At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead technical innovation and mentor engineers on a fast-moving SaaS platform.
- Company: Established tech company in Manchester with a strong culture of innovation.
- Benefits: Salary up to £80,000, profit share, training budget, and wellbeing perks.
- Other info: Dynamic office-based role with excellent career growth opportunities.
- Why this job: Shape the future of technology while making a real impact in a collaborative environment.
- Qualifications: Expertise in C#/.NET, SQL, and experience with scalable back-end systems.
The predicted salary is between 63000 - 77000 £ per year.
Salary up to £80,000 p/a + benefits + profit share
Lead technical innovation across a mature, fast-moving SaaS platform. We’re looking for a C#/.NET expert with deep experience in scalable back-end systems. 5 days a week on-site in a central Manchester tech hub.
ABOUT THE CLIENT:
Our client is a well-established and rapidly scaling technology company, delivering high-availability SaaS products to a growing UK and international customer base. Their collaborative, in-office approach has helped them build a strong culture of innovation, delivery, and engineering excellence. With a packed roadmap of new features and growth into new market segments, they’re looking for a Principal Back-End Developer to set technical direction, mentor engineers, and lead the design of resilient, scalable platforms.
A GLIMPSE AT THE BENEFITS / CULTURE:
- Fully office-based role in a modern Manchester city centre workspace
- Autonomy, ownership, and a transparent progression framework
- Budget for training, conferences, and personal development
- Regular engineering guilds, hack days, and cross-team collaboration
- Profit share, free Monday breakfasts, wellbeing perks, and more
PRINCIPAL BACK-END DEVELOPER ROLE:
You’ll shape the technical direction for back-end engineering, influence architectural decisions, and work closely with cross-functional teams to deliver robust SaaS solutions. This is a hands-on role where you'll still code, contribute to process improvement, and guide technical decisions at scale. You’ll also mentor other developers, contribute to guild sessions, and support continuous improvement in tools, practices, and team culture.
KEY SKILLS / EXPERIENCE:
- Advanced experience with C# (.NET 6+), SQL Server, and OOP/SOLID principles
- Strong advocate of test-driven development (NUnit preferred)
- Proven ability to create and maintain RESTful and GraphQL APIs
- Deep experience in CI/CD, DevOps practices, and cloud platforms (Azure ideal)
- Excellent knowledge of Git and branching strategies
- Strong understanding of architectural patterns and system design
- Skilled in debugging and resolving production issues
- Comfortable leading technical direction and mentoring peers
TO BE CONSIDERED:
Please either apply by clicking online or emailing chris.hopley@searchability.com. For further information please contact via 07880 358 143 / 01244 567 925. By applying for this role, you give express consent for us to process & submit (subject to required skills) your application to our client in conjunction with this vacancy only.
KEY SKILLS: Principal Developer / Back-End Development / C# / .NET 6 / SQL / Azure / APIs / TDD / DevOps / Manchester / Office-Based / SaaS
Lead Software Engineer in Manchester employer: Searchability®
Join a dynamic and innovative technology company in the heart of Manchester, where you'll have the opportunity to lead technical innovation on a mature SaaS platform. With a strong emphasis on collaboration, employee development, and a transparent progression framework, this role offers not only competitive pay but also unique benefits like profit sharing and regular team-building activities. Experience a vibrant work culture that prioritises autonomy and continuous improvement, making it an excellent place for passionate engineers to thrive.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Lead Software Engineer in Manchester
✨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 Searchability® 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 Searchability®.
✨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 Searchability®.
✨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 Searchability® 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 Lead Software Engineer in Manchester
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 Searchability®.
Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at Searchability® 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 Searchability®
✨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 Searchability® 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.
