At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a tech squad, develop customer-facing products, and modernise legacy systems.
- Company: Fast-growing Manchester tech company focused on innovation and collaboration.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, private healthcare, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Join a dynamic team that values speed, ownership, and teamwork.
- Why this job: Shape engineering culture and influence product direction while coding hands-on.
- Qualifications: Experience with React, TypeScript, PHP/Laravel, and strong leadership skills.
The predicted salary is between 85000 - 100000 £ per year.
We're partnering with a fast growing Manchester business that is rebuilding its technology capability from the ground up and hiring a hands‑on Tech Lead to drive one of its core product squads. This is a genuine engineering leadership role for someone who still loves being in the code. You'll lead a cross‑functional squad responsible for delivering customer‑facing products used by millions of members across retail, rewards, and ecommerce‑style digital experiences.
The role is highly hands‑on, likely around 70‑80% technical contribution alongside technical leadership, mentoring, and squad ownership. You'll work closely with Product, UX, QA, and senior leadership to deliver meaningful customer features at pace, while helping establish engineering standards, delivery rhythm, and long‑term platform direction.
What you'll be doing:
- Technical contribution of around 80% hands‑on development alongside technical leadership and mentoring to raise engineering standards and capability.
- Leading architecture, design, and delivery across a modern full‑stack environment centred around React, TypeScript and Node.js.
- Remaining deeply hands‑on in the codebase, solving complex engineering problems and leading by example.
- Taking ownership of a critical legacy PHP/Laravel platform, helping modernise it safely while keeping delivery momentum high.
- Working closely with Product and UX to deliver customer facing features through fast iteration and experimentation.
- Driving best practices across clean architecture, testing, CI/CD, performance, and maintainability.
- Helping shape the team's adoption of AI‑assisted and agentic development workflows.
- Acting as a senior technical voice within the wider engineering function, contributing to platform and architectural decisions.
What they're looking for:
- Strong experience building modern frontend applications with React and TypeScript in production environments.
- Production experience of PHP/Laravel (even if you're not doing it currently).
- The backend estate currently spans Node.js and .NET Core, so experience in either would be valuable.
- A hands‑on technical leader who enjoys staying close to engineering rather than moving into pure management.
- Strong understanding of software craftsmanship, automated testing and CI/CD.
- Someone pragmatic, commercially aware, and comfortable balancing modernisation with real‑world delivery pressures.
- Interest or experience using AI tooling within engineering workflows.
Nice to have:
- React Native experience.
- Exposure to Azure and modern CI/CD tooling.
- Background in ecommerce, loyalty, fintech, marketplaces, or consumer‑facing digital products.
What will you get out of it?
- Help shape a modern engineering culture from the ground up - influencing architecture, tooling and delivery practices.
- Work directly with senior leadership and have real technical input into business direction.
- Join a collaborative, product‑led environment that values speed, ownership, and low‑ego teamwork.
Also, you will be well compensated, with a salary between £85k-£100k depending on experience, in addition to a strong benefits package including private healthcare.
Lead Software Engineer in Manchester employer: Sivara GmbH
Join a dynamic and innovative Manchester-based company that is committed to rebuilding its technology capabilities and fostering a collaborative work culture. As a Lead Software Engineer, you'll not only enjoy a competitive salary of £85k-£100k but also benefit from a strong package that includes private healthcare, while having the opportunity to shape engineering standards and influence product direction in a fast-paced environment. This role offers meaningful growth opportunities, allowing you to lead a talented team and make a significant impact on customer-facing products used by millions.
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 Sivara GmbH 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 Sivara GmbH.
✨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 Sivara GmbH.
✨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 Sivara GmbH 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 Sivara GmbH.
Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at Sivara GmbH 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 Sivara GmbH
✨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 Sivara GmbH 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.
