Software Development Lead

Software Development Lead - Cheshire (Hybrid - 3 days onsite)
Up to £70,000 (DOE) + benefits

I'm partnering with a well-established, consumer-focused organisation in the health & wellbeing sector that's undergoing a significant digital and engineering transformation. They're investing heavily in modern software engineering, product thinking and Agile delivery, and are now looking for a hands-on Software Development Lead to take ownership of one of their product delivery teams.

This role suits an experienced engineer who still enjoys being on the tools, but also wants to lead from the front, shape engineering culture, and influence how software is built across the business.

The Opportunity

You'll lead one of two small, cross-functional teams, working closely with Product, QA, and key business stakeholders. Reporting to the IT Development Manager, you'll play a key role in defining technical direction while delivering high-quality, secure, and scalable software.

You will be responsible for:

• Designing, building and maintaining modern cloud-based software products
• Driving Agile delivery, test-first engineering and DevOps best practices
• Leading technical decision-making and contributing to architectural improvements
• Owning delivery from concept through to production
• Implementing and tracking team metrics (delivery, performance, health)
• Mentoring and inspiring engineers to do their best work
• Supporting technical recruitment and team growth

This is a genuinely hands-on leadership role, combining people leadership with real development across both front-end and back-end systems.

Tech Stack (Microsoft / Azure Focused)

Experience across some of the following is beneficial (not all required):

• C#, .NET Core
• Azure (DevOps, Web Services, API Management, App Gateway, WAF)
• SQL Server, LINQ, Entity Framework
• Angular
• Test-First/Test Driven Development (TDD)
• Azure Active Directory
• GitHub (source control, Copilot)
• Terraform/Infrastructure as Code
• Agile, Scrum, Jira
• Power BI
• Mobile app ecosystems (Apple & Google Play)
• Payment providers

What They're Looking For

• Strong commercial software development background (ideally 10+ years)
• Proven experience in a technical lead or hands-on leadership role
• Passion for modern engineering practices and Test-First development
• Experience leading small, multi-disciplinary teams
• Strong Agile delivery and continuous improvement mindset
• Confident communicator, able to work with stakeholders at all levels
• Background in fast-paced, consumer-facing environments is a plus
• Degree in Computer Science or equivalent industry experience

Salary & Benefits

• Up to £70,000 depending on experience
• 28 days holiday (including bank holidays), increasing with service
• Company pension
• Free gym membership for you and a loved one
• Retail and café discounts
• Training, development and clear progression opportunities

Why This Role?

This is an excellent opportunity for a tech lead who wants to shape engineering culture, influence long-term technical direction, and play a key role in a modernisation journey - while still staying close to the code.

If you're open to a confidential conversation, apply now and I'll be in touch.

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