Software Development Manager

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 you’re 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 – we’d love to hear from you.Know someone who might fit? Referrals are welcomed and appreciated.