Engineering Manager

Engineering Manager (Java, React & React Native)

Location: Salford Quays, Manchester (2-3 days onsite)

Contract: 12 Month Fixed-Term Contract (with a strong view to permanent)

About the Role

We're looking for two Engineering Managers to help build and lead our growing in-house engineering capability. As we transition away from outsourced delivery, you'll play a key role in establishing high-performing permanent engineering teams, driving technical excellence and shaping the future of our technology function.

This is a hands-on leadership role, balancing team management and technical delivery. You'll lead a team of approximately 6-7 engineers while continuing to contribute to architecture, development, code reviews and technical decision-making.

We are open to candidates with a strong background in either:

• Java, Spring Boot and React development, or
• React Native and mobile engineering

Experience within Insurance or Financial Services environments would be advantageous.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead, mentor and develop a team of 6-7 software engineers.
• Support the recruitment and growth of permanent engineering teams.
• Drive delivery across multiple software and digital initiatives.
• Establish engineering standards, best practices and ways of working.
• Collaborate closely with Product, Architecture, Delivery and Business stakeholders.
• Provide technical leadership across web, mobile and backend platforms.
• Remain hands-on with software development, code reviews and solution design (approximately 30-40% of the role).
• Foster a high-performing, collaborative engineering culture focused on continuous improvement

Skills & Experience

We're interested in Engineering Managers from either a backend, full-stack or mobile development background who possess strong people leadership skills.

You should have experience with some of the following:

Backend & Web Technologies

• Java
• Spring Boot
• React
• REST APIs
• Microservices Architecture

Mobile Technologies

• React Native
• JavaScript / TypeScript
• Mobile application development and delivery

Leadership Experience

• Proven experience managing engineering teams.
• Experience building, scaling or transforming engineering functions.
• Strong coaching, mentoring and people management capabilities.
• Experience hiring and developing engineering talent.
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills.

What We're Looking For

• Engineering Manager with strong technical credibility.
• Comfortable operating in a 70% leadership / 30% hands-on environment.
• Passionate about developing people and building high-performing teams.
• Experience establishing internal engineering capability and reducing reliance on outsourced delivery models.
• Someone who can balance strategic leadership with technical execution.

Desirable Experience

• Insurance or Financial Services experience.
• Cloud technologies (AWS, Azure or GCP).
• CI/CD and DevOps practices.
• Agile delivery environments.