Head of Software Engineering

Head of Software Engineering£500 - £600 per day (inside IR35)6 month plus contract role.Hybrid - 2 days per week in office.NorthamptonshireRole Overview:We are seeking an experienced Head of Software Engineering to join us mid programme to lead and transform our development function. This is an opportunity for a proactive leader to establish engineering best practices and introduce robust metrics across development. You will also be responsible for ensuring that code quality meets high standards across both internal and third-party development teams, including offshore, nearshore and UK-based contributors.Key Responsibilities:Leadership & Strategy* Define and implement a strategic vision for software engineering that aligns with programme deliverables and drives technical excellence.* Lead, mentor and grow a team of engineers, building a culture of accountability, innovation and continuous improvement.* Establish performance metrics and KPIs to measure team effectiveness, code quality and delivery timelines.Standards, Quality & Best Practices* Develop and enforce coding, testing and documentation standards to ensure maintainability, scalability and high quality across both internal and external teams.* Design and implement quality assurance processes, code reviews and testing practices for third-party contributions to ensure alignment with internal engineering standards.* Lead the improvement of agile practices and a establish a continuous delivery framework to improve release cycles and product quality.Technical Excellence* Own the software development lifecycle (SDLC) using modern tools and techniques, integrating with Azure and leveraging Power Platform and Dynamics 365 to deliver scalable solutions.* Oversee and optimise DevOps and CI/CD processes within an Azure environment, enabling efficient collaboration with third-party teams.* Drive technical best practices such as test automation, continuous integration and deployment to ensure high-quality, reliable delivery.Collaboration & Stakeholder Management* Collaborate with cross-functional teams (product, engineering, support) to align on objectives and drive successful project outcomes.* Coordinate effectively with third-party vendors, agencies and code contributors, ensuring that external development meets internal standards.* Communicate engineering progress and technical strategies to senior leadership, providing visibility on risks, milestones and improvements.Essential Skills and Experience* Extensive experience in leading software engineering teams, with a proven track record of establishing standards and fostering a culture of continuous delivery.* Proven expertise in managing outsourced or third-party development teams, ensuring consistent code quality and alignment with internal engineering standards.* Deep familiarity with cloud-based development, particularly within Azure environments and an understanding of Microsoft Power Platform, D365 and Azure data services.* Proficiency in implementing DevOps practices, CI/CD pipelines and automation within cloud infrastructures, particularly using Azure DevOps.* Strong communication and leadership skills, with the ability to manage remote collaboration and enforce quality standards across multiple locationsDesirable Attributes* Hands-on software engineering experience preferably developing solutions in .Net.* Experience with remote collaboration tools, code review platforms and automated testing frameworks to facilitate consistent quality across teams.* Excellent interpersonal and problem-solving skills, capable of leading teams through change and ambiguity.* Data-driven mindset, leveraging metrics to improve team performance and code quality.* Experience of establishing an inner source model.

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