Engineering Manager: Build & Lead Defence Tech Team (Hybrid)

The Talent Locker; England; Hybrid; GBP 117,000 - 143,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work model

Job summary

The Talent Locker is seeking an Engineering Manager to build and lead a new engineering team for a major defence programme in Wiltshire. The role combines hands-on technical leadership with strategic people management, delivering complex software on a long-term programme while staying close to the technology stack (Java, PostgreSQL, Angular).

You will hire, mentor and develop engineers, set coding and architecture standards, and collaborate with stakeholders to balance customer commitments with

Qualifications

• Proven experience managing software engineers with performance ownership.
• Experience hiring and building engineering teams, especially where talent is scarce.
• Strong software engineering background, with significant Java experience.
• Good knowledge of PostgreSQL and Angular or similar modern tech.
• Strong technical judgement for architecture, design and reviews.
• Track record delivering software to meet demanding commitments.
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills.
• Genuine interest in technology while leading people.
• Willingness for regular international travel.

Responsibilities

• Build a new engineering team from the ground up, defining structure and standards.
• Own delivery across a major, long-term defence programme.
• Establish engineering practices around architecture, quality, reviews and delivery.
• Develop engineers across levels, managing performance and progression.
• Collaborate across teams and with senior stakeholders on technical challenges.
• Contribute to architecture and design decisions and perform code reviews.
• Travel internationally as part of the role.

Skills

Java

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Team building

Code reviews

Delivery

Architecture

Tools

PostgreSQL

Angular

Job description

The Talent Locker is seeking an Engineering Manager to build and lead a new engineering team for a major defence programme in Wiltshire. The role combines hands-on technical leadership with strategic people management, delivering complex software on a long-term programme while staying close to the technology stack (Java, PostgreSQL, Angular).

You will hire, mentor and develop engineers, set coding and architecture standards, and collaborate with stakeholders to balance customer commitments with