Software Engineering Team Lead
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