Lead Software Engineer

NATIONAL GRID; England; Hybrid; GBP 75,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

An energy provider in the UK is seeking a Lead Software Engineer to guide a team in developing scalable software solutions across cloud and on-premise environments. This role offers a competitive salary and hybrid working options. Candidates should have extensive experience in managing software projects, ensuring quality and adherence to engineering standards. Experience with programming languages such as Python, Ruby, C++, or Java is required. This is a full-fledged position with responsibilities in team leadership and architectural design.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Contributory pension scheme

Bonus based on personal and company performance

Flexible benefits

Digital GP service access

Work + Family Space support

Qualifications

• Strong experience in designing and delivering high-performance software solutions.
• Solid understanding of modular and secure system architecture.
• Experience managing and reducing technical debt.

Responsibilities

• Lead a high-performing software engineering team with technical direction.
• Design and deliver scalable, high-performance software.
• Ensure project timelines and successful execution.

Skills

Experience in scalable software solutions

Architectural principles

Python

Ruby

C++

Java

CI/CD

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or related field

Tools

Automation tools

Deployment tooling

Job description

Contract, Permanent | Full time | Sector: Engineering, Data (engineering)

About us

At National Grid, we keep people connected and society moving. National Grid supplies us with the environment to make it happen. As we generate momentum in the energy transition for all, we don\'t plan on leaving any of our customers in the dark. So, join us as a Lead Software Engineer, and find your superpower.

National Grid is hiring a Lead Software Engineer for our Technology team. This role can be based at our Warwick, Bristol, or Cardiff offices, with hybrid working. You’ll play a key role in designing and developing secure, scalable software solutions that support critical operations across our enterprise.

About The Role

We’re looking for a Lead Software Engineer to guide a team of engineers in designing, implementing, and maintaining secure, scalable software solutions across both cloud and on-premise environments. Reporting to the Head of Software Engineering, you’ll shape platforms, tooling, and systems that support our wider development and technology teams.

You’ll play a key role in architectural decisions, defining and upholding engineering standards, and actively managing technical debt to keep our technology estate modern and efficient. As a core contributor to project delivery, you’ll ensure work is well-coordinated, timelines are met, and engineering output aligns with the strategic goals of the business.

Alongside technical leadership, you’ll support the growth and development of your engineering team through mentoring, coaching, and role modelling. You’ll champion Agile ways of working, act as a subject matter expert, and help foster an inclusive, collaborative culture across the Technology department.

What You\'ll Do

• Lead and develop a high‑performing software engineering team, providing technical direction, coaching, and opportunities for growth while building capability and embedding a culture of continuous improvement and excellence.
• Design and deliver scalable, high‑performance software aligned with long‑term business and operational goals.
• Guide architectural decision‑making, ensuring solutions are modular, reliable, secure, and built for reusability and maintainability.
• Define, document, and enforce engineering standards, best practices, and high‑quality delivery across the team.
• Proactively identify and manage technical debt, embedding prevention and reduction into planning and implementation.
• Monitor and optimise large‑scale distributed systems to ensure performance, stability, and continuous uptime.
• Build and enhance automation for configuration management, provisioning, and deployment to streamline operations.
• Implement strong security practices, ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements and modern security protocols.
• Lead incident resolution, performing root cause analysis and implementing long‑term fixes to prevent recurrence.
• Collaborate closely with QA, Systems Engineering, IT Operations, and Product teams to deliver aligned, high‑quality outcomes.
• Own project delivery, coordinating resources, managing timelines, and ensuring successful execution.
• Maintain clear, comprehensive documentation to support knowledge sharing and long‑term maintainability.

About You

You’re an inspiring technical leader who thrives on developing high‑performing engineering teams. You combine deep hands‑on engineering expertise with the ability to coach, mentor, and elevate those around you. You’re passionate about building scalable, secure, and resilient software—and you’re just as committed to driving excellence in how your team delivers it.

You’ll succeed in this role if you:

• Bring strong experience designing and delivering scalable, high‑performance software solutions.
• Have a solid grasp of architectural principles, creating modular, maintainable, secure systems.
• Bring previous experience in at least one of the following programming languages: Python, Ruby, C++, or Java.
• Champion engineering standards and best practices, ensuring quality and consistency.
• Confidently manage and reduce technical debt, taking a proactive, long‑term view of platform health.
• Understand large‑scale distributed systems and know how to optimise performance and reliability.
• Are skilled in automation, CI/CD, deployment tooling, and streamlining engineering workflows.
• Demonstrate strong knowledge of security practices and compliance requirements.
• Stay calm under pressure and can lead incident resolution with a focus on prevention.
• Collaborate naturally with cross‑functional teams and thrive in a fast‑paced, delivery‑focused environment.
• Bring strong organisational skills, managing project timelines, priorities, and resources effectively.
• Value clarity and maintain high‑quality documentation that supports your team and the wider business.

You’re also someone who role‑models Agile principles, fosters an inclusive and collaborative culture, and brings energy, curiosity, and a continuous‑improvement mindset to everything you do.

What you\'ll Get

• Competitive Salary: circa £75,000 – £90,000 per annum (based on capability and experience)

Additional benefits:

• A competitive contributory pension scheme where we will double match your contribution to a maximum company contribution of 12%
• You will receive a bonus based on personal and company performance
• Flexible benefits such as a cycle scheme, share incentive plan, technology schemes
• Access to apps such as digital GP service for round the clock access to GP video consultations and NHS repeat prescriptions, wellbeing app to support your health and fitness
• Access to Work + Family Space, providing support and resources for work and family life, including paid emergency childcare and eldercare

More information

Every quarter, you’ll attend a 2–3 day in‑person planning event held at one of our office locations.

This role is offered on a full time basis.

This role closes on 30 January; we strongly encourage candidates to submit their application as early as possible.

National Grid is unable to offer sponsorship for employment under the UK points‑based immigration system in most cases. Applicants must have the legal right to work in the UK without sponsorship now or in the future. In exceptional circumstances where there is a clear and demonstrable need for specialist skills that cannot be sourced locally, sponsorship may be considered. All applications are welcome from candidates who meet these requirements, regardless of race, nationality, or ethnic origin.

At National Grid, we work towards the highest standards in everything we do, including how we support, value and develop our people. We celebrate diverse experiences and backgrounds, and offer flexible and tailored support, at home and in the office. All employment is decided on qualifications, the innovation that comes with diverse teams, and business need. We are committed to building a workforce representative of the communities we serve.

Note: This is a general description of the role; responsibilities and requirements may evolve with the needs of the business.