Head of Engineering - Software Development Manager

Head of Engineering - Software Development Manager

Full-Time 60000 - 84000 £ / year (est.) No working from home possible
TRIA

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead and scale our software engineering function while driving innovation and excellence.
  • Company: Join a thriving tech organisation with a focus on collaboration and growth.
  • Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, great benefits, and remote work flexibility.
  • Other info: Exciting opportunity for career growth in a dynamic environment.
  • Why this job: Make a real impact by shaping the future of software engineering.
  • Qualifications: Proven experience in software engineering and leadership roles required.

The predicted salary is between 60000 - 84000 £ per year.

Overview

We are looking for a strategic, hands-on Head of Engineering to lead and scale our software engineering function. This senior leadership role will focus heavily on software engineering excellence across full-stack development, system design, architecture, and software delivery processes - while also overseeing our data engineering, cloud infrastructure, and security functions. You will be responsible for setting the technical direction, improving engineering velocity and quality, establishing modern practices across the SDLC, and growing a high-performing team capable of building and maintaining complex, scalable systems. You must have a proven track record of delivering enterprise-grade applications and services, with deep experience in both legacy and modern technology stacks.

Key Responsibilities

  • Software Engineering Leadership
    • Set and own the technical roadmap, ensuring architectural scalability, security, performance, and maintainability of all software systems.
    • Oversee full lifecycle software development - from requirements, technical design, development, testing, deployment, to post-release monitoring and maintenance.
    • Establish, enforce, and continuously evolve software engineering best practices (e.g., SOLID principles, domain-driven design, clean architecture, modular monoliths vs microservices).
    • Drive consistency in coding standards, code review rigor, and software craftsmanship.
    • Lead critical system architecture decisions, including technology stack evolution, refactoring legacy components, and designing future-state systems.
    • Ensure integration patterns and service contracts across internal and external APIs are robust, secure, and scalable.
  • System Integration & Platform Ownership
    • Oversee integration between business systems using APIs, middleware, and ETL pipelines, including Salesforce, Power Platform (PowerApps, PowerAutomate, LogicApps), SharePoint, and custom web applications.
    • Lead optimization and governance around API design (RESTful services, rate limiting, versioning, monitoring, etc.).
    • Ensure high data consistency, operational integrity, and well-documented interface contracts between services.
  • Software Delivery, CI/CD & DevOps
    • Define and implement scalable CI/CD pipelines using modern DevOps tooling, including automated build, test, deploy, and rollback strategies.
    • Champion continuous delivery practices with robust unit, integration, contract, and end-to-end testing frameworks.
    • Drive metrics around deployment frequency, lead time, change failure rate, and mean time to recovery (MTTR).
    • Collaborate with cloud engineers to align infrastructure strategy with software delivery needs.
  • Cloud-Native Engineering (Azure)
    • Lead the development of scalable cloud-native applications and services using Microsoft Azure, including Azure Functions, LogicApps, and container-based services.
    • Drive cost-effective use of cloud services and performance optimization across environments.
    • Ensure cloud architectures support observability, fault tolerance, and high availability.
  • Data Engineering & Intelligent Systems
    • Guide the engineering team in data modelling, data access patterns, and efficient use of databases (MSSQL, PostgreSQL, MySQL).
    • Work with data engineers to enable secure, efficient data movement between systems, including real-time and batch processing pipelines.
    • Support analytics and reporting needs through the engineering of clean, reliable data sources and APIs.
  • Security Engineering & Governance
    • Partner with security engineers to integrate security throughout the software lifecycle (shift-left security, secure coding, threat modelling).
    • Own the implementation of secure authentication/authorization practices, audit logging, encryption at rest/in transit, and other application security standards.
    • Ensure software and infrastructure meet organizational security and compliance requirements (e.g., GDPR, ISO 27001, OWASP Top 10).
  • Team Management & Culture
    • Build and scale high-performance engineering teams, including backend, frontend, full-stack, data, and security engineers.
    • Define and track KPIs for engineering productivity, quality, and performance.
    • Promote an engineering culture grounded in ownership, collaboration, innovation, and continuous learning.
    • Provide technical mentoring and career growth paths for engineers at all levels.

Qualifications

  • Education
    • Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or equivalent practical experience.
  • Experience
    • Significant experience of software engineering with some previous exposure in an engineering leadership role.
    • Proven experience designing and delivering complex, scalable, multi-tier web applications.
    • Strong history of transforming monoliths to modular or microservice architectures.
    • Hands-on experience with modern CI/CD pipelines, test automation, and infrastructure-as-code.
    • Experience managing and integrating with third-party systems and platforms such as Salesforce, Azure, SharePoint, and Power Platform.
    • Experience working with secure, data-driven applications and distributed systems.
  • Technical Skills
    • Frontend: HTML, CSS, JavaScript (Node.js, browser frameworks)
    • Backend: PHP (Symfony, Smarty), C# (.NET Core), Azure Functions (Node.js / PowerShell), PowerShell
    • Database: MSSQL, PostgreSQL (including JSON), MySQL/MariaDB
    • Integration: REST APIs, ETL, Azure Data Factory
    • DevOps/Infra: CI/CD pipelines (e.g., GitHub Actions, Azure DevOps), containerization, Azure PaaS
    • Security: Secure development lifecycle, OWASP, authentication/authorization protocols
  • Leadership Attributes
    • Technically credible leader with the ability to deep-dive on architecture and code when necessary.
    • Strong decision-making skills backed by analytical rigor and a data-driven mindset.
    • Passionate about growing talent and building healthy, inclusive engineering teams.
    • Adept at working across stakeholders in product, business, security, and operations to deliver cross-functional value.
    • Highly effective communicator and change agent capable of aligning engineering initiatives with business strategy.

We are looking for an experienced Systems Development Manager looking to take the next step into a Head of Engineering role with a thriving organisation. Please reach out with your latest CV to have an informal chat about this role. The client is keen to start interviewing next week for interested candidates.

Head of Engineering - Software Development Manager employer: TRIA

Join a forward-thinking organisation that prioritises innovation and excellence in software engineering. With a remote working setup complemented by occasional travel to our vibrant Glasgow head office, we foster a collaborative culture that encourages continuous learning and professional growth. Our commitment to employee development, coupled with competitive benefits and a focus on work-life balance, makes us an exceptional employer for those seeking meaningful and rewarding careers in technology.

TRIA

Contact Details:

TRIA Recruitment Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Head of Engineering - Software Development 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 TRIA 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 TRIA.

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 TRIA.

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 TRIA 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 Head of Engineering - Software Development Manager

Software Engineering Leadership
Full-Stack Development
System Design
Architecture
Software Delivery Processes
Data Engineering
Cloud Infrastructure

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 TRIA.

Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at TRIA 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 TRIA

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 TRIA 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.