation. With a strong focus on employee development, competitive benefits, and a culture that champions inclusivity and collaboration, you will have the opportunity to lead a talented team in redefining retail technology while enjoying perks like a generous colleague discount, flexible holiday options, and comprehensive wellbeing support. This role not only offers a chance to make a significant impact but also fosters an environment where your contributions are valued and recognised.
Marks and Spencer

Contact Detail:

Marks and Spencer Recruiting Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫

We think this is how you could land Head of Software Engineering - Store Operations in London

✨Tip Number 1

Network like a pro! Reach out to current employees at M&S through LinkedIn or other platforms. Ask them about their experiences and any tips they might have for landing the Head of Software Engineering role. Personal connections can give you an edge!

✨Tip Number 2

Prepare for the interview by diving deep into M&S's tech stack. Familiarise yourself with Java, ReactJS, and AzureOps. Show us that you’re not just a fit for the role but also passionate about the technologies we use!

✨Tip Number 3

Practice your leadership stories! We want to hear about your experience in leading teams and driving engineering excellence. Be ready to share specific examples of how you've championed best practices and modernised systems.

✨Tip Number 4

Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in being part of our M&S family!

We think you need these skills to ace Head of Software Engineering - Store Operations in London

Technical Expertise
Agile Methodologies
DevOps
Continuous Integration
Continuous Deployment
Test Automation
Code Quality
Software Engineering Management
System Design
Software Architecture
Cloud Infrastructure
Java
Micronaut
ReactJS
CI/CD with Azure

Some tips for your application 🫡

Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to highlight your experience in software engineering and leadership. We want to see how your skills align with our mission to create a best-in-class engineering team!

Showcase Your Technical Expertise: Don’t hold back on sharing your knowledge of the tech stack we use, like Java, ReactJS, and Azure. We’re looking for someone who can hit the ground running, so let us know how you’ve used these technologies in your past roles.

Demonstrate Your Leadership Skills: As a Head of Engineering, you’ll be leading teams, so it’s crucial to showcase your experience in managing and developing engineering talent. Share examples of how you’ve fostered a positive team culture and driven engineering excellence.

Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates during the recruitment process!

How to prepare for a job interview at Marks and Spencer

✨Know Your Tech Stack

Make sure you’re well-versed in the technologies mentioned in the job description, like Java, ReactJS, and Azure. Brush up on your knowledge of DevOps practices and be ready to discuss how you've applied them in past roles.

✨Showcase Leadership Experience

As a Head of Software Engineering, you'll need to demonstrate your ability to lead teams effectively. Prepare examples of how you've managed engineering teams, fostered collaboration, and driven projects to success. Highlight any experience with mentoring or developing team members.

✨Understand Agile Methodologies

Since the role emphasises agile methodologies, be prepared to discuss your experience with agile practices. Share specific instances where you’ve implemented agile processes and how they improved project outcomes. This shows you can adapt and thrive in a fast-paced environment.

✨Align with Company Values

Marks & Spencer values ethical practices and innovation. Research their core values and think about how your personal values align with theirs. Be ready to discuss how you can contribute to their mission of creating a conscientious digital era in retail.

Head of Software Engineering - Store Operations in London
Marks and Spencer
Location: London
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