Engineering Manager

Xpertise Recruitment; Oxford; Hybrid; GBP 125,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading recruitment consultancy is seeking a highly experienced Technical Programme Manager in Oxford. This remote-first role emphasizes vendor assurance and requires strong solution architecture skills, overseeing technical quality across multiple domains. The ideal candidate will have over 7 years of experience and a proven track record in vendor management. Attractive rate is offered for this strategic position, with the possibility of hybrid meetings in London.

Qualifications

• 7+ years experience in solution architecture is essential.
• Experience in technical leadership, programme management, or consulting.
• Proven experience in vendor assurance/vendor quality management.

Responsibilities

• Lead vendor assurance and quality control to meet delivery standards.
• Assess technical solutions and mitigate risks.
• Engage with stakeholders and drive accountability.

Skills

Solution architecture

Technical leadership

Stakeholder engagement

Vendor management

Problem solving

Job description

Overview

Technical Programme Manager Solution Architecture & Vendor Assurance

Contract: 12 months (Inside IR35)
Rate: £800 £1,000 per day
Location: Remote-first, with meetings in London every other week
Start: ASAP (max 1-month notice period)
Openings: 2 roles

The Opportunity

We are seeking a highly experienced Technical Programme Manager with a strong solution architecture background. This is a hands-on, strategic role focused on vendor assurance, ensuring that external delivery partners meet technical, commercial, and business expectations.

Important: This role does not involve line management you will not be leading teams. Instead, your focus is on:

• Holding vendors accountable for quality and delivery.

• Providing technical oversight across multiple domains (cloud, infrastructure, software, data).

• Advising stakeholders and executives with credible solution architecture expertise.

• Ensuring programmes deliver measurable business outcomes.

This role is broadly technical, not purely cloud-focused (AWS knowledge desirable but not essential), and ideal for someone who thrives as a technical leader and problem solver.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead vendor assurance & quality control, ensuring delivery meets agreed standards.

• Assess technical solutions, challenge assumptions, and mitigate risks.

• Engage with executives, stakeholders, and vendors to drive clarity, accountability, and results.

• Monitor KPIs and programme outcomes, ensuring delivery aligns with investment.

• Operate as a technical advisor and quasi-Product Owner, guiding strategy without direct team management.

Required Experience

• 7+ years experience in solution architecture (essential).

• years experience in technical leadership, programme management, or consulting.

• Proven experience in vendor assurance / vendor quality management.

• Broad technical knowledge across software, infrastructure, data, and cloud.

• Strong stakeholder engagement comfortable briefing executives and influencing decisions.

• Consulting background (BCG, McKinsey, or similar) highly desirable.

• Experience in startup/scale-up environments and/or large enterprise operations.

• Technically astute, capable of deep-diving to assess vendor delivery and solution integrity.

If interested please apply