Lead Software Engineer - Manchester City Centre - Up to £70k

I’m working with a Manchester-based financial services organisation that is looking for a Lead Software Engineer to take technical ownership of key systems and lead a growing engineering team.

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced full-stack engineer who enjoys staying hands-on while also shaping architecture, setting technical direction, and mentoring engineers in a purpose-driven environment.

The Opportunity

You’ll lead a small, highly skilled team of engineers, working closely with senior stakeholders and cross-functional teams to deliver robust, scalable, and high-performing software solutions. Reporting into the Head of Engineering, you’ll play a pivotal role in defining architectural standards, driving innovation, and ensuring systems support long-term business strategy.

This role blends hands-on development, technical leadership, and people management, with exposure to modern cloud-based technologies and mission-critical systems.

Key Responsibilities

You will be responsible for:

• Leading and mentoring a team of software engineers, supporting delivery and professional development
• Providing technical ownership of architecture, design decisions, and engineering best practices
• Designing, developing, and maintaining high-quality, resilient, and performant software solutions
• Working closely with stakeholders to interpret requirements and translate them into technical solutions
• Offering technical guidance and problem-solving support across the engineering function
• Effectively managing priorities and balancing hands-on delivery with leadership responsibilities

Tech Stack & Experience

Core technologies:

• C# / .NET / ASP.NET MVC
• SQL Server
• Microsoft Azure (including cloud-native services)
• JavaScript / TypeScript
• React (or similar modern JS frameworks)

Additional technologies you’ll encounter:

• Docker
• DevOps tooling and CI/CD pipelines
• Linux / PowerShell
• Git

What They’re Looking For

• At least 5 years’ commercial software engineering experience
• Previous experience leading or mentoring a software development team
• Strong full-stack background within the Microsoft ecosystem
• Solid understanding of unit testing and Agile delivery practices
• Experience working on business-critical or 24/7 systems
• Ability to communicate technical concepts clearly to non-technical stakeholders
• Strong organisational, analytical, and problem-solving skills

Salary & Benefits

• Up to £70,000 basic salary, depending on experience
• Up to 25 days’ annual leave + bank holidays
• Your birthday off, every year
• Healthcare cash plan
• Contributory pension scheme (matched up to 5%)
• Life assurance
• Cycle to work scheme

Why This Role?

This is a standout opportunity for a technical leader who wants real influence over architecture and engineering standards, while remaining close to the code. You’ll join a values-led organisation with a strong focus on inclusion, collaboration, and long-term impact, where technology plays a central role in delivering meaningful outcomes.

If you’re open to a confidential discussion, apply now and I’ll be in touch.

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