Engineering Manager

Technical Programme Manager – Solution Architecture & Vendor Assurance

Contract: 12 months (Inside IR35)
Rate: £800–£1,000 per day
Location: Remote-first, with meetings in London every other week
Start: ASAP (max 1-month notice period)
Openings: 2 roles

The Opportunity

We are seeking a highly experienced Technical Programme Manager with a strong solution architecture background. This is a hands-on, strategic role focused on vendor assurance, ensuring that external delivery partners meet technical, commercial, and business expectations.

Important: This role does not involve line management—you will not be leading teams. Instead, your focus is on:

  • Holding vendors accountable for quality and delivery.

  • Providing technical oversight across multiple domains (cloud, infrastructure, software, data).

  • Advising stakeholders and executives with credible solution architecture expertise.

  • Ensuring programmes deliver measurable business outcomes.

This role is broadly technical, not purely cloud-focused (AWS knowledge desirable but not essential), and ideal for someone who thrives as a technical leader and problem solver.

Key Responsibilities
  • Lead vendor assurance & quality control, ensuring delivery meets agreed standards.

  • Assess technical solutions, challenge assumptions, and mitigate risks.

  • Engage with executives, stakeholders, and vendors to drive clarity, accountability, and results.

  • Monitor KPIs and programme outcomes, ensuring delivery aligns with investment.

  • Operate as a technical advisor and quasi-Product Owner, guiding strategy without direct team management.

Required Experience
  • 7+ years’ experience in solution architecture (essential).

  • 10–15 years’ experience in technical leadership, programme management, or consulting.

  • Proven experience in vendor assurance / vendor quality management.

  • Broad technical knowledge across software, infrastructure, data, and cloud.

  • Strong stakeholder engagement—comfortable briefing executives and influencing decisions.

  • Consulting background (BCG, McKinsey, or similar) highly desirable.

  • Experience in startup/scale-up environments and/or large enterprise operations.

  • Technically astute, capable of deep-diving to assess vendor delivery and solution integrity.

If interested please apply 

Company
Xpertise Recruitment
Location
Oxford, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom
Hybrid / WFH Options
Employment Type
Contract
Posted
Company
Xpertise Recruitment
Location
Oxford, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom
Hybrid / WFH Options
Employment Type
Contract
Posted