Head of Software Engineering

Manchester United Plc; Manchester; On-site; GBP 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Incentive scheme

25 days annual leave

EV scheme

Wellness program

Exclusive discounts

Gym facilities

Career development

Diversity & inclusion

Job summary

Manchester United is seeking a Head of Software Engineering to lead the transformation of our in-house software capability across football and commercial operations. You will build a high-performance engineering function, set modern development practices, and deliver reliable, scalable software in a fast-paced sporting environment.

This role requires strategic leadership, people management, and the ability to balance immediate delivery with long-term architectural vision, partnering with data,

Qualifications

• Proven leadership of software teams delivering production apps.
• Full-stack expertise: JavaScript/TypeScript, React, Node.js, Python.
• Experience establishing CI/CD, automated testing, and code reviews.
• Experience with data-centric apps and cloud platforms (Azure, Databricks).
• Strong people management, clear expectations and accountability.
• Effective communicator with technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Desire to apply technology to high-performance sports settings.

Responsibilities

• Define and own the software engineering strategy, standards and roadmap.
• Lead and develop a team of software engineers and testers.
• Architect and deliver full-stack applications surfacing club data.
• Evolve the central insights platform with robust visualisations.
• Balance quality with speed, manage technical debt and extensibility.
• Collaborate with football ops, commercial and IT stakeholders.

Skills

Leadership of teams

Full-stack expertise

CI/CD & testing

Data-centric apps

Cloud platforms

People management

Stakeholder communication

Job description

Head of Software Engineering

Application Deadline: 16 October 2026

Department: Data

Employment Type: Permanent

Location: Manchester - Carrington Training Complex

Description

At Manchester United, we believe that excellence on the pitch starts with excellence off the pitch. Our team thrives in a high-performance environment, united by a shared passion for success. We aim to elevate the standard of performance through collaboration and continuous growth, creating a space where everyone can contribute their best to our common goals.

We work together at our iconic Manchester United offices, enabling connection and innovation as we look ahead to what we can achieve as a global football club. We are excited to bring in passionate people who share our vision and drive for success.

We're looking for a Head of Software Engineering to lead the transformation of Manchester United's in-house software capability. This is a senior leadership position, responsible for all application development across football and commercial operations, including self-service analytics platforms, bespoke football applications, data visualisation tools, and internal systems that directly support the club’s competitive advantage.

The role requires someone who can professionalise a software engineering function, establish modern development practices, and build a team capable of delivering reliable, maintainable, and scalable software in a fast-paced sporting environment. You will balance immediate delivery demands with the longer-term goal of building a sustainable engineering culture.

Key Responsibilities

• Define and own the software engineering strategy, standards, and roadmap for the Data & AI group, establishing and embedding modern engineering practices including version control, code review, CI/CD, automated testing, and documentation.
• Lead and develop a team of software developers and testers, managing recruitment, performance, individual development, and day-to-day priorities across the engineering function.
• Architect and deliver full-stack web applications that make the club’s data accessible, actionable, and valuable, working closely with data engineers and data scientists to surface insights through intuitive platforms.
• Own and evolve the club’s central insights platform, embedding powerful data tools and visualisations across football and business functions with a focus on performance, reliability, and user experience.
• Make pragmatic technology choices that balance quality with delivery speed, managing technical debt and ensuring the codebase remains healthy and extensible.
• Collaborate closely with football operations, commercial, and IT stakeholders to understand requirements, prioritise development work, and ensure software products are aligned to the club’s strategic priorities.

Skills, Knowledge and Expertise

• Significant experience leading software engineering teams, with a strong track record of building and shipping production applications.
• Deep technical expertise across the full stack, with strong experience in JavaScript/TypeScript, React.js, Node.js, and Python in production environments.
• Proven ability to establish and embed engineering best practices (CI/CD, automated testing, code review, documentation) in teams that are maturing or scaling.
• Experience architecting and delivering data-centric applications, ideally integrating with modern cloud platforms (Azure, Databricks) and consuming APIs and data services.
• Strong people management skills with a track record of developing engineers, setting clear expectations, and building a culture of quality and accountability.
• Effective communicator who can translate business requirements into technical solutions and work with both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Passion for using technology to improve performance in high-performance environments. Experience in elite sport, football, or similarly fast-paced operational settings is desirable but not essential.

What we offer

At Manchester United, we recognise that our people are at the heart of our success. That’s why we offer a range of rewards designed to support your professional and personal well-being:

• Annual Incentive Scheme to reward your dedication and hard work
• 25 days annual leave (plus bank holidays) and an opportunity to purchase additional holiday days
• Electric Vehicle scheme via Octopus and cycle to work scheme
• Simplyhealth Cash Plan: Supporting you with your everyday healthcare needs
• Wellness Support with access to mental health resources, digital health checks, and & nutritionists through Aviva Digicare+ Workplace
• Exclusive Discounts through our United Rewards platform, giving you access to exclusive deals from the club and partners
• Gym Facilities in our onsite locations and opportunities for regular social events and team-building activities
• Enhanced family Leave Benefits and policies
• Enhanced Career Development with access to professional learning platforms like LinkedIn Learning, and internal training programs
• A Supportive Work Environment that values diversity, equity and inclusion, and individual growth