At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and mentor a team while developing innovative software solutions.
- Company: Join a fast-growing prop-tech company revolutionising property data access.
- Benefits: Enjoy hybrid working, 25 days holiday, and a personal growth fund.
- Other info: Be part of a diverse culture with exciting team events and growth opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a dynamic environment with cutting-edge technology.
- Qualifications: 7+ years in software engineering with leadership experience required.
The predicted salary is between 86000 - 103000 £ per year.
Reporting To: Chief Technology Officer
Salary: £100,000 - £120,000 dependent on experience
Working Location: Hybrid/ London (2 days a week on site at our Old Street office)
About Searchland
Searchland is a high-growth, B2B prop-tech company transforming how businesses and individuals access and leverage property data. Our platform empowers property developers, land agents, architects, and planners with real-time insights, helping them make smarter, data-driven decisions when acquiring and developing land. In just five years, we’ve built one of the UK’s most advanced property data pipelines, integrating thousands of data sources and processing terabytes of information with less than 24-hour latency. Our cutting-edge platform is shaping the future of property intelligence.
About The Role
We’re looking for a Lead Full-Stack Engineer who will combine deep technical ability with strong leadership and architectural oversight. You will drive technical excellence across the organisation, mentor and develop engineers, and help shape the long-term direction of Searchland’s platform. This is a hands-on role - expect to contribute to the codebase daily - but also a highly strategic one. You will influence product direction through technical insight, guide multidisciplinary squads (engineering, data, design), and help build and scale a high-performing engineering organisation.
What You’ll Do
- Technical Leadership & Architecture
- Provide architectural oversight across frontend, backend, data infrastructure, and platform components
- Set engineering standards and champion best practices in reliability, scalability, and maintainability
- Lead complex technical design discussions, ensuring trade-offs between speed, scope, and scale are well balanced
- Shape Searchland’s technical roadmap in partnership with product and data leaders
- Team Leadership & Mentorship
- Mentor senior and mid-level engineers, supporting growth through coaching, pairing, and design reviews
- Foster a positive engineering culture built on autonomy, trust, continuous learning, and pragmatic delivery
- Support multidisciplinary collaboration across data, design, and product teams
- Delivery & Hands-On Engineering
- Lead by example with high-quality contributions across the full stack
- Develop performant, accessible front-end features using React (Vite) + Tailwind
- Design and ship scalable APIs using Node.js, Express, and tRPC
- Maintain and improve PostgresQL database and query performance
- Work closely with our data team to evolve Elasticsearch-driven architectures
- Own delivery of complex projects from discovery through deployment and monitoring
- Cross-Functional Impact
- Work closely with Product to ensure technical input shapes roadmap and feature direction
- Translate complex technical challenges into clear, actionable insights for non-technical stakeholders
- Proactively identify opportunities to improve product performance, reliability, and developer experience
You Are
An experienced engineer who has led teams or initiatives and thrives on pairing technical depth with leadership impact. You think holistically - systems, teams, product - and you influence through clarity, pragmatism, and strong delivery instincts.
You likely bring:
- A proven track record leading engineering initiatives or teams in a high-growth environment
- Strong communication skills and the ability to influence product direction through technical framing
- Experience mentoring engineers and helping teams deliver high-quality software at pace
- Comfort working with data scientists, designers, and product managers in multidisciplinary squads
- A proactive, ownership-driven mindset
Essential Experience
- Right to work in the UK
- 7+ years in software engineering with at least 2–3 years in a lead, staff, or senior-plus role
- Demonstrable experience building and scaling SaaS platforms
- Experience leading technical architecture or system design initiatives
- Experience mentoring or managing engineers
- Strong experience with our stack (or strong adjacent experience): Frontend: React (Vite), Tailwind; Backend: Node.js, Express, tRPC; Databases: PostgreSQL, Elasticsearch
Desired Experience
- Working in PropTech or data-heavy product environments
- Prior experience building or scaling engineering teams
- Familiarity with UK planning, property, or geospatial data
Interview Process
- Initial introductory call with our HR Team
- Pre prepared technical task (React + Tailwind + tRPC + PostgreSQL) with a walkthrough & system design interview with a Senior Engineer
- In depth technical task
- Final interview with the Chief Technology Officer
Why Join Us?
- Flexibility: Hybrid working with two days in our Old Street office
- Wellbeing & balance: 25 days holiday + bank holidays, your birthday off, Christmas office shutdown, and a HealthShield employee cash plan including dental
- Growth & development: Learn across onboarding, customer engagement, and project work, with mentoring and clear opportunities to progress in SaaS.
- Tools & support: A MacBook and contribution to a home office setup, EMI scheme, and £500 per year personal growth fund.
- Great culture: Free lunches and team socials (bake-offs, 3 Peaks challenge, staycations, holidays abroad when targets are hit)
Our Commitment to Inclusion
We are committed to creating an inclusive, diverse workplace where every team member feels valued, heard, and empowered. If you need any accommodations during the recruitment process, we are here to support you. We welcome applications from all backgrounds, regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, disability, age, religion, or any other characteristic. If you require any adjustments during the recruitment process, please let us know—we are happy to support you.
Lead Software Engineer in London employer: Searchland
As a Business Development Manager at our company, you will thrive in a dynamic and supportive work culture that prioritises employee growth and development. With competitive salaries and a focus on achieving sales targets, we offer unique opportunities for professional advancement while working in a vibrant location that fosters innovation and collaboration.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Lead Software Engineer in London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the industry, attend meetups, and engage with online communities. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can refer you directly.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for those interviews! Research the company, understand their tech stack, and be ready to discuss how your experience aligns with their needs. Practise common technical questions and be ready to showcase your problem-solving skills.
✨Tip Number 3
Show off your projects! Whether it's a GitHub repo or a personal website, having tangible examples of your work can set you apart. Make sure to highlight any relevant experience with React, Node.js, or other technologies mentioned in the job description.
✨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 our team at Searchland.
We think you need these skills to ace Lead Software Engineer in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV reflects the skills and experiences that match the Lead Software Engineer role. Highlight your leadership experience and technical expertise, especially in areas like React, Node.js, and PostgreSQL.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Use your cover letter to tell us why you're the perfect fit for Searchland. Share your passion for prop-tech and how your background aligns with our mission to transform property data access.
Showcase Your Projects:Include links to your GitHub or any relevant projects that demonstrate your coding skills and architectural thinking. We love seeing real examples of your work and how you tackle complex challenges.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role without any hiccups!
How to prepare for a job interview at Searchland
✨Know Your Tech Stack
Make sure you’re well-versed in the technologies mentioned in the job description, especially React, Node.js, and PostgreSQL. Brush up on your knowledge of these tools and be ready to discuss how you've used them in past projects.
✨Showcase Leadership Experience
Prepare examples that highlight your leadership skills. Think about times when you mentored others or led a project. Be ready to discuss how you fostered collaboration and drove technical excellence within your team.
✨Understand the Business Context
Research Searchland and its role in the PropTech space. Understand how their platform works and be prepared to discuss how your technical insights can influence product direction and improve performance.
✨Practice Problem-Solving
Expect technical tasks during the interview process. Practice coding challenges and system design problems relevant to the role. This will help you articulate your thought process clearly and demonstrate your problem-solving abilities.