Lead Engineer

Lead Engineer

Full-Time 80000 - 100000 £ / year (est.) No working from home possible
NewDay

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead a team to enhance engineering standards and drive cross-functional improvements.
  • Company: Join NewDay, a forward-thinking tech company focused on engineering excellence.
  • Benefits: Enjoy a hybrid work model, competitive salary, and opportunities for professional growth.
  • Other info: Be part of a diverse culture that values inclusivity and personal growth.
  • Why this job: Shape the future of engineering with AI and innovative tooling at scale.
  • Qualifications: Proven leadership in engineering and experience with scalable projects.

The predicted salary is between 80000 - 100000 £ per year.

Shape engineering at NewDay. We’ve built a brand new Engineering Excellence function – a team focused on raising the bar across our entire engineering organisation. This isn’t a role where you own a single product or write code day-to-day. Instead, you’ll sit at the centre of engineering, product and platform, driving improvements in standards, tooling, frameworks and developer experience to help our teams deliver better, faster and more reliably. You’ll play a critical role in shaping how we use AI and internal tooling to unlock engineering productivity at scale.

What you’ll be doing:

  • Lead and develop a team of engineers, creating a culture of ownership, quality and continuous improvement.
  • Define and evolve engineering standards, frameworks and best practices across the entire engineering organisation.
  • Drive improvements in software quality, testing strategy, observability and release confidence.
  • Partner with engineering, platform, product and security to deliver large-scale, cross-functional improvements.
  • Shape and deliver internal tooling and AI-assisted engineering workflows to improve how we build and run software.
  • Influence senior stakeholders and guide teams towards modern, scalable and resilient engineering practices.
  • Use data and insight to identify opportunities and prioritise where to focus.

What makes this role different:

  • High influence, low ego – success comes from enabling others, not doing it all yourself.
  • AI-first focus – you’ll help define how AI is used to improve engineering at NewDay.
  • Built from scratch – a rare opportunity to shape a brand-new function.

What we’re looking for:

  • You have a proven track record on leading teams with an engineering-first mindset and influencing people with a broader organisational impact.
  • Previous experience on building enterprise level, highly scalable projects, focused on performance, observability and security best practices.
  • Experience in a technology-driven organisation with strong engineering standards.
  • Strong experience improving engineering quality, reliability and operational maturity at scale.
  • A track record of influencing across engineering, product and platform teams.
  • Deep understanding of areas like CI/CD, observability, testing and resilience.
  • Experience leading teams and delivering cross-org initiatives.
  • A pragmatic, outcome-focused approach with strong stakeholder management.

Nice to have:

  • Experience shaping developer experience platforms or internal tooling.
  • Exposure to cloud-native environments (e.g. Azure) and modern architectures.
  • Experience in regulated or complex environments.

Why NewDay:

We’re serious about building a modern engineering organisation – one that’s cloud-native, data-driven and AI-enabled. Engineering Excellence is central to that vision. If you’re motivated by raising standards, solving complex cross-team challenges, and making a lasting impact at scale, this is your opportunity to do it.

At NewDay, we value all types of diversity. We’re an equal opportunity employer and believe that our differences create a vibrant, authentic working culture. We want all our colleagues to feel able to bring their whole selves to work. We don’t discriminate on the basis of protected characteristics or identities. We make sure that every job is crafted to be inclusive and that people with disabilities or caring responsibilities can take part in the application and interview process. Tell us if you need accommodations: We’ll put reasonable adjustments in place to support you. We work with Textio to make our job design and hiring inclusive.

Lead Engineer employer: NewDay

At NewDay, we are committed to fostering a culture of innovation and excellence within our engineering teams. As a Lead Engineer, you will have the unique opportunity to shape a brand-new Engineering Excellence function, driving improvements in standards and tooling while collaborating with cross-functional teams. Our inclusive work environment prioritises employee growth and embraces diversity, ensuring that every team member can contribute their unique perspectives and thrive in their roles.

NewDay

Contact Details:

NewDay Recruitment Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Lead Engineer

Tip Number 1

Network like a pro! Reach out to current or former employees at NewDay on LinkedIn. A friendly chat can give you insider info and might even lead to a referral, which can seriously boost your chances.

Tip Number 2

Prepare for the interview by understanding NewDay's engineering culture. Brush up on their AI initiatives and be ready to discuss how you can contribute to shaping their engineering excellence function.

Tip Number 3

Showcase your leadership skills! Be ready to share examples of how you've influenced teams and driven improvements in engineering practices. This is key for a role that’s all about enabling others.

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 joining the NewDay team.

We think you need these skills to ace Lead Engineer

Team Leadership
Engineering Standards
Continuous Improvement
Software Quality
Testing Strategy
Observability
Release Confidence

Some tips for your application 🫡

Show Your Leadership Skills:When writing your application, make sure to highlight your experience in leading teams and driving improvements. We want to see how you've influenced others and created a culture of ownership and quality in your previous roles.

Focus on Engineering Excellence:Emphasise your understanding of engineering standards and best practices. Share specific examples of how you've improved software quality and operational maturity, as this aligns perfectly with what we're looking for at NewDay.

Be Data-Driven:We love candidates who can use data to identify opportunities and prioritise initiatives. In your application, mention any experiences where you've leveraged insights to drive engineering improvements or influence stakeholders.

Apply Through Our Website:Don't forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensure you’re considered for this exciting opportunity to shape engineering at NewDay.

How to prepare for a job interview at NewDay

Understand the Role's Unique Focus

Before your interview, make sure you grasp the unique aspects of the Lead Engineer role at NewDay. This isn't just about coding; it's about shaping engineering standards and driving improvements across teams. Familiarise yourself with their AI-first approach and think about how you can contribute to enhancing developer experience.

Showcase Your Leadership Style

Be prepared to discuss your leadership philosophy and how you've fostered a culture of ownership and continuous improvement in previous roles. Think of specific examples where you've influenced teams and stakeholders, as this will resonate well with their focus on high influence and low ego.

Highlight Your Technical Expertise

Since the role involves improving software quality and operational maturity, come ready to talk about your experience with CI/CD, observability, and testing strategies. Share concrete examples of how you've implemented these practices in past projects, especially in technology-driven environments.

Prepare Questions That Reflect Their Values

Craft thoughtful questions that show your interest in NewDay's vision for a modern engineering organisation. Ask about their current challenges in implementing AI-assisted workflows or how they measure success in raising engineering standards. This demonstrates your alignment with their goals and your proactive mindset.