Software Engineering Team Leader

Softcat plc.; Birmingham; Hybrid; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading technology solutions provider based in Birmingham seeks a Services Systems Engineer to lead the delivery of software solutions while supporting a small squad of engineers. The ideal candidate should have strong expertise in Go, Node.js, React, and Python, along with a passion for people leadership. The role promotes a collaborative and flexible culture with opportunities for professional growth. It involves hands-on software delivery, technical execution, and skill development, ensuring high standards in project execution.

Benefits

Hybrid working

Flexible hours

Support for school drop-offs and pick-ups

Qualifications

• Advanced proficiency in Go, Node.js, React, and Python.
• Experience delivering software within established engineering standards.
• Demonstrated ability to support development through coaching and feedback.
• Capability to lead a small squad while maintaining high quality.

Responsibilities

• Design, build, and maintain high-quality software solutions.
• Act as a player-coach for a team of five engineers.
• Translate technical direction into effective implementation.
• Identify individual and team development needs and support engineers.
• Provide day-to-day leadership for the squad.

Skills

Go

Node.js

React

Python

People leadership

Coaching

Job description

The Services Systems Engineer team deliver complete technical solutions using leading edge technology. We are a skilled team of cloud system developers, software engineers, architects, and support engineers who work as a single unit to understand the problem faced by other departments and design a sustainable solutions that fits their needs. Our Solutions range from high level design to full deployment and ongoing support and management. At Softcat we encourage and applaud curiosity and innovation so you will have plenty of opportunity to contribute to improvements in process, efficiency, and the customer experience through championing innovative technologies, services, and collaborative ideation. You will take a leading position in the day-to-day delivery of high-quality, scalable software solutions, remaining hands‑on while supporting a small squad of engineers. You will act as a player‑coach, combining strong technical capability with people leadership, and will guide the team through regular 1:1s, coaching, and contribution to performance reviews. This role is ideal for an experienced engineer who wants to remain technical while beginning their journey into people leadership. You will work closely with the Principal Software Engineer to translate established technical direction, standards, and architectural patterns into effective delivery within the squad. You will contribute to technical discussions and support local implementation decisions, while long‑term technical strategy and cross‑team architectural direction are owned elsewhere within the engineering leadership function. Your focus will be on execution, code quality, team health, and the consistent application of agreed engineering practices.

Responsibilities

• Hands‑on Software Delivery: Design, build, and maintain high‑quality software solutions using Go, Node.js, React, and Python, contributing directly to code and ensuring solutions meet agreed standards for performance, scalability, and security.
• Team Leadership & Coaching: Act as a player‑coach for a team of five engineers, running regular 1:1s, providing coaching and feedback, and contributing input into performance reviews to support individual growth and development.
• Technical Execution: Translate technical direction, architectural guidance, and engineering standards defined by the Principal Software Engineer into effective implementation within the squad, contributing to design discussions and escalating decisions that fall outside agreed guardrails.
• Capability & Skill Development: Identify individual and team development needs, supporting engineers in building the right skills and experience to meet delivery expectations. You will help ensure appropriate skill coverage within the team by guiding development priorities and highlighting gaps to the Engineering Manager.
• Squad Leadership: Provide day‑to‑day leadership for the squad, supporting task prioritisation, delivery execution, and collaboration, while reinforcing agreed engineering practices and maintaining a high bar for quality.

Qualifications

• Advanced Technical Skills: Strong proficiency in Go, Node.js, React, and Python. Your expertise in delivering robust, scalable solutions within established architectures will help us meet business objectives while ensuring our systems remain high‑performing and reliable.
• Execution‑Focused Engineering: Experience delivering software within established architectural patterns and engineering standards, with the judgement to make local implementation decisions and escalatest when broader technical direction is required.
• People Leadership & Coaching: Experience supporting the development of other engineers through coaching, regular feedback, and 1:1s, with the ability to contribute constructively to performance reviews without owning formal people‑management outcomes.
• Delivery & Squad Leadership: Ability to provide day‑to‑day leadership within a small squad, supporting task prioritisation, collaboration, and delivery execution while maintaining a high bar for quality and accountability.

We also acknowledge that the confidence gap and imposter syndrome are a real thing and can get in the way of us meeting fantastic talent, so please don't hesitate to apply – we would love to hear from you!

Here at Softcat, we don't prohibit the use of AI (artificial intelligence) in our application process, as we understand how far it can go to creating a truly equitable candidate experience. That being said, as a culture‑driven organisation, we believe that the genuine essence of each person is what truly matters, so we highly encourage you to be as authentically you as possible when submitting your application to showcase your true and whole self.

Flexible Working Patterns

• Hybrid working
• Working flexible hours – flexing the times you start and finish during the day
• Flexibility around school pick up and drop offs

Working with us Wherever you work, we want you to experience the freedom and autonomy to realise your potential. You will feel supported by a team that celebrates individuality, encourages different perspectives, and embraces every background.