Software Engineering Manager

BBC Studios Distribution Limited; Birmingham; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A major broadcasting corporation in Birmingham seeks a Software Engineering Manager to lead multidisciplinary teams in building cloud-based media platforms. The role involves driving technical strategies and ensuring high standards of service reliability. Candidates should have proven experience in Agile environments and delivering complex AWS solutions. A competitive salary and flexible working conditions are offered.

Benefits

Competitive salary package

Flexible working hours

Professional development opportunities

Health care and gym discounts

Qualifications

• Experience leading multiple engineering teams in an Agile environment.
• Strong track record of cloud-based solutions at scale.
• Ability to provide hands-on technical direction.

Responsibilities

• Lead engineering teams delivering high-volume media services.
• Provide clear technical leadership and guidance.
• Shape and deliver the technical vision for Media Services.

Skills

Agile leadership

AWS expertise

Stakeholder management

CI/CD tools knowledge

Event-driven architecture

Media platform experience

Tools

AWS CodePipeline

Terraform

GitHub Actions

Job description

About the role

The BBC aims to be as strong in engineering as we are in content. Our digital products underpin our mission to inform, educate and entertain millions of people every day, and we're looking for a Software Engineering Manager who can blend hands‑on technical expertise with confident people leadership. This is a unique opportunity for an experienced engineering leader who still enjoys engaging with technical decision‑making. You will lead several multi-disciplinary teams who design, build and operate the BBC’s cloud‑based media platform - ensuring it is scalable, resilient and ready for the BBC’s digital future. You will develop and own the technical strategy for Media Services, working closely with product, architecture and operations partners. This is a role where your technical judgement and your leadership will have a tangible impact on the BBC’s audience-facing products.

Media Services sits at the heart of BBC Digital Distribution, powering iPlayer, BBC Sounds, News and Sport.

Responsibilities

• Lead and support several engineering teams delivering high‑volume, high‑availability media publishing workflows and consumer‑facing services using AWS and modern frameworks.
• Provide clear technical leadership, helping teams make thoughtful architectural and engineering decisions.
• Recruit, mentor and develop engineering talent, creating an inclusive, collaborative and high‑performing environment.
• Shape and deliver the technical vision and strategy for Media Services in partnership with colleagues across Technology, Product Group and Media Operations.
• Ensure our systems meet high standards of reliability, security and operational excellence.

Qualifications

• Experience leading multiple engineering teams in an Agile environment, ideally with platform or infrastructure exposure.
• A strong track record delivering complex, cloud‑based solutions at scale (AWS preferable).
• The ability to provide hands‑on technical direction – whether through architecture, code review, prototyping or guiding engineering approaches.
• Confident stakeholder management and the ability to influence across product, architecture and delivery teams.
• Experience line‑managing senior engineers and/or team leads and supporting their career development.
• Familiarity with CI/CD and configuration tools such as AWS CodePipeline, GitHub Actions, Terraform, CloudFormation or Ansible.
• Experience with large‑scale media platforms (VOD or live streaming).
• Knowledge of threat‑modelling frameworks or zero‑trust approaches.
• Experience with event‑driven architectures and RESTful API design.
• A passion for improving developer experience, tooling and engineering craft.

Before your start date, you may need to disclose any unspent convictions or police charges, in line with our Contracts of Employment policy. This allows us to discuss any support you may need and assess any risks. Failure to disclose may result in the withdrawal of your offer.

Benefits

• Fair pay and flexible benefits including a competitive salary package, a flexible 35‑hour working week, 25 days annual leave with the option to buy an extra 5 days, a defined pension scheme and discounted dental, health care and gym.
• Excellent career and professional development.
• Support in your working life, including flexible working which you can discuss with us at any point during the application, selection or offer.
• A values‑based organisation where the way we do things is important as what we do.

Benefits may vary if you are joining on an FTC basis. Learn more about life at the BBC and our values in our candidate pack.

Location

BBC Group and Public Services, Broadcasting House, Portland Place, London, United Kingdom, W1A 1AA. BBC Studios Distribution Limited, company no: 01420028, registered address: 1 Television Centre, 101 Wood Lane, London, United Kingdom W12 7FA.

EEO Statement

We welcome applications from individuals, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, socio‑economic background, religion and/or belief. Find out more about diversity, inclusion and belonging in our strategy below. Disability confident.