Software Engineering Manager

Dreams Limited; High Wycombe; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Discretionary annual bonus

Staff discounts on Dreams products

Buy-in schemes (extra holiday / health

Free onsite parking

Wellbeing support and gym access

Hybrid working model

Healthcare discounts

Job summary

Dreams Limited seeks an Engineering Manager for the Ecommerce Front-End & QA team in Buckinghamshire. You will be the day-to-day technology deputy, guiding front-end engineering and test teams to deliver a stable ecommerce experience while modernising our FE platform and improving delivery confidence.

Reporting to the Head of Ecommerce, you will coach engineers, manage performance, and balance run-the-business work with roadmap delivery. Hybrid working and competitive rewards are offered.

Qualifications

• Proven experience leading and line-managing a front-end team with delivery focus.
• Strong credibility in modern FE development and guiding decisions.
• Experience delivering large front-end migration or replatforming projects.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical leadership on FE standards and delivery practices.
• Lead front-end migration/modernisation end-to-end with safe delivery.
• Collaborate with Product to shape solutions and improve UX outcomes.
• Ensure releases are ready with test discipline and sign-off.
• Coach and performance-manage engineers and QA colleagues.

Skills

Front-end leadership

JavaScript/TypeScript

Migration / modernisation

QA collaboration

Stakeholder management

Job description

Head OfficePermanentFull timeHigh Wycombe, BuckinghamshireCompetitive, bonus, hybrid and flexible workingThe RoleThe job:We`re looking for an Engineering Manager to join our Ecommerce Team based in Loudwater, Buckinghamshire. As Engineering Manager for Ecommerce Front-End & QA, you are the day-to-day technology deputy to the Head of Ecommerce. You lead our front-end engineering and test teams to deliver a stable, high-performing ecommerce experience while improving delivery predictability, release confidence and quality. This role is critical to steering our front-end modernisation / migration programme.You are technically credible and able to guide engineering direction, challenge approaches, and make pragmatic trade-offs. You are a strong people manager who builds a high-performing team and reduces reliance on the Head of Ecommerce for operational oversight.Ready to skip the snooze button and get stuck in? Here`s a taste of what you`ll be doing day-to-day...Provide technical leadership on FE standards and ways of working so delivery is consistent, maintainable, and doesn`t create long-term risk.Lead the team through the front-end migration/modernisation programme: set the approach, sequence the work sensibly, and ensure delivery remains safe throughout.Work closely with Product to challenge briefs, shape solutions, and ensure the team delivers the best customer experience outcomes.Ensure releases are "ready to ship" with strong test discipline, clear defect management, and visible sign-off.Coach, develop and performance-manage engineers and QA colleagues to build a strong, motivated and accountable team.Delivery Support with Front-End and QA: supporting the delivery manager with planning, prioritisation, capacity, dependencies, and clear reporting of progress, risks and blockers.Engineering Leadership & Delivery OwnershipOwn delivery outcomes for FE engineering and QA: predictable throughput, release readiness, incident/defect ownership, and continuous improvement in how the team plans and delivers.Establish and maintain strong engineering ways of working.Identify technical delivery risks early (dependencies, resourcing, technical constraints) and actively remove blockers.Balance "run the business" work with roadmap delivery and technical debt reduction to protect site stability and future change velocity.Front-End Modernisation / Migration LeadershipSteer the front-end migration programme end-to-end from an execution perspective: sequencing, approach, and delivery governance to ensure progress without destabilising tradingSet and maintain FE standards and patterns: framework usage, TypeScript standards, state management, component structure/reuse, testing strategy and performance best practices.Make key migration decisions visible and understandable: document major trade-offs and decisions and ensure alignment across stakeholders.Ensure the team maintains a sustainable architecture direction.Quality & Test Leadership (via Test Manager)Line-manage and support the Test Manager to create and execute effective test strategies, plans and scripts across releases and change programmes.Ensure robust coverage across testing types: exploratory, feature, pre/post release, integration, regression, and performance testing; primarily manual with pragmatic automation where it adds value.Drive strong defect management: triage, prioritisation, clear ownership, and fast resolution - especially for live issues impacting customers/trading.Maintain clear release sign-off processes and communication so stakeholders understand confidence and risk.Stakeholder & Partner ManagementActively question project briefs and contribute to shaping solutions to ensure optimum outcomes and reduce delivery roadblocks.Translate business goals into engineering delivery plans and communicate clearly to non-technical stakeholders.Coordinate with third-party partners (development and QA) to ensure alignment on standards, quality expectations, and delivery timelines.People Leadership & Team DevelopmentBuild a strong engineering and QA culture focused on ownership, quality, continuous improvement, and collaboration.Set clear expectations, coach performance, develop capability, and support hiring to build the right skills for the future platform.Create a team structure and operating rhythm that reduces dependency on the Head of Ecommerce for day-to-day technology management.The PersonThis is the type of person we`re dreaming of:EssentialProven experience leading and line-managing a team of front-end engineers (and/or a cross-functional delivery team), with strong people management capability.Strong technical credibility in modern front-end development (JavaScript/TypeScript, component-based architecture, performance, testing) with the ability to guide decisions even if not coding daily.Demonstrable experience leading delivery of significant front-end change (migration, modernisation, replatform, major refactor) with clear sequencing and risk management.Strong understanding of software quality and testing practices; experience partnering closely with QA/Test roles and maintaining release confidence.Excellent stakeholder management: able to communicate trade-offs, progress and risks clearly to technical and non-technical audiences.DesirableEcommerce and/or retail experience, especially within high-traffic trading environments.Experience working with third-party engineering partners and external QA providers.Familiarity with experimentation/CRO delivery environments and performance-focused delivery.In your dream role, you`ll also receive:Bonus: Our discretionary annual bonus scheme recognises the hard work and dedication of our superstar dreamers.Discounts: Amazing staff discount on Dreams products, plus hundreds of brands including restaurants, holidays, and shopping.Buy-in schemes: You`ll have the opportunity to buy extra holiday, private healthcare, or savings and loans.Parking: We know it goes without saying, but our free onsite parking gives you peace of mind when you travel.Wellbeing: We partner with the Retail Trust to offer a 24-hour helpline with a variety of support services, as well as hosting an on-site gym and out of hours GP service.Hybrid working: Whether you`re an early bird or night owl, we trust you to work your hours responsibly to suit you!About DreamsAt Dreams, we know your bed is the best place in the whole world. But for the hours between precious sleep, we`d like to make work a special place to be too. We`re the UK`s most loved bed retailer, so it`s important our people feel the love as well. There`s over 250 of us at our affectionally named `Bedquarters` in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, where every dreamer makes a difference.We`re super passionate about our people-first culture, which means we like to keep things simple and celebrate every success, big or small! From a payday treats trolley to charity fundraisers and all-staff lunches, we know we do it best when we do it together.And together we`ve been making bedtimes better since 1985, with no signs of hitting the snooze button. We`re owned by the world`s largest bedding provider, Tempur Sealy, and have our very own Bed Factory right here in the UK. You`ll even get a guided tour when you join - that`s part of our mission to get you fully bed-ucated during your induction.With 208 stores nationwide, 6 central warehouses and 12 delivery centres, we sell 14,000 mattresses, bases and headboards every single week. Now that`s a lot of Zzzs.So if you`re bonkers about bed, silly for siestas and keen on your kip, we think Dreams could be the perfect place for you.Dreams. Love your job.We can’t promise breakfast in bedBut, we can promise these:Wellbeing that worksIt’s not something we sweep under the bed – it’s central to how we look after each other. It’s not something we sweep under the bed – it’s central to how we look after each other.Perks you can pickLife looks different for everyone, so we give you options.Room to growYour career should feel like a journey, not a dead end.Extra goodiesEvery department has its own little Dream extras.Perks you can pickLife looks different for everyone, so we give you options.Buy extra holiday when you need more time off, opt into private healthcare or make use of our savings and loans schemes.Are you a sun seeker who wants an extra week to drink pina coladas somewhere tropical, maybe you’d like a few extra days to spend time with your little ones or perhaps you’ve just got a bit of DIY or a home project you can’t seem to find the time to finish off… Well, good news, we have an amazing scheme where you can buy up to five extra days holiday per year.Take advantage of fantastic discounts on everyday products and services offered to you just for being a Dreams colleague. From discounted gym memberships, days out, supermarket vouchers to cinema trips, there’s great discounts to benefit everyone. There are also loads of great resources to help support your health & wellbeing.Perks you can pickLife looks different for everyone, so we give you options.Buy extra holiday when you need more time off, opt into private healthcare or make use of our savings and loans schemes.Are you a sun seeker who wants an extra week to drink pina coladas somewhere tropical, maybe you’d like a few extra days to spend time with your little ones or perhaps you’ve just got a bit of DIY or a home project you can’t seem to find the time to finish off… Well, good news, we have an amazing scheme where you can buy up to five extra days holiday per year.Take advantage of fantastic discounts on everyday products and services offered to you just for being a Dreams colleague. From discounted gym memberships, days out, supermarket vouchers to cinema trips, there’s great discounts to benefit everyone. There are also loads of great resources to help support your health & wellbeing.Room to growYour career should feel like a journey, not a dead end.That’s why we invest in training and development that helps you stretch your skills and reach your next goal – whatever that looks like. You’ll have access to workshops, mentoring, leadership programmes and apprenticeships that lead to recognised qualifications. Because at Dreams, growing your career should feel as natural as getting a good night’s sleep.Extra goodiesEvery department has its own little Dream extras.In Retail, you’ll find competitive salaries, uncapped commission and peak incentives that make going above and beyond worth it. In Distribution, there are performance-related bonuses and recognition awards for those who go the extra mile. In Bedquarters, you’ll enjoy hybrid working, annual bonuses and colleague discounts. And in our Bed Factory, you’ll get hands-on support and full training to help you master your craft. Wherever you work, you’ll find benefits that fit your role, reward your effort and help you feel right at home.Where you’ll be workingHere is where you’ll be based, whether that’s Bedquarters, or our Bed Factory or one of our stores.High WycombeBuckinghamshireHP10 9YU