At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead teams to create impactful digital solutions for water services.
- Company: Join South West Water, part of Pennon Group, committed to a greener future.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, flexible working, and healthcare benefits.
- Other info: Diverse and inclusive culture that values uniqueness and progress.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in the water sector while shaping your career.
- Qualifications: Leadership experience in software platforms and Agile delivery management.
Powered by Water, Driven by Purpose. South West Water keeps the South West flowing with safe, reliable drinking water and wastewater services across some of the UK’s most stunning landscapes. We’re proud to be part of Pennon Group, a leader in the UK water sector, working towards a greener future. Our goals? As well as lowering our carbon footprint, we’re working with partners to plant 300,000 trees, restore peatlands and support farmers and landowners to improve water quality and wildlife. Whether you’re starting out or seeking a new challenge, our scale and ambition create opportunities for you to shape your own career. Ready to make a splash? Join our team today.
Purpose of the Role
As Software Engineering Manager, you will lead both the delivery and long-term ownership of key software platforms and development services that support critical business operations. You will oversee new development, enhancements and change delivery, while ensuring platforms transition successfully into live service and continue to operate securely, reliably and effectively. The role combines technology leadership, delivery oversight, governance, and people management. You will ensure our software platforms, development practices, citizen-led solutions, and AI-enabled capabilities remain secure, resilient, compliant, and fit for purpose in a regulated environment.
Key Responsibilities
- Define and deliver a clear software platform strategy and roadmap across custom applications, APIs, low-code, and legacy systems
- Lead high-quality, predictable delivery of software changes across internal teams, citizen developers, and third-party suppliers
- Own and prioritise the development backlog, balancing business needs, stability, risk, and innovation
- Establish governance for low-code and citizen development to enable safe, scalable use
- Oversee responsible adoption of AI-enabled capabilities
- Ensure architectural integrity, security, and compliance across all solutions
- Manage legacy systems, including modernisation and decommissioning plans
- Maintain reliable, resilient platform operations
- Lead and develop high-performing engineering teams and partners
- Control and optimise platform and tooling costs
- Provide clear reporting on delivery, risks, and platform health
Experience Required
- Proven leadership of enterprise software platforms and delivery governance (non-hands-on role)
- Experience managing mixed development ecosystems (custom, packaged, low-code)
- Strong background in backlog, roadmap, and delivery management (Agile or hybrid)
- Experience with AI governance and adoption in enterprise environments
- Track record leading multi-disciplinary teams and third-party suppliers
- Experience in regulated or operationally critical environments
Qualifications
Essential
- Degree-level or equivalent experience
- Certification in Agile, Scrum, SAFe, PRINCE2, MSP or similar
- Eligible for UK Security Clearance (SC)
Desirable
- Relevant cloud/platform certifications
- Experience governing low-code and AI solutions at scale
What you’ll get
Join us and help deliver a reliable, high-quality service for our customers across the South West. We believe in rewarding our people for their hard work and dedication. As our Software Engineering Manager you’ll enjoy:
- Competitive Salary – Based on experience and skills
- Company car or car allowance – Options to support your role
- Annual Bonus Scheme – Recognising company performance
- Pension Scheme – Helping you plan for your future
- Flexible Working Options – We value work-life balance and offer flexible hours and hybrid working where possible
- Healthcare Benefits – Access to employee assistance programs
- Employee Discounts – On various products and services
- Annual Leave – Take time to recharge with our holiday entitlement
Ready to Make a Difference?
Closing Date: 16th July 2026. We may close this vacancy early if we receive a high volume of applications. We encourage you to apply as soon as possible. Please note that the successful candidate will be subject to a mandatory DBS check as part of the onboarding process.
Be yourself, we like it that way. Together, we will build a culture of belonging, where inclusion is instinctive. Diversity is our strength and a reflection of our communities. We care, we value everyone, we celebrate uniqueness.
Our core values, which are essential to our success, are:
- Be Rock Solid - Build trust and be trusted. Be the one we all look to and can depend on.
- Be You - We want you to bring your best every day. Be yourself and make your mark in your individual way.
- Be the Future - Embrace change. Drive Progress. Own the challenge.
Software Engineering Manager employer: South West Water
At South West Water, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work culture that fosters innovation and collaboration. Located in the picturesque South West, our team enjoys competitive salaries, flexible working options, and a strong commitment to employee growth through various development opportunities. Join us to make a meaningful impact while enjoying a supportive environment that values diversity and inclusion.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Software Engineering Manager
✨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 South West Water 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 South West Water.
✨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 South West Water.
✨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 South West Water 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 Software Engineering Manager
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 South West Water.
Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at South West Water 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 South West Water
✨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 South West Water 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.
