At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead software projects and manage a remote development team while ensuring technical excellence.
- Company: Join PEN Group, a dynamic tech company in Canary Wharf, London.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, generous leave, and various discounts on lifestyle and wellness.
- Other info: Collaborative culture that values innovation and offers excellent career growth.
- Why this job: Shape impactful products across diverse industries with a focus on AI integration.
- Qualifications: 2+ years in software development and experience in project management required.
The predicted salary is between 43000 - 48000 £ per year.
PEN Group is seeking an experienced Software Project Manager who began their career as a software developer and has since transitioned into delivery or product management. This is not a pure PM role — we need someone who genuinely understands code, can earn the trust of engineers, and can hold a technical conversation about architecture, performance, and trade-offs.
You will take ownership of a growing portfolio of in-house software platforms used across all businesses connected to PEN Group. You will manage a small overseas development team day-to-day from our Canary Wharf office, acting as the bridge between business stakeholders and technical delivery.
Career Profile We Are Seeking
- 2+ years as a software developer or technical lead, writing production code
- Subsequent move into a delivery or management role: Software Project Manager, Technical Product Manager, Engineering Lead, Delivery Manager, or similar
About the Projects
You will lead the development and continuous improvement of a growing suite of internal and commercial software platforms spanning multiple industries:
- EdTech platforms and education management systems
- HR and staffing management platforms
- Hospitality and operations systems
- Travel and booking-related systems
- Website builder and CRM platforms
There is a strong and growing emphasis on AI integration across all products — including workflow automation, intelligent data processing, reporting insights, and AI-assisted user experiences. Many projects will evolve from MVP stage to scalable production systems, requiring strong architectural thinking and long-term maintainability planning.
Key Responsibilities
- Own end-to-end delivery of multiple software projects simultaneously
- Day-to-day management and support of an overseas development team of engineers
- Translate business requirements into well-scoped technical tasks, epics, and milestones
- Track progress, manage risks proactively, and unblock delivery issues
- Conduct code reviews and provide technical guidance where appropriate
- Communicate clearly with both technical teams and non-technical senior stakeholders
- Ensure platforms are built to be scalable, secure, and maintainable from the outset
- Evaluate technical approaches and contribute to architectural decisions
- Define and maintain development standards, workflows, and documentation practices
Essential Requirements
- Minimum 2 years of hands-on software development experience building production systems
- Proficiency in one or more modern stacks: JavaScript/TypeScript, React/Next.js, Node.js, PHP, or equivalent
- Solid understanding of relational databases (PostgreSQL, MySQL) and data modelling
- Experience shipping at least one production software platform from development through to live
- Proven experience managing software delivery from requirements through to production release
- Experience leading or coordinating a small technical team, including remote or offshore engineers
- Comfortable using project management and collaboration tools (Jira, Linear, GitHub, Notion, etc.)
- Strong planning, prioritisation, and stakeholder communication skills
Desirable (Nice to Have)
- Experience scaling products from MVP to full production with real user load
- Cloud or serverless deployment experience (AWS, GCP, Azure, or Vercel/similar)
- Database schema design and query performance optimisation
- Familiarity with AI/ML tooling or LLM integrations in production systems
- SaaS, CRM, or enterprise platform experience
- Agile or Scrum certification (though practical experience is more important to us)
Why Join PEN Group
- High level of ownership — you will shape how products are built and delivered, not just track tickets
- Work on a diverse portfolio of platforms with real business impact across multiple industries
- Collaborative culture that values technical depth and practical delivery over process for its own sake
- Competitive salary based on experience, plus Tier 2 visa sponsorship available for the right candidate
- Office based in Canary Wharf, London with a dynamic and growing team
Benefits
- Annual leave (7.2 weeks)
- Workplace pension scheme
- Company Sick Policy
- Statutory maternity/paternity pays
- Career development opportunities
- Training and self-development opportunities
- Gym membership discounts
- Retail discount schemes
- Cinema discounts
- Grocery discounts
- Cycle to work
- Investing and savings opportunities
- Financial wellbeing – personal debt advice
- Financial wellbeing education
- My Mind Pal (mental fitness)
Software Project Manager in London employer: PEN Group
At Planet Education Networks, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer that fosters a collaborative culture and values technical expertise. Located in the vibrant Canary Wharf, London, our team enjoys a competitive salary, generous annual leave, and numerous benefits including career development opportunities and wellness programmes. Join us to take ownership of impactful projects while working alongside a dynamic team dedicated to innovation and excellence in software delivery.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Software Project Manager in London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the industry. Attend meetups, webinars, or even just grab a coffee with someone who works at PEN Group. Building relationships can open doors that a CV just can't.
✨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. A hands-on demonstration of your coding chops can really set you apart from the crowd.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for the technical chat! Brush up on your coding knowledge and be ready to discuss architecture and performance. Being able to hold a technical conversation will earn you serious brownie points with the team.
✨Tip Number 4
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 PEN Group family.
We think you need these skills to ace Software Project Manager in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Development Background:Make sure to highlight your experience as a software developer in your application. We want to see how your coding skills have shaped your journey into project management, so don’t hold back on those details!
Tailor Your Application:Take the time to customise your CV and cover letter for this role. Use keywords from the job description to show us you understand what we’re looking for and how you fit the bill.
Be Clear and Concise:When writing your application, keep it straightforward. We appreciate clarity, so make sure your points are easy to read and get straight to the heart of your experience and skills.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to submit your application through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for the role without any hiccups!
How to prepare for a job interview at PEN Group
✨Know Your Tech Inside Out
As a Software Project Manager, you need to demonstrate your technical prowess. Brush up on the tech stack mentioned in the job description, like JavaScript, React, and Node.js. Be ready to discuss your past development experiences and how they relate to the projects you'll be managing.
✨Showcase Your Management Skills
Prepare examples of how you've successfully managed software delivery in the past. Highlight your experience with remote teams and how you've tackled challenges in communication and project management. Use specific metrics or outcomes to illustrate your impact.
✨Bridge the Gap Between Teams
PEN Group is looking for someone who can communicate effectively with both technical and non-technical stakeholders. Practice explaining complex technical concepts in simple terms. Think of scenarios where you've had to translate business needs into technical tasks and be ready to share those stories.
✨Emphasise Continuous Improvement
Discuss your approach to continuous improvement and how you've implemented feedback loops in previous projects. Be prepared to talk about how you ensure that platforms are scalable and maintainable, and how you keep up with industry trends, especially regarding AI integration.
