Software Development Manager required for a manufacturer of life saving electronic solutions products. Part of a global group, this company offers rewarding careers, great benefits, and plenty of opportunities to grow in a supportive, energetic workplace. Hybrid working options (6 out of 10 days in the Rochester office). Requirements We are seeking a Software Development Manager with strong people management, process leadership, and delivery governance skills. In this role, you will: · Lead and develop the software team through a period of process evolution. · Maintain our proven Waterfall framework while incorporating Agile-inspired practices for improved planning, reporting, and visibility. · Drive process improvements and maximise our use of Atlassian tools for work breakdown structures, progress tracking, and actionable reporting. · Develop and manage CI/CD pipelines to enhance build, integration, testing, and deployment workflows — ensuring faster delivery of high-quality, compliant software. · Collaborate closely with the Project Management Office and other R&D managers to integrate software development into the wider product delivery process. · Foster a culture of continuous improvement, accountability, and open communication. Who you’ll report to: Director of Research and Development Responsibilities Project & Delivery Management · Plan and prioritise software projects in collaboration with the Project Management Office. · Allocate resources, manage risks, and set clear milestones and timelines. · Oversee delivery of new products, features, bug fixes, and maintenance. · Introduce Agile-inspired practices (Scrum, Kanban) within the Waterfall framework. · Ensure Jira boards, sprint reports, and dashboards are accurate, up to date, and central to project governance. Quality & Compliance · Design and maintain CI/CD pipelines in collaboration with the Software Quality team. · Align software development with regulatory, quality, and cybersecurity standards. · Promote best practices in documentation and traceability from requirements through testing. · Collaborate with other R&D managers to improve development workflows. Team Leadership · Build and develop a high-performing software team. · Set clear objectives, conduct performance reviews, and ensure accountability. · Promote a culture of ownership, collaboration, and continuous improvement. Process Improvement · Encourage retrospectives and turn lessons learned into actionable improvements. · Trial workflow, automation, and tool enhancements that benefit software and wider R&D. · Stay current with emerging practices in regulated software development and hybrid Agile/Waterfall delivery models. Stakeholder Communication · Provide regular progress updates to stakeholders. · Facilitate planning sessions, reviews, and retrospectives that deliver actionable outcomes. · Contribute to long-term product and technology roadmaps with structured, realistic delivery plans. Qualifications · Degree in Engineering (preferably with a Software focus) – desirable. Essential Experience · Proven experience managing software development teams (10–15 engineers) delivering embedded (preferable), IoT, and cloud-enabled products. · Demonstrated success introducing process improvements and CI/CD pipelines that improved performance while maintaining compliance and timelines. · Experience leading cross-functional collaboration between software, hardware, and testing teams. · Background in adapting Agile methods (Scrum, Kanban) within Waterfall structures. · Practical experience using Atlassian tools (Jira, Bitbucket) for project tracking and reporting. Knowledge/Skills Leadership & People Management · Strong track record as a people manager, including setting objectives, conducting reviews, and ensuring accountability. · Skilled in conflict resolution and building a collaborative team culture. Process & Delivery · Expertise in SDLC management across both Waterfall and Agile-inspired practices. · Skilled in structuring Work Breakdown Structures (WBS) for design traceability. · Capable of driving reporting, forecasting, and transparency using Jira dashboards and metrics. Communication · Excellent communication skills, able to convey technical and project information clearly to diverse stakeholders. · Experienced in facilitating planning sessions, reviews, and retrospectives. · Skilled at influencing change and promoting continuous improvement. Quality & Compliance · Solid understanding of regulated software development practices (e.g., ISO9001, ISO27001, NIST). · Experience embedding secure development lifecycle practices and ensuring audit-readiness. Benefits Great Salary Hybrid 6 days in 10 at office Bonus Car Allowance Pension