Lead Software Developer

Bytes Group; Leatherhead; Hybrid; GBP 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Gym access

Canteen

Incentives

Job summary

Bytes Group is seeking a Lead Software Developer in Leatherhead to guide a small, agile engineering team. You will design, build and support secure, scalable applications across the full stack, emphasising clean architecture, TDD and reliable delivery.

You will own backend services in C#/.NET Core, craft responsive UIs in React/Next.js, and drive DevOps with Docker, Kubernetes and ArgoCD, leveraging Azure services. Opportunity for technical leadership and internal growth.

Qualifications

• Relevant degree or equivalent practical software engineering experience.
• Experience in backend services with C# and .NET.
• Frontend with React/Next.js and modern UI principles.

Responsibilities

• Design and Develop: Build and maintain backend services in C#/.NET Core with clean architecture.
• Full-Stack Delivery: Develop React/Next.js front-ends integrated with APIs.
• DevOps & Deployment: Containerise with Docker, orchestrate with Kubernetes, GitOps with ArgoCD.
• Cloud Infrastructure: Use Azure App Services/AKS/SQL Database to host and scale."
• CI/CD & Security: Automated pipelines in GitHub Actions, Snyk security scans and Jira workflows.
• Observability: Instrument apps with LGTM or equivalent logging and metrics.

Skills

C#

.NET Core

React.js

Next.js

Docker

Kubernetes

GitOps

ArgoCD

Azure

PostgreSQL

SQL Server

LGTM

ELK

Prometheus

OpenTelemetry

xUnit

NUnit

JIRA

Go (Golang)

Education

Relevant degree, apprenticeship or equivalent practical experience in software engineering

Microsoft Azure, Kubernetes, security or software development certification

Tools

Docker

Kubernetes

GitHub/GitLab

ArgoCD

Snyk

Go

Azure

Job description

POSITION DETAILS:

Position Title: Lead Software Developer

Team: Engineering

Department: Technology

BYTES:

Established in 1982, Bytes has grown rapidly and now employs over 800+ people across 6 locations in the UK and Ireland. Our turnover in Financial Year 2024 was in excess of £2bn. We work with SME’s, corporates and public sector organisations to modernise and digitally transform their IT infrastructures.

We invest in our employees through on-going support, training and advice to help them achieve their career aspirations, rewarding success both financially and personally. There is opportunity to grow and move internally which can be seen through our long-standing employees who have developed existing and new skills to move into senior positions in the organisation leaving space for new team members to begin their journey.

Your Future Starts Here

Why Bytes?

• Over 800 staff (plans to double in size over the next 5 years)
• Operating from modern, hybrid working environments with offices in Leatherhead, Reading, London, Manchester, Port Solent and Dublin.
• Winners of an array of industry awards
• Sunday Times Top 100 Best Places to Work
• Excellent training and career prospects offered
• Fantastic office with gym, canteen, open plan, smart casual dress code, regular incentives and company events
• Supporters of 85+ charities with strong commitment to diversity and sustainability

PURPOSE OF JOB:

We are looking for a proactive, product-minded C# Developer to join our small, agile engineering team. The role will design, build and support secure, scalable applications across the full technology stack, with a strong focus on clean architecture, test-driven development and reliable delivery. You will be comfortable wearing multiple hats, learning new technologies and collaborating closely with product managers, designers and engineers to deliver user-centred solutions and drive technical excellence.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Design & Develop: Build and maintain backend services in C# using .NET Core/.NET 9, with a focus on clean architecture, scalability and maintainability.

Full-Stack Delivery: Implement responsive, performant front-end components in React and Next.js, integrating seamlessly with C# APIs.

DevOps & Deployment: Containerise applications with Docker, orchestrate with Kubernetes and manage GitOps deployments using ArgoCD.

Cloud Infrastructure: Use Microsoft Azure services, including App Services, Functions, AKS and SQL Database, to host, scale and secure applications.

CI/CD & Security: Configure and maintain automated pipelines in GitHub Actions or equivalent, integrate Snyk security scanning and manage delivery activity through JIRA.

INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

Observability: Instrument applications using the LGTM stack, or equivalent logging, metrics and tracing tools, to support reliability and rapid incident response.

Database Management: Design and optimise PostgreSQL and Microsoft SQL Server schemas, queries and migrations, and manage database connections securely.

Collaboration & Mentorship: Work closely with product managers, designers and engineers, contributing to code reviews, pair programming, mentoring and knowledge sharing.

Quality & Testing: Champion Test-Driven Development and create effective unit, integration and end-to-end tests to maintain confidence in releases.

WIDER TEAM NETWORK:

WIDER TEAM NETWORK

Internal: Product Managers, Designers, Engineering colleagues, DevOps/Cloud teams, Information Security and wider business stakeholders.

External: Technology partners, cloud and tooling providers, and other specialist suppliers where required.

QUALIFICATIONS, EXPERIENCE, & SKILLS:

Educational Qualifications: Relevant degree, apprenticeship or equivalent practical experience in software engineering or a related discipline.

Professional Qualifications: Relevant Microsoft Azure, Kubernetes, security or software development certification.

Years of Experience: 4+ years of professional experience building backend services with C#/.NET.

Other Requirements:

C#/.NET: Strong professional experience with C#, .NET Core and modern backend service design.

Frontend: Solid understanding of React.js and Next.js, with the ability to build responsive and performant user interfaces.

DevOps: Hands-on experience with Docker, Kubernetes, GitHub or GitLab, ArgoCD or similar GitOps tooling, and Snyk.

Azure: Proven experience deploying, managing and securing applications on Microsoft Azure.

Databases: Confident modelling, querying and tuning PostgreSQL and Microsoft SQL Server databases.

Observability: Experience implementing logs, metrics and tracing through the LGTM stack or equivalent technologies such as ELK, Prometheus or OpenTelemetry.

CI/CD: Skilled in creating automated build, test and deployment pipelines.

Golang: Able to read, write and integrate Go services where required.

Agile & Quality: Experience in small cross-functional teams using JIRA or similar tools, with strong TDD capability using xUnit, NUnit or equivalent frameworks.

CORE Competencies & SKILLS – BASED ON POSITION AND GRADE:

Initiative & Ownership: A self-starter who takes accountability, solves problems and drives work forward.

Collaborative Mindset: Thrives in a small team, communicates openly and supports the development of colleagues.

Product Focus: Works closely with product stakeholders to deliver practical, user-centred solutions.

Adaptable Learner: Comfortable learning new languages, tools and observability technologies as required.

Nice to Have: Experience with AWS or GCP; GraphQL, gRPC or REST API design; OWASP and GDPR; or mobile and web performance optimisation.

MEASURES & GOALS:

(HOW WILL THE SUCCESS OF THE PERSON IN THIS POSITION BE MEASURED – WHAT ARE THE EXPECTED OUTPUTS)

Objective: Deliver high-quality product features

Measure: Features meet agreed acceptance criteria, coding standards and automated test requirements

Frequency: Per sprint / release

Objective: Maintain reliable applications

Measure: Service health, incident trends and observability coverage meet agreed team targets

Frequency: Monthly

Objective: Strengthen engineering quality

Measure: Consistent TDD, effective peer review and low levels of escaped defects

Frequency: Per sprint

Objective: Improve delivery automation

Measure: Secure, repeatable CI/CD and GitOps deployments with appropriate scanning and controls

Frequency: Quarterly

Objective: Contribute to team capability

Measure: Active participation in reviews, pairing, mentoring and knowledge sharing

Frequency: Ongoing