Senior Software Engineer - Ticketing and Retail

Career Choices Dewis Gyrfa Ltd; Manchester; On-site; GBP 57,000 - 66,000; Full time

Job summary

A municipal transport authority in Manchester seeks a Senior Software Engineer to lead development of user-centred digital services for transport solutions. You will guide engineering teams, influence technical strategies, and deliver robust software solutions in a collaborative agile environment. The ideal candidate will have proven experience in software engineering and the ability to coach and mentor peers. This position offers a competitive salary and various benefits, including extensive annual leave and free intra-city transport.

Benefits

Generous annual leave starting at 28 days

Free travel on buses across Greater Manchester

Local Government defined pension scheme

Enhanced family-friendly leave policies

Wellbeing support and personal development opportunities

Qualifications

• Guiding agile delivery teams and influencing technical architecture.
• Familiarity with secure development practices.
• Experience in complex systems within microservices architectures.

Responsibilities

• Lead the delivery of high-quality, cost-effective software solutions.
• Collaborate within a cross-functional agile delivery team.
• Manage technical debt and ensure long-term viability of codebases.
• Provide 3rd line support and proactively resolve defects.
• Mentor engineers and contribute to a thriving engineering community.

Skills

Proven experience in software engineering

Strong application design capabilities

Expertise in SQL and NoSQL databases

Experience building and securing RESTful APIs

Deep understanding of Agile delivery

Ability to lead technical discussions

Job description

Senior Software Engineer - Ticketing and Retail

Employer:

Location:

Manchester, M1 3BG

Pay:

Competitive

Contract Type:

Permanent

Hours:

Full time

Disability Confident:

No

Closing Date:

28/01/2026

About this job

Are you ready to lead the development of innovative, user-centred digital services that transform how people travel across Greater Manchester?

Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) is seeking a Senior Software Engineer to join our Ticketing and Retail team.

This is a pivotal role where you’ll shape the future of our retail products, guiding our engineering teams and influencing technical strategy.

Your Role As Senior Software Engineer, you’ll lead the delivery of high-quality, cost-effective software solutions that support public-facing services.

You’ll work closely with Product Owners, UX designers, Architects, Testers and Analysts to build user-centred services.

Key Responsibilities

• Translate complex business and user-driven needs into production-ready designs and code.
• Collaborate within a cross‑functional agile delivery team with Product Owners, UX Designers, Architects, Testers and Analysts to build user‑centred services.
• Define and implement robust development strategies and reusable design patterns.
• Manage technical debt and ensure long‑term viability of codebases.
• Provide 3rd line support and proactively resolve defects and issues.
• Mentor engineers and contribute to a thriving, inclusive engineering community.

About the Team

This role sits in the Ticketing Team at TfGM in the Customer & Growth Directorate.

We are a diverse, multi-disciplined team driving forward significant change.

You will work with a range of colleagues at all levels across TfGM and will report into the Ticketing Specialist Technical Architect.

What you’ll bring

At TfGM, our behaviours bring to life our values of Deliver, Care and Adapt.

Essential Experience & Skills

• Proven experience in software engineering, including guiding agile delivery teams and influencing technical architecture.
• Strong application design capabilities and familiarity with secure development practices.
• Expertise in SQL and NoSQL databases (e.g. Postgres, DynamoDB), including performance optimisation.
• Experience building and securing RESTful APIs and integrating complex systems within microservices architectures.
• Deep understanding of Agile delivery (SCRUM/Kanban) and CI/CD pipelines.
• Ability to lead technical discussions, coach peers, and represent TfGM at external events.

Attributes

• Delivery-focused, resilient, and proactive.
• Motivates and develops teams.
• Customer and commercially focused.
• Approachable, confident, and solution oriented.

What we can offer you

We are offering the opportunity to work in a forward thinking, fast paced product team and to be part of leading the future of integrated transport ticketing in Greater Manchester.

Salary per annum: £57,770 – £65,024 plus MFS £6,450 (market supplement paid monthly and reviewed annually).

Benefits:

• Generous annual leave starting at 28 days (plus bank holidays), increasing with service, with options to buy more.
• Free travel on buses across Greater Manchester, plus rail or Metrolink travel to and from work.
• Local Government defined pension scheme with life cover of 3x salary and options to boost contributions.
• Enhanced family‑friendly leave policies, including fertility treatment support and flexible, hybrid working plus special leave for unexpected events.
• Wellbeing support; Personal and Career Development; Flexible working; financial support and more.

Flexible working options are encouraged at any stage of the recruitment process.

What's next?

If you believe you have the skills and experience required, we’d really like to hear from you.

When completing your application, please ensure that you provide clear examples against the criteria questions; all appointments will be based on merit.

Internal candidates

• Check with your line manager before applying for a secondment, to make sure you can be released from your substantive role.

Other information

We embrace AI to enhance our operations and to innovate our services.

Please ensure you personally complete your application and read all the instructions carefully to maximise your chances of success.

If you have completed the GM Elevate (Leadership Development) Programme, please indicate this within the "About You" or "Supporting Statement" section of your application.

Equality and diversity

TfGM is proud to be an equal opportunities employer that encourages and celebrates diversity.

We want to recruit and retain a workforce that reflects the communities we serve and welcome individuals from all backgrounds by committing to providing a fully inclusive and accessible recruitment process.

We will offer support and reasonable adjustments if required and we also have a Guaranteed Assessment Scheme.

Right to work in the UK

For this opportunity, you must be able to prove you have the right to work in the UK.

• If in doubt please visit the following link Employers' right to work checklist.
• GOV.UK (www.gov.uk). Please note we are not a licensed sponsor.

Additional notes

Please note we may close the advert early if we receive a high volume of applications.

NOTE TO AGENCIES: we will be accepting direct applications only for this role.