The Opportunity
We are seeking an experienced Software Engineering Lead to lead and scale a high-performing engineering culture within a thriving London-based marketplace. This is a role for a leader who balances technical credibility with a deep passion for people development. You will manage Team Leads and Individual Contributors, ensuring that \"protecting standards\" remains the foundation for team growth and reliable delivery.
You aren't just a task-tracker; you are a mentor who knows when to step in and when to let a team find their own path. You will be a key driver in technical strategy, architectural discussions, and cross-departmental collaboration.
The Role
- People Leadership: Line manage Team Leads and ICs. Conduct impactful 1:1s, set clear career trajectories, and coach your reports on mentoring, ownership, and technical leadership.
- Delivery & Strategy:Partner with Product and Design to define roadmaps and ensure work is scoped realistically. You’ll be accountable for team performance, identifying risks early, and maintaining credible delivery standards.
- Technical Oversight: Stay \"hands-on enough\" to contribute to architecture and trade-off discussions. Our stack is modern:PHP 8.5, Symfony, React/TypeScript, and AWS. You’ll review complex PRs and pair on gnarly problems when the team needs an extra set of eyes.
- Organizational Impact: Remove bottlenecks-whether technical or process-oriented to support long-term profitability and operational excellence.
Who You Are
- Experienced Leader:You have a proven track record of managing engineers and developing team culture. You are comfortable having difficult conversations and providing both praise and constructive feedback.
- Technically Grounded: You likely started as a Senior or Lead Engineer. You can still read code and demonstrate \"what great looks like\" to your team.
- Data-Driven:You use metrics to justify investments and inform technical debt management.
- Pragmatic: You understand the real-world trade-offs between speed, quality, and scope, and you help your teams navigate these consciously.
- Collaborator:You build strong relationships across the business, advocating for your team while finding solutions that serve the wider company goals.
PHP Technical Lead employer: Oakwell Hampton Group
Oakwell Hampton Group is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work culture that fosters collaboration and innovation in the heart of London. Employees benefit from extensive growth opportunities within a high-profile programme, working alongside top-tier professionals in the banking sector, while enjoying a supportive environment that values their contributions to impactful projects.
