Software Team Lead

Software Team Lead

Salary Range: £55,000 – £65,000 pa

Location: Hybrid, based in Bristol

Join us at Smartbox as a Software Team Lead!

Are you a passionate Software Team Lead looking to make a real impact by giving a voice to those without speech Smartbox is looking for a dedicated individual like you to join our team and contribute to enhancing the lives of people with disabilities.

Your Impact

As our Software Team Lead, you will:

• Leading and mentoring a team of Software Engineers and QA Specialists.
• Actively leverage modern AI-assisted development tools (e.g. Claude Code or similar) to improve individual and team productivity, code quality, and learning, and support the team in adopting these tools effectively and responsibly.
• Foster a strong focus on delivering meaningful user outcomes, ensuring that technical decisions are grounded in a deep understanding of the product domain and real user needs.
• Encourage and enable the team to use product insight, user feedback, and data to inform design and engineering decisions, balancing speed of delivery with long-term value.
• Working with product and technical leadership to build a combined roadmap that balances product and engineering priorities.
• Working on anything from UI to core functionality and data stores, from fixing bugs to integrating new technologies.
• Joint responsibility for designing and implementing a scalable and high-performance software architecture using appropriate architectural standards and best practices.
• Writing clean, working, cross-platform C# code (.NET 8) and associated tests, and improving the standard of existing code as you touch it to make it more testable, reliable and maintainable.
• Working closely with Electronics Engineers, Product Specialists, UX Designers and other Developers to design, develop and support robust solutions.
• Collaborating with stakeholders and customers to build an understanding which helps to solve problems in a way that meets their needs.
• Assisting the Head of Software Development in recruitment activities.

Essential Qualifications / Skills / Experience:

• Passionate about changing lives with assistive technology.
• Experience leading effective agile software teams, including first-hand experience of lean and iterative development.
• Good understanding of Agile / Scrum methodologies and their use in software teams.
• 5+ years of professional software development experience in modern C# or similar (e.g. Java, C++).
• Experience using AI-assisted software development tools (e.g. Claude Code or similar) to improve development efficiency, code quality, or team effectiveness.
• Demonstrated ability to apply strong product and domain understanding to guide technical decisions and prioritisation.
• Track record of delivering measurable user or business outcomes, not just technical outputs.
• Knowledge of Computer Science fundamentals in data structures, algorithm design, problem-solving, and complexity analysis.
• Knowledge of professional software engineering best practices, including coding standards, architecture patterns, code reviews, source control, continuous integration, build processes, testing, and operations.
• Highly confident and experienced with automated testing – from unit tests to system and integration tests.
• Proven experience in people or team management, with the ability to lead, motivate, and develop others.
• Skilled in providing constructive feedback, conducting performance reviews, and supporting staff development.
• Proven ability to foster high performing, engaged, and collaborative teams.

About Smartbox

At Smartbox, we're proud to be at the forefront of assistive communication technology. Our innovative products are used globally by individuals with diverse needs. Our values – passionate, caring, empowering, achieving together, and enabling change – resonate in everything we do.

Our Inclusive Culture

We believe in giving everyone a voice. Joining Smartbox means joining a diverse team that values collaboration and supports a community that relies on our technology for effective communication.

Our Commitment to Sustainability

At Smartbox, we not only innovate but also prioritise sustainability. We aim to minimise our carbon footprint and promote a greener world through sustainable solutions. By joining us, you'll contribute to shaping a more inclusive society while actively supporting our sustainability efforts.

Our D&I Commitments

At Smartbox, we prioritise diversity and inclusivity in our work environment. Here's how we do it:

• Recognised as a Disability Confident Employer by the UK Government and Founding Partner of Purple Tuesday.
• Our recruitment practices are inclusive and barrier-free, with adjustments available during the application process and throughout your career with us.
• We believe in adding to our culture, not just fitting in. Our diverse team combines unique talents to create products that reflect the diversity of our users and customers.

Rewards and Benefits

Discover a world of rewards and benefits tailored to your wellbeing at Smartbox. Beyond a competitive salary and private medical insurance, explore perks like a hybrid working model, wellness benefits, and paid volunteering days.

Ready to Make a Difference

Join us at Smartbox and embark on a fulfilling career where your work truly matters. Apply now and be a part of a team dedicated to creating technology that changes lives.