Software Engineering Manager

Adria Solutions Ltd; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A progressive organisation in Manchester is seeking a Software Engineering Manager to lead a team of approximately 20. The role focuses on building high-performing teams and ensuring the engineering function aligns with business growth. Key responsibilities include defining engineering strategies and driving performance, while technical excellence is expected to ensure quality and scalability. The role offers benefits like 28 days holiday and hybrid working. A strong background in leadership and commercial awareness is essential.

Benefits

28 days holiday + bank holidays

Healthcare

Hybrid working

Qualifications

• Significant senior leadership experience leading multi-disciplinary engineering teams.
• Proven ability to build, inspire and scale high-performing teams.
• Strong commercial acumen with experience aligning technology to business growth.
• Deep technical knowledge and a hands-on engineering background.
• Experience operating at executive level and influencing senior stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Define and execute a clear engineering strategy aligned to business growth.
• Drive performance, efficiency and scalability across the engineering function.
• Lead, mentor and energise a team of approximately 20.
• Oversee the design and delivery of secure, scalable, high-quality digital platforms.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with Product, Operations and Commercial teams.

Skills

Leadership

Commercial acumen

Agile methodologies

DevOps practices

Technical depth

Job description

Overview

My client, a progressive and ambitious organisation, is seeking an exceptional Software Engineering Manager to lead, energise and elevate their engineering function of approximately 20.

This is a pivotal executive-level role, reporting directly to the CEO and working in close partnership with the Chief Architect, where you will play a critical part in shaping both technical direction and commercial outcomes.

They are looking for a dynamic, high-impact leader -someone who can inspire teams, drive performance, and combine deep technical expertise with strong commercial acumen.

The Role

As Head of Software Engineering, you will take full ownership of a 20-person engineering function - building a high-performing, accountable, and motivated team that consistently delivers secure, scalable and commercially aligned technology solutions.

This role requires more than technical oversight. You will be a visible and energetic leader who sets the tone, challenges thinking constructively, and ensures engineering is not just a delivery function but a strategic driver of business growth.

Working alongside the Chief Architect, you will translate architectural vision into operational excellence, ensuring execution, pace and quality remain uncompromising. Reporting to the CEO, you will contribute at executive level, aligning engineering strategy directly with commercial objectives.

Key Responsibilities

• Define and execute a clear engineering strategy aligned to business growth and revenue objectives.
• Partner with the CEO and executive team to ensure technology investment delivers measurable commercial value.
• Drive performance, efficiency and scalability across the 20-person engineering function.
• Own budget, resource planning and cost management within engineering.

Inspirational People Leadership

• Lead, mentor and energise a team of approximately 20.
• Create a culture of accountability, ownership, and continuous improvement.
• Develop leadership capability within the engineering management layer.
• Foster an environment that attracts, retains and develops top technical talent.

Technical Excellence & Delivery

• Oversee the design and delivery of secure, scalable, high-quality digital platforms.
• Ensure best-in-class Agile, DevOps and modern software engineering practices.
• Maintain hands-on credibility with strong technical depth and architectural understanding.
• Drive engineering KPIs focused on quality, velocity, stability and customer impact.

Collaboration & Executive Influence

• Work closely with the Chief Architect to ensure architectural vision is effectively implemented.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with Product, Operations and Commercial teams.
• Translate complex technical strategy into clear business language for executive stakeholders.
• Constructively challenge senior leaders where appropriate to ensure optimal outcomes.

What We re Looking For

We re seeking a confident, commercially astute technology leader who thrives in fast-paced, evolving environments and knows how to get the very best out of their teams.

You will bring:

• Significant senior leadership experience leading multi-disciplinary engineering teams (circa 20+).
• Proven ability to build, inspire and scale high-performing teams.
• Strong commercial acumen with experience aligning technology to business growth.
• Deep technical knowledge and a hands-on engineering background.
• Experience operating at executive level and influencing senior stakeholders.
• A track record of delivering secure, scalable platforms in regulated or complex environments (financial services experience desirable).
• Gravitas, energy and the confidence to influence at CEO level.

Benefits

• 28 days Holiday + BH
• Healthcare
• Hybrid working

Interested? Please Click Apply Now! Software Engineering Manager - Manchester