Engineering Manager - AI & Software Development

Think Specialist Recruitment; Watford; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Profit-sharing scheme

Enhanced pension

Private medical insurance

Life insurance and income protection

Enhanced annual leave options

Job summary

Think Specialist Recruitment are partnering with a leading organisation in Watford to hire an Engineering Manager - AI & Software Delivery. You will shape technology delivery, champion AI-enabled development and lead a growing engineering function.

Reporting to senior stakeholders, you will combine people leadership with hands-on technical credibility, embedding AI into the delivery lifecycle while ensuring reliable applications and IT services.

Qualifications

• Proven experience managing software developers, including senior engineers.
• Hands-on experience using AI tools to improve software development and delivery.
• Strong understanding of modern software engineering, agile methodologies, CI/CD and release management.
• Experience delivering software within a Microsoft environment (e.g., .NET, SQL Server, Power Platform).
• Experience managing an outsourced IT provider or MSP.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills.

Responsibilities

• Leading, developing and growing a team of software developers
• Championing AI-enabled software development across requirements, design, coding, testing and documentation
• Overseeing software delivery, engineering standards, testing and release management
• Identifying opportunities to use Microsoft AI technologies and the Power Platform to improve business processes
• Taking ownership of day-to-day IT operations, application performance and incident management
• Managing outsourced IT providers and specialist suppliers against agreed service levels
• Working with senior stakeholders to shape technical direction and drive continuous improvement

Skills

Team leadership

AI in software delivery

Stakeholder management

CI/CD

Agile methodologies

Technical credibility

Tools

.NET

SQL Server

Power Platform

Microsoft Azure

Copilot Studio

Dynamics 365

Job description

Think Specialist Recruitment are working on behalf of a leading organisation based in Watford to recruit an Engineering Manager - AI & Software Delivery. This is an exciting opportunity to shape the future of technology delivery, champion AI-enabled software development and lead a growing engineering function.

This role would suit an experienced technology leader who combines strong people management skills with a solid understanding of software engineering, AI tools and IT service operations.
Salary - £70,000 - £80,000 depending on experience, benefits include:

• Profit-sharing scheme
• Enhanced pension
• Private medical insurance
• Life insurance and income protection
• Enhanced annual leave options

You will lead a small software development team, embedding AI into the software delivery lifecycle while ensuring the organisation's applications and IT services remain reliable and effective.

Key responsibilities will include:

• Leading, developing and growing a team of software developers
• Championing AI-enabled software development across requirements, design, coding, testing and documentation
• Overseeing software delivery, engineering standards, testing and release management
• Identifying opportunities to use Microsoft AI technologies and the Power Platform to improve business processes
• Taking ownership of day-to-day IT operations, application performance and incident management
• Managing outsourced IT providers and specialist suppliers against agreed service levels
• Working with senior stakeholders to shape technical direction and drive continuous improvement

We're looking for someone who can combine effective team leadership with technical credibility and a passion for innovation.

You will ideally have:

• Proven experience managing software developers, including senior engineers
• Practical, hands-on experience using AI tools to improve software development and delivery
• A strong understanding of modern software engineering, agile methodologies, CI/CD and release management
• Experience delivering software within a Microsoft environment, such as .NET, SQL Server or Power Platform
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Azure
• Experience managing an outsourced IT provider or managed service provider (MSP)
• Strong communication, stakeholder management and organisational skills

Experience with Copilot Studio, Azure AI, agentic AI tools, Dynamics 365 or bringing outsourced applications in-house would be advantageous.

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