Head of Software Engineering

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

Benefits offered by this job

Annual Incentive Scheme

25 days annual leave

EV & Cycle to Work

Wellness Plan

Discounts (United Rewards)

Job summary

Manchester United Plc is seeking a Head of Software Engineering to lead the transformation of our in-house software capability, overseeing all application development across football and commercial operations, including analytics platforms and internal systems that drive competitive advantage.

You will professionalise the function, establish modern development practices, and build a high-performing team able to deliver reliable, scalable software in a fast-paced sports environment, balancing

Qualifications

• Senior leadership experience in software engineering that delivers production applications.
• Deep full‑stack expertise (JavaScript/TypeScript, React, Node.js, Python) in production.
• Proven ability to embed CI/CD, automated testing, code review and documentation in scaling teams.
• Experience designing data-centric apps, leveraging cloud platforms (Azure, Databricks) and APIs.

Responsibilities

• Define and own the software engineering strategy, standards, and roadmap for the Data & AI group.
• Lead and develop a team of software developers and testers, including recruitment and performance management.
• Architect and deliver full‑stack web applications that surface insights for football and business functions.

Skills

Leadership

Full stack

DevOps & QA

Data platforms

People management

Stakeholder comms

Sports industry

Tools

Azure

Databricks

Job description

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