At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a team of software engineers and drive engineering excellence in a cloud-based platform.
- Company: Established UK SaaS business with a focus on innovation and growth.
- Benefits: Competitive day rate, opportunity for career development, and a collaborative work environment.
- Other info: Dynamic role with a focus on AI-driven development and continuous improvement.
- Why this job: Make a significant impact on engineering culture and technical strategy while mentoring a talented team.
- Qualifications: Experience leading software teams, strong technical skills in PHP or NodeJS/Python, and cloud migration knowledge.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.
Lead Software Engineer Location: Milton Keynes (4 days per week in the office) Day Rate: £500-£550 Outside IR35
Duration: 6 Months
We're working with an established and growing UK Saa S business looking to appoint an experienced Tech Lead to lead their software engineering function.
This is a leadership-focused role where you'll oversee a team of around 10 software engineers, driving engineering excellence, improving delivery processes, and shaping the technical direction of a modern cloud-based software platform.
You'll work closely with senior leadership to deliver strategic initiatives while building a high-performing engineering culture.
This is not a hands-on coding role, but you'll need the technical credibility to support, challenge and mentor the development team.
The Role You'll take ownership of the engineering function, focusing on people, processes, and technical strategy.
Key priorities include strengthening software development and QA practices, leading a cloud migration programme, and supporting the adoption of AI-powered development tools.
Responsibilities Lead, mentor and develop a team of approximately 10 software engineers.
Manage performance, career development, recruitment and team growth.
Improve and embed engineering best practices across SDLC, testing, code reviews, documentation and release management.
Own engineering governance around security, compliance and data protection.
Lead the migration of infrastructure to a public cloud platform (AWS, Azure or GCP).
Partner with senior stakeholders to translate product strategy into engineering delivery.
Drive adoption of modern AI-assisted and agentic software development practices.
Foster a culture of continuous improvement, collaboration and technical excellence.
About You You'll have previous experience managing software engineering teams and enjoy leading people as much as improving technical delivery.
Essential Experience leading software engineering teams (ideally 5+ developers).
Strong understanding of PHP (OR Node JS/Python), My SQL and modern web application development.
Experience implementing scalable engineering processes and delivery standards.
Proven experience with cloud infrastructure and cloud migration projects (AWS, Azure or GCP).
Knowledge of software security, GDPR and compliance requirements.
Comfortable working closely with executive leadership and influencing technical strategy.
Interest in AI-driven software development and emerging engineering practices.
Able to work from the Milton Keynes office at least four days per week.
Desirable Background within a Saa S environment.
Experience delivering AI-enabled product features.
Exposure to tools such as Cursor, Claude Code or Git Hub Copilot.
If you're an experienced Tech Lead looking for a role where you can make a significant impact on engineering culture, technical strategy and team leadership, we'd love to hear from you.
Apply today for a confidential discussion
Lead Software Engineer in Milton Keynes employer: SoCode Limited
SoCode Limited is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work culture in the heart of Cambridge that fosters innovation and collaboration. Employees benefit from ongoing professional development opportunities, competitive remuneration, and a supportive environment that encourages creativity and growth. Joining our team means being part of a forward-thinking company dedicated to pushing the boundaries of technology while ensuring a healthy work-life balance.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Lead Software Engineer in Milton Keynes
✨Get Involved in Open-Source Projects
Diving into open-source projects is a brilliant way to showcase your skills and connect with other developers in the community. Not only will you beef up your GitHub profile but you might also catch the eye of someone at SoCode Limited who values hands-on experience over just theory.
✨Attend Local Tech Meetups
Tech meetups are gold mines for networking and discovering job opportunities, especially in the fast-paced world of software engineering. Check out local listings for events in your area and don’t shy away from introducing yourself. This could lead directly to a temporary position at SoCode Limited!
✨Showcase Your Work Online
With temporary roles, it’s all about standing out in a short space of time. Create a portfolio website where you highlight your projects and skills. Talk about your code, and provide links to your GitHub repositories. This will not only demonstrate your abilities but will also make it easier for recruiters at SoCode Limited to see what you bring to the table.
✨Leverage Temporary Job Boards
Don’t forget to check specialised job boards for temporary software development roles. Websites like We Work Remotely or Remote OK often list short-term gigs that can be a perfect fit. Apply directly through our website as well, making sure your application is sharp—temporary roles can move fast!
We think you need these skills to ace Lead Software Engineer in Milton Keynes
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Tech Skills:Make sure your CV highlights your tech stack and any programming languages you’re proficient in. Include specifics about any frameworks or technologies you’ve worked with; they can make you stand out in the sea of applicants. It’s all about showing that you have the chops we need at SoCode Limited!
Portfolio 2.0:Since you’re applying for a temporary gig, it’s super important to showcase a portfolio that highlights your best projects. Include links to GitHub or any personal projects that demonstrate what you can do in a real-world environment. This gives us a taste of your style and your problem-solving approach!
Keep It Brief and Relevant:With a temporary position, we want to see your ability to hit the ground running. Be concise in your CV and cover letter; stick to experiences that directly relate to the role. Highlight any previous temporary roles or freelance gigs that show your adaptability and quick learning!
Tailor Your Cover Letter:Don’t just send a generic cover letter. Personalise it for Lead Software Engineer at SoCode Limited! Mention why this temporary role excites you and how you see yourself contributing in the short run. Show us what you've got and why you're the one for this quick turn-around!
How to prepare for a job interview at SoCode Limited
✨Nail the Technical Skills
For a software engineering role, you'll likely face technical questions or coding tasks during your interview. Brush up on the relevant programming languages and frameworks that SoCode Limited uses, and don’t forget to practice some coding challenges on platforms like LeetCode or HackerRank. Showing your coding prowess can really make you stand out!
✨Prepare for System Design Questions
Even for a temporary role, having a grasp of system design principles can be crucial. Be ready to discuss how you would architect a software solution, including discussing trade-offs, scalability, and performance considerations. Having examples from previous projects can really show off your analytical thinking.
✨Demonstrate Your Adaptability
Since this is a temporary role, you'll want to emphasise your ability to hit the ground running. Highlight experiences where you quickly adapted to new technologies or teams. Let’s make it clear to the interviewers at SoCode Limited that you can learn on the job and deliver results in a short timeframe!
✨Show Off Your Portfolio
Make sure to have a portfolio or GitHub ready showcasing your projects. Having tangible evidence of what you've done—be it personal projects, contributions to open-source, or previous work—can convey how capable you are. Tailor this for what might interest SoCode Limited, so it's relevant and sparks conversation during your interview.
