Lead Software Engineer / Software Engineering Manager

Role Description and Intent

The intent of this role is effective technical leadership combined with project management oversight for a team delivering software solutions, many of which incorporate AI components. Success in this position relies fundamentally on core strengths such as: demonstrable expertise in software engineering principles, strong coding ability, and a solid track record in project management and successful delivery.

Our work increasingly involves AI (applying off-shelf or open source solutions), and we recognize this is a developing field. Consequently, we prioritise proven engineering capabilities and emerging leadership qualities over deep, pre-existing AI/ML knowledge. We are looking for someone capable of applying rigorous software engineering discipline to projects within this evolving context, with motivation to learn and adapt.

This position is designed for experienced software engineers ready to journey onto team mentorship responsibilities or current technical leads seeking to apply their skills within the AI space. The structure of the role allows for progressive growth in understanding and guiding AI-related work as part of your leadership journey.

• Team Mentorship: To initially focus on providing strong technical guidance and project leadership for a small team of software and AI engineers. Responsibilities include mentoring team members, fostering collaboration, and ensuring project success. This role offers a clear path and support to progressively develop into broader team leadership, eventually encompassing formal duties like career development guidance and performance management.
• Project Management & Delivery: Oversee the entire lifecycle of AI-related projects, from planning and scoping to execution, monitoring, and deployment. Ensure projects are delivered on time, within scope, and to high-quality standards.
• Technical Guidance: Provide architectural oversight and technical direction, leveraging your strong software engineering background. Ensure the team adheres to best practices in coding, testing, and deployment. Facilitate technical decision-making.
• Stakeholder Management: Collaborate effectively with product managers, data scientists, business stakeholders, and other engineering teams to define requirements, manage expectations, and communicate progress, risks, and dependencies.
• AI Application Focus: Guide the practical application of AI/ML tools and services within projects, ensuring solutions are feasible, effective, and aligned with business objectives. Stay informed about relevant AI trends to guide project strategy.
• Resource Planning: Assist in resource allocation, roadmap planning, and hiring efforts for the team.