Technical Lead – Software Engineering (National Security Projects)
Location: Manchester (2–3 days on-site per week)
Salary: £65,000 – £82,000 + excellent benefits
Clearance: SC clearable (current SC clearance preferred)
Interview Process: 1 stage
If your skills, experience, and qualifications match those in this job overview, do not delay your application.
We’re looking for an experienced and hands-on Technical Lead to head up a newly formed engineering team delivering secure, high-impact solutions for government and national security clients. This is a rare opportunity to join a project at inception, giving you the chance to help shape the technical direction, ways of working, and delivery culture from the ground up.
What You’ll Do
* Lead a multidisciplinary Scrum team of AWS, platform, and software engineers (8–9 people)
* Remain hands-on with the technology, with a focus on Java and AWS
* Own the technical design and oversee delivery of complex, secure software solutions
* Ensure solutions are scalable, robust, and aligned with security best practices
* Collaborate closely with other technical leads and architects on solution design
* Mentor and support engineers to drive technical excellence and continuous improvement
What You’ll Bring
* Strong hands-on experience with Java and AWS (C++ experience beneficial)
* Proven track record leading agile software teams in complex environments
* Solid understanding of cloud-native architectures and DevOps practices
* Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills
* Active SC clearance preferred; must be SC clearable
* Ability to influence both technical direction and team culture
Why Join?
* Be part of a newly established team, rather than joining an existing project
* Work on critical solutions that directly contribute to national security
* Enjoy a collaborative and technically challenging environment
* Shape the engineering approach and ways of working from day one