Job Description
About Us
DSL-Datastor Group is a leading provider of process control software, trusted by nearly 200 manufacturing sites worldwide, ~70% of which are in the UK & Ireland, ~20% of which are in North America, and ~10% of which are spread across the rest of the world. While we are a long-established partner to the animal feed industry, our software is increasingly powering other sectors, too, including paints and specialist chemicals.
The Role
We are seeking a Software Team Lead to spearhead the development activities of a 14-person software team, working closely with the Group VP Product. As Software Team Lead, you will be responsible for managing a team of developers to ensure high-quality software delivery that meets business and customer needs. You will tackle technical challenges that bridge software engineering with real-world manufacturing processes. This role blends hands-on technical expertise with leadership responsibilities, offering both team mentorship and active involvement in architecture, design, process improvement, and code review.
Key Responsibilities
* Lead and mentor a team of software developers, fostering a collaborative, high-performance culture.
* Translate business requirements into technical tasks, ensuring efficient project execution.
* Oversee the full software development lifecycle, including planning, development, testing, deployment, and maintenance.
* Review code, ensure adherence to best practices, and maintain high standards for quality, security, and performance.
* Collaborate with cross-functional teams (Engineering, Sales) to align deliverables and timelines.
* Contribute to software architecture and design discussions, balancing scalability, maintainability, and innovation.
* Manage workload distributions, sprint planning, and performance reviews.
* Assist with recruitment and onboarding of new team members.
* Stay informed about emerging technologies and propose improvements to tools, frameworks, and processes.
Required Skills & Experience
* Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or equivalent experience.
* 10+ years’ experience as a full stack developer, with at least 1–2 years in a leadership or senior technical role.
* Proficiency in at least some of the company’s core development languages (C / C++, C#.NET, VB.NET, APIs). While C development experience is not a requirement, a willingness to develop a base proficiency in it is essential. The company will fund this.
* Strong understanding of software design principles (SOLID, OOP), agile methodologies, and CI/CD practices.
* Git / GitHub version control
* Excellent problem-solving skills.
* Strong communication skills and a professional client-facing manner.
* Proven ability to manage competing priorities and deliver high-quality results on time.
Desirable Skills
* C and C# .NET proficiency
* Strong SQL skills (queries, stored procedures, optimisation)
* Knowledge of XML and JSON data structures
* Desktop development in Windows environments (e.g., WinForms, WPF, VB.NET)
* Hands-on use of Visual Studio
* SQL Server Management Studio
* PowerShell or other scripting languages
* Web development exposure (HTML, JavaScript, MVC frameworks)
* Microsoft networking and server knowledge
Benefits
* Annual salary of £70,000-£80,000
* Attractive annual bonus opportunity
* 6% pension contribution
* 25 days annual leave
* Flexible salary sacrifice schemes (bikes, cars)
* Opportunity to lead and develop a high-performance team