Software Development Manager
A long-established, engineering-led R&D business operating across fire safety and control systems is seeking a Software Development Manager to lead and improve a cross-functional software team. With over 30 years of technology-driven innovation and international reach, the business is expanding its software capability to support increasing project demands. This is a site-based leadership role ideal for a software manager with strong process and team management experience, excellent JIRA knowledge, and a passion for embedded or hardware-adjacent technologies.
Software Development Manager
Responsibilities:
Lead a team of 12 software engineers working across embedded, Linux, Microsoft, and desktop applications (no cloud-based work).
Own and optimise JIRA usage across the department, structuring workflows, dashboards, and reporting to improve delivery and transparency.
Coach and mentor software engineers to raise capability and accountability.
Implement and evolve software development processes (primarily Waterfall with some Kanban/Scrum where applicable).
Support delivery of long-cycle regulatory projects, working closely with hardware, test, and project management teams.
Report into international stakeholders and work collaboratively with global teams.
Engage with tools and technologies used across embedded systems and electronics (hands-on not required but technical curiosity expected).
Perform light hands-on testing where necessary to support team outcomes.
Help build a stronger engineering culture, instilling best practices in coding, testing, documentation, and delivery.
Software Development Manager
Requirements:
Proven experience managing software engineering teams within a structured development environment.
Strong expertise in JIRA must know how to build, structure, and drive process via JIRA (essential for interview consideration).
Deep understanding of software development lifecycles, particularly Waterfall, with practical exposure to Agile methodologies (Scrum/Kanban).
Confident team leadership and stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to manage upwards and across departments.
Comfortable in technical environments with embedded, electronics, or robotics products (hands-on coding not required).
Professional and approachable communication style interviews involve senior leadership and HR.
Based within 1 hour of the office (Surrey area) and able to be onsite 3+ days per week hybrid model but not fully remote.
Must have prior UK work experience not open to candidates relocating back to the UK without recent local employment.
Software Development Manager
Benefits:
Salary up to £65,000 + £7,000 car allowance
Annual bonus scheme up to £80,000 total package potential
Hybrid working model 5 days per fortnight onsite
Private healthcare, enhanced pension, and life assurance
Stable, well-established business with clear project roadmap
Supportive team culture and international collaboration opportunities
Long-term growth potential in a technically rich environment
If youre a people-first software leader with a strong grasp of process improvement and JIRA implementation and you enjoy working in an embedded, hardware-linked space wed love to hear from you.
Know someone who might fit? Referrals are welcomed and appreciated.
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