Software Engineering Manager

Pearson; Rotherham; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Pearson is seeking an Oracle Engineering Manager to lead the Oracle engineering team on the TOpS programme. You will be accountable for delivery, quality and technical direction across Oracle Database, Oracle APEX applications and data pipelines from multiple sources.

This is a people leadership role with strong technical credibility, line-managing engineers and representing the team to senior stakeholders.

Qualifications

• Leads an engineering team delivering data-focused Oracle solutions.
• Strong track record in recruiting, coaching and developing engineers.
• Experience with Oracle databases, APEX, and data pipelines.

Responsibilities

• Lead, line manage and develop a team of Oracle engineers.
• Own delivery planning with product owners: backlog, estimation, sprint planning, release management.
• Set and uphold engineering standards for SQL, PL/SQL and APEX development.
• Provide technical direction on Oracle APEX architecture, security and performance.
• Oversee design, operation and monitoring of data pipelines.

Skills

Oracle leadership

Team management

PL/SQL

Data pipelines

Security & data protection

Tools

CI/CD

Source control

Oracle APEX

SQL/PL-SQL

Job description

Role: Software Engineering Manager (Oracle)

Division: Assessment & Qualifications Delivery

Location: Rotherham, Manchester or London, UK

"This role aligns with positions typically advertised in the external market as Oracle Engineering Manager, Oracle Development Manager or Oracle Technical Lead ."

About Pearson: At Pearson we add life to a lifetime of learning so everyone can realise the life they imagine. We do this by creating vibrant and enriching learning experiences designed for real-life impact. Our Purpose | Add Life to a Lifetime of Learning. Pearson was founded in 1844 and has been built on our ability to grow with and adapt to a constantly evolving market. Our 20,000+ employees are dedicated to creating high-quality, digital-first, accessible and sustainable resources for lifelong learning.

About the Job

We are looking for an Oracle Engineering Manager to lead our Oracle engineering team on a programme called TOpS. You will be accountable for the delivery, quality and technical direction of the team's work across Oracle Database, Oracle APEX applications and the data pipelines that ingest, transform and validate data from multiple internal and external sources. You will make sure that data is trustworthy, that solutions are secure and supportable, and that the team delivers predictably.

This is a people leadership role with strong technical credibility. You will line manage and develop engineers, set engineering standards, and work alongside product owners, architects, QA, project managers and business SMEs. You will also represent the team at senior stakeholder meetings, explaining progress, risks, design ideas and decisions in clear, non-technical terms.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead, line manage, coach and develop a team of Oracle engineers, including recruitment, objective setting, one-to-ones and performance reviews.
• Own delivery planning with product owners: backlog prioritisation, estimation, sprint planning, release management, and progress reporting.
• Set and uphold engineering standards for SQL, PL/SQL and APEX development, including code review, source control, CI/CD and automated testing.
• Provide technical direction on Oracle APEX application architecture, security, performance and environment management (development, test and production).
• Oversee the design, operation and monitoring of data pipelines, ensuring they are reliable, performant and meet agreed service levels.
• Define and embed a data quality framework covering validation rules, reconciliation, quality measures, issue management, and root cause analysis.
• Ensure solutions meet data protection, security and audit requirements, working with architecture, information security and governance colleagues.
• Manage risks, issues and dependencies, including those involving third-party suppliers and other Pearson teams.
• Lead incident and problem management for the team's live services and drive continuous improvement.

About You

You will be an experienced Oracle professional who has moved into leadership, with a track record of leading engineering teams delivering data-focused projects. You are comfortable rolling up your sleeves to review a design or a complex PL/SQL package, but your real strength is building a capable, motivated team and creating the conditions for it to deliver high-quality work. You communicate clearly with technical and non-technical audiences, and you thrive on fast-moving, business-critical programmes.

Key Skills & Experience

Leadership and Delivery

• Proven experience leading and line managing a team of Oracle, database or data engineers.
• Recruiting, coaching and developing engineers, and building an inclusive, high-performing team culture.