Technical Lead

PA Consulting; Bristol; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A consulting firm in the UK is seeking a leader in software engineering to manage teams and guide digital transformations. The role involves mentoring engineers, employing a collaborative approach, and utilizing cutting-edge technology across various projects. Essential skills include experience in managing engineering teams, excellent communication with clients, and a strong grasp of modern engineering standards.

Benefits

Health and lifestyle perks

25 days annual leave plus additional options

Generous company pension scheme

Annual performance-based bonus

PA share ownership

Qualifications

• Manage and technically lead a software engineering team.
• Demonstrate credibility in technology delivery to clients.
• Shape the end-to-end software delivery lifecycle effectively.
• Implement infrastructure-as-code and CI/CD strategies.
• Enhance system performance through optimization techniques.
• Provide technical expertise to shape bids and client proposals.

Responsibilities

• Guide technical teams through challenges.
• Lead in-person whiteboarding sessions for problem-solving.
• Work on internal projects while meeting client needs.
• Mentor engineers and foster continuous improvement.

Skills

Experience in managing software engineering teams

Soft-skills to interact with clients

Expertise in modern engineering standards

Problem-solving and analytical thinking

Collaborating with multiple stakeholders

Education

Relevant technical degree or experience

Tools

JavaScript

TypeScript

Java

C#

AWS

Azure

Terraform

Job description

Company Description

We believe in the power of ingenuity to build a positive human future.

As strategies, technologies, and innovation collide, we create opportunity from complexity.

Our teams of interdisciplinary experts combine innovative thinking and breakthrough technologies to progress further, faster. Our clients adapt and transform, and together we achieve enduring results.

We are over 4,000 strategists, innovators, designers, consultants, digital experts, scientists, engineers, and technologists. And we have deep expertise in consumer and manufacturing, defence and security, energy and utilities, financial services, government and public services, health and life sciences, and transport.

Our teams operate globally from offices across the UK, Ireland, US, Nordics, and Netherlands.

PA. Bringing Ingenuity to Life.

Job Description

Hybrid working - our approach is to be in the office or on client site a minimum of 2 days per week. However, the actual time you spend and where you spend it will vary by role or assignment, including up to 5 days per week on a client site.

We believe in the power of ingenuity to build a positive human future. We challenge where it matters and own the outcome. We combine strategic thinking, customer‑centric service design, and agile engineering practices to accelerate innovation in a tech‑driven world.

Why consider joining our Digital & Data community?

• Join our Digital & Data team working alongside product, design and a wide range of other experts and cross‑disciplinary teams to bring ideas to life through innovative software solutions.
• Grow a flexible and unique career within a trust‑based, inclusive environment that values excellence, innovation, and curiosity. You have the option to progress with us on a technical career track. No need to go onto the Partner career track if this doesn’t align with what you want to do.
• Hybrid working - our approach is to be in the office or on client site a minimum of 2 days per week.
• Work on a broad variety of projects and tech stacks for clients across seven sectors - no project is ever the same
• Join other experts within our supportive and collaborative tech community through knowledge‑sharing and peer‑level support, coaching and mentoring
• Deepen your expertise through our culture of learning and growth – you’ll have budget to take courses (technical and non‑technical training), plus gain certifications

Our tech stack

While we advocate for using the right tech for the right task, you can expect to work with the following technologies to ensure scalable, high‑performance applications:

• Programming Languages: JavaScript/TypeScript, Java, C#
• Frameworks: Vue/Angular/React/Node/Next, Spring/Spring Boot, .NET/ASP.NET
• Cloud platforms: AWS, GCP, Azure
• CI/CD: Jenkins, GitHub Actions, Azure DevOps
• IaC: Terraform, CloudFormation, Azure Bicep
• Pragmatic and safe usage of AI through the SDLC (e.g. using MCP to combine tools in interesting and effective ways)

What you can expect

• Work to agile best practices and cross‑functionally with multiple teams and stakeholders. You’ll be using your technical skills to problem solve with our clients, as well as working on internal projects
• Steer technical teams through complex challenges and guide our clients towards successful digital transformations
• Provide mentorship to engineers and create an environment of continuous improvement
• Live in‑person whiteboarding sessions to problem solve as a team, alongside asynchronous communication on Teams
• Hybrid working with the team on client site or in our office a minimum of two days per week. However, the actual time you spend and where you spend it will vary by role or assignment, including up to 5 days per week on a client site.
• An environment that deeply cares about its values

Qualifications

Essential requirements ✅

Even if you don’t meet every requirement below, feel free to still apply as we are often hiring for similar roles which your background might be better suited to.

• Experience in managing and technically leading a software engineering team
• Soft‑skills to interact with clients, demonstrating credibility in technology and overall delivery
• Proven capability in shaping the end‑to‑end software delivery lifecycle, driving improvements across development, testing, deployment, and operational phases.
• Ability to implement infrastructure‑as‑code, CI/CD, and efficient release management strategies.
• Enhance system performance using load testing, caching, and optimizing database queries and application logic for better scalability and response times.
• Expertise in modern engineering standards such as TDD, contract testing, and secure coding, as well as architectural patterns like event‑driven architecture and platform migration.
• You thrive in problem‑solving and analytical thinking to create long‑term solutions
• You enjoy collaborating with multiple stakeholders in a fast‑paced environment
• Experience providing technical subject matter expertise to shape bids and client proposals. Can present proposed approaches and discuss technical implementation with prospective clients during the sales process

#LI-SA3

We know the skill‑gap and ‘somewhat need to tick every box’ can get in the way of meeting brilliant candidates, so please don’t hesitate to apply – we’d love to hear from you.

Apply today by completing our online application

Please be aware that some of our UK roles at PA Consulting require a UK security clearance.

All PA people are required to undergo background checks and to achieve the Baseline Personnel Security Standard however, some UK roles also require higher levels of National Security Vetting, where applicants must have at least 5 years of continuous residency in the UK.

We therefore ask that you only apply if you meet the residency requirements (i.e. you are a British citizen or have been resident in the UK for the past 5 years), as this is the prerequisite for a security clearance. If you're unsure about your eligibility, we encourage you to review the UK Government’s guidance on security vetting before applying.

Additional Information

Assessment process ⚖️

• Quick video call with one of our Tech Recruiters – to discuss your application, the role and PA
• Round 1: Competency interview (45 minutes)
• Round 2: Technical interview (90 mins face to face)
• Final round : Meeting with a PA leader - a discussion around your client‑centricity (30 mins face to face)

Life At PA encompasses our peoples’ experience at PA. It's about how we enrich peoples’ working lives by giving them access to unique people and growth opportunities and purpose‑led meaningful work.

Our purpose guides how we work with our clients and our teams, and support our communities, to deliver insight and impact, solving the world’s most complex challenges. We're focused on building a workplace that values human difference and diverse mindsets, and a culture of inclusion and equality that unlocks the potential in our people so everyone can be their best self.

Find out more about Life at PA here.

We are dedicated to supporting the physical, emotional, social and financial well‑being of our people. Check out some of our extensive benefits:

• Health and lifestyle perks accompanying private healthcare
• 25 days annual leave (plus a bonus half day on Christmas Eve) with the opportunity to buy 5 additional days
• Generous company pension scheme
• Opportunity to get involved with community and charity‑based initiatives
• Annual performance‑based bonus
• PA share ownership
• Tax efficient benefits (cycle to work, give as you earn)

We’re committed to advancing equality. We recruit, retain, reward and develop our people based solely on their abilities and contributions and without reference to their age, background, disability, genetic information, parental or family status, religion or belief, race, ethnicity, nationality, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity (or expression), political belief, veteran status, or any other range of human difference brought about by identity and experience. We welcome applications from underrepresented groups.

Adjustments or accommodations - Should you need any adjustments or accommodations to the recruitment process, at either application or interview, please contact us on [e-mail]