Software Engineering Manager

Rsgroup; Corby; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

RS Group in Corby is seeking an experienced Software Engineering Manager to lead an API team and drive delivery of features at pace. You will evangelise a technical vision, foster pragmatic processes, and ensure high-quality engineering standards across the product domains.

You will manage 6–10 engineers, align with the API function, and report to the Head of API Platforms. A strong background in cloud-native architectures and modern back-end tech is essential.

Qualifications

• 10+ years' experience in software engineering and technology development.
• 3+ years leading engineering teams within an agile, product-focused environment.
• Proven experience delivering cloud-native solutions, CD, and modern back-end architectures.
• Hands-on expertise with Java, Node.js, AWS services, and API technologies like GraphQL and Postman.
• Experience with Infrastructure as Code, automation, and CI/CD pipelines (Terraform, GitLab CI).
• Knowledge of cloud tooling (Vault, Nomad, Kong, Datadog) and observability.
• Understanding of security, performance optimization, caching (Redis), and test automation.
• Knowledge of solution architecture and industry trends.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Strong collaboration and leadership in cross-functional settings.
• Analytical and strategic mindset to lead change.

Responsibilities

• Line management of the API engineering team, with mentorship and performance mgmt.
• Lead technical design and delivery within product domains.
• Collaborate with agile teams, domains, architects, and product owners.
• Coordinate observability and operational support of production infra.
• Review engineering output for quality and best practices.
• Provide occasional out-of-hours production support.
• Empower the team to deliver at pace and own features.

Skills

Leadership

Cloud-native architecture

CI/CD

API design

GraphQL

Postman

Terraform

GitLab CI

HashiCorp Vault

Nomad

Kong API Gateway

Datadog

Redis

Security

Performance optimization

Observability

Stakeholder management

Communication

Collaboration

Analytical thinking

Tools

Terraform

GitLab CI

HashiCorp Vault

Nomad

Kong API Gateway

Datadog

Redis

Job description

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Software Engineering Manager

Location: Corby, ENG, GB, NN17 5JF

Work Location: Virtual

This is a remote role, offering the flexibility to work virtually from anywhere within the UK.

Brand: RS Group

Function: Digital & Technology

Contract Type: Permanent

The Opportunity

We are seeking an experienced Software Engineering Manager to lead one of our API teams. This role is pivotal in delivering product features and engineering output at pace, while fostering a pragmatic, delivery-focused culture. The manager will evangelise a clear technical vision, experiment with smarter ways of working, and ensure high-quality engineering standards within a product domain environment.

The Software Engineering Manager leads one agile engineering team, with line management responsibility for approximately 6-10 engineers. This role is a key member of the API function, reporting to the Head of API Platforms.

What You'll Be Doing

• Line Management: Direct line management of the API engineering team, providing mentorship, guidance, and performance management.
• Technical Leadership: Lead technical design and delivery within the assigned Product domains, ensuring alignment with architectural standards and business objectives.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Collaborate effectively with agile teams, domains, architects, the engineering practice, scrum masters, and product owners to drive integrated solutions.
• Operational Excellence: Coordinate the observability and operational support of production infrastructure, ensuring system reliability and performance.
• Quality Assurance: Review engineering output for quality, completeness, and adherence to best practices.
• Production Support: Provide occasional out-of-hours support for systems owned by the team.
• Team Empowerment: Empower the team to deliver at pace, take ownership of features, and contribute to a positive engineering culture.

What You'll Bring

• 10+ years' experience in software engineering and technology development, including 3+ years leading engineering teams within an agile, product-focused environment.
• Proven experience delivering cloud-native solutions, continuous delivery, and modern back-end architectures, including event-driven systems.
• Strong hands-on expertise with Java, Node.js, AWS services (Lambda, SNS, SQS, IAM, DynamoDB), and API technologies such as GraphQL and Postman.
• Experience with Infrastructure as Code, automation, and CI/CD pipelines using tools such as Terraform and GitLab CI.
• Knowledge of cloud platform tooling including HashiCorp Vault, Nomad, Kong API Gateway, and observability platforms such as Datadog.
• Solid understanding of application security, performance optimisation, caching technologies (e.g. Redis), and test automation.
• Demonstrated knowledge of solution architecture, emerging technologies, and industry trends.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to translate complex technical concepts for both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Strong collaboration, relationship-building, and influencing skills, with the ability to work effectively across technology and business functions.
• Analytical and strategic mindset, with a proven ability to lead change, solve complex problems, and drive actionable outcomes.

We Are RS

At RS, wearemaking amazing happen for a better world.

As a global product and service solutions provider, we help industrial customersoperatemore efficiently and sustainably. Operating in 33 markets, we support around one million customers worldwide with more than 875,000 stocked products, access to over five millionadditionalproducts, and a range of service solutions designed to help businesses thrive.

What sets us apart is our people. More than 8,500 colleagues around the world bring technicalexpertise, digital innovation, and a customer first mindset to everything we do. Guided by our values – we are one team,wedeliver brilliantly,wedo the right thing, and we make every day better,we'recreating an environment where our people can grow, contribute and make a meaningful impact.

Join us and help make amazing happen.

Rewards

Our Reward Strategy Philosophy is designed to offer market competitive base salaries and provideall ofour people the opportunity toparticipatein a short-term incentive, enabling them to share in the success of the Company.

Our total reward package is more than just the cash; our recognition and benefit offeringprovide the opportunity for usto recognise,rewardand enable the wellbeing of our people at all stages of their journey with RS. Our rewards and benefits vary by country, but include:

• Financial -pension/retirement;lifeassurance;salaryfinance (payroll deduction loan scheme)
• Wellbeing -medical plans;healthscreening;criticalillness;disability insurance;holiday/paidtimeoff;employeeassistanceprogramme; discountedgym/healthclub membership
• Lifestyle -transportationassistanceschemes (e.g.,cycle towork, travel loans, car leasing); onsite catering/lunch vouchers; retail discounts
• Spotlight – our global recognition programme provides a platform to highlight and recognise people role modelling our values

Ready to Make Amazing Happen?

Joinover 8,500colleagues and help us shape the future ofourindustry. Whoever you are, wherever you are — it all starts here.