At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and mentor a high-performing software engineering team to deliver innovative solutions.
- Company: Join M&S, a trusted UK brand, shaping the digital future.
- Benefits: Enjoy discounts, competitive holidays, bonuses, and 24/7 wellbeing support.
- Other info: Be part of a diverse team committed to innovation and inclusivity.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a fast-evolving retail environment with cutting-edge technology.
- Qualifications: Experience in software engineering and team leadership is essential.
The predicted salary is between 67500 - 82500 £ per year.
Join M&S Software Engineering and help shape the digital future of one of the UK’s most trusted brands.
You’ll work on products and platforms that support millions of customers and thousands of colleagues, as part of an organisation investing heavily in becoming digital-first and engineering-led.
We’re looking for a Software Engineering Manager who combines strong technical judgement with a passion for building high‑performing teams.
This role sits within Fashion, Home & Beauty, in our Commercial Planning sub-domain.
The successful candidate will work within the Product Development space, leading engineering teams and providing technical oversight across key programmes and initiatives.
You’ll partner with vendors, third‑party suppliers and downstream systems to ensure integrations are delivered using robust, scalable and sustainable technical solutions.
- What You’ll Do
- Build, mentor and lead a high‑performing software engineering team, creating a culture of collaboration, innovation, accountability and continuous improvement.
- Oversee the planning, execution and delivery of software initiatives, ensuring alignment with business objectives, customer outcomes, timelines and strategic priorities.
- Drive engineering excellence through the adoption of strong engineering standards, development methodologies, Dev Ops practices and modern software delivery approaches.
- Ensure the operational stability, resilience, security and performance of software solutions owned by the team, embedding quality throughout the software development lifecycle.
- Partner closely with Product, Design, Delivery and business stakeholders to define priorities, manage risks and dependencies, and deliver measurable business value.
- Hold vendors, partners and third‑party suppliers accountable for engineering quality, delivery standards and operational outcomes, while maintaining strong collaborative relationships.
- Challenge architectural decisions and provide technical leadership to ensure the most effective and scalable solutions are delivered for business requirements.
Who You Are
- Previous hands‑on experience as a senior polyglot software engineer, with a strong background delivering highly scalable web and backend solutions.
- Significant software engineering experience across a variety of systems, platforms and technologies, with a strong understanding of modern engineering practices.
- Proven experience building, leading and developing high‑performing teams of senior engineers who consistently deliver high‑quality software solutions.
- Excellent understanding of system design, software architecture, cloud technologies and engineering best practices, with the ability to make effective technical decisions.
- Strong advocate of Dev Ops principles and a 'you build it, you run it' mindset, supported by a solid understanding of testing strategies and reliability engineering.
- Excellent leadership, people management, communication, analytical and problem‑solving skills, with the ability to influence stakeholders at all levels.
- A servant leadership approach with the ability to lead senior engineers, vendors and technical partners towards successful outcomes without prescribing every detail.
Desirable Experience
- Knowledge of the retail domain, particularly around the clothing product development lifecycle, merchandise planning, commercial planning and associated business processes, would be highly advantageous but is not essential.
- Tech Stack
- Backend: Java, Spring, Spring Boot, Micronaut
- Frontend: React, Next. js, Type Script, Angular
- Cloud & Infrastructure: Azure Cloud, Kubernetes
- Observability: Dynatrace
- Databases: SQL Server, Mongo DB
- Caching & Performance: Ignite, Redis
What’s in it for you?
- 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.
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.
Everyone’s Welcome
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.
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Software Engineering Manager - Product Development in London employer: Marks & Spencer
Marks & Spencer is an exceptional employer that prioritises inclusivity and employee growth, making it a fantastic place for those looking to thrive in the retail sector. With flexible working hours and a commitment to personal development, employees are encouraged to take ownership of their roles while contributing to a dynamic and supportive work culture. Join us in shaping a greener, more inspiring future in retail, where your contributions truly matter.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Software Engineering Manager - Product Development in London
✨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 Marks & Spencer 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 Marks & Spencer.
✨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 Marks & Spencer.
✨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 Marks & Spencer 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 Software Engineering Manager - Product Development in London
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 Marks & Spencer.
Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at Marks & Spencer 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 Marks & Spencer
✨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 Marks & Spencer 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.
