Software Engineering Manager

Software Engineering Manager - Lead Modernisation and AI-Driven Delivery Cardiff (hybrid) | Up to £80,000 (doe) + strong discretionary bonus + strong benefits Want to lead a team whose work moves billions across Europe, and shape how engineering is done with agentic AI? The company Our client is an established fintech with over 20 years of industry exposure. Its platform runs a fast-growing European financial services group, managing billions in assets across 11 countries. Everything is built from its Cardiff headquarters, so your team’s work will have a direct impact across Europe. The opportunity You’ll lead the Core engineering team and be responsible for 4 direct reports. This team owns the systems at the heart of the business: Oracle platforms, Java services, and customer-facing portals used by millions of people. This is a leadership role, not a coding one. You’ll decide what “good” looks like. That means setting engineering standards, shaping the delivery process and owning the test strategy that gives everyone confidence in every release. The platform is changing. Selected systems are moving to Oracle APEX, and the team is adopting agentic development across its work. You’ll lead both changes, bring the engineers with you and measurably increase what the team delivers. What you’ll do

• Lead modernisation: drive the adoption of AI-assisted and agentic development, set clear standards for using it safely and well, and measure its impact on output and quality.
• Shape technical direction: work with technical leads on engineering strategy, including the move to Oracle APEX, and make the case for investment in tooling, infrastructure and technical debt.
• Own delivery: be accountable for the team’s commitments, remove blockers, and give clear and honest reporting to senior leadership.
• Build a great team: hire, coach and develop engineers, with regular 1:1s and clear goals. Create a culture of psychological safety, growth and recognition.
• Be the team’s voice: manage upwards, flag risks early and build relationships across the business so the team can do its best work.

• Experience leading and growing engineering teams, including managing performance and developing people.
• A track record of measurably improving a team’s delivery and output.
• Experience introducing new ways of working and bringing a team with you.
• Confidence communicating with senior leaders and business stakeholders.
• A software engineering background. You don’t write production code any more, but you can read it, challenge a design and judge the quality of what ships.

It’s a bonus if you have

• Experience of AI-assisted or agentic development.
• Exposure to Oracle, Java or high-scale customer-facing web platforms.
• Experience leading a platform migration or modernisation.
• A background in financial services or another regulated industry.

Why you’ll love it

• A real say in how engineering works, with backing for change rather than resistance.
• Hands-on leadership of agentic AI adoption in a live, high-scale platform: rare experience to have on your CV.
• Work that matters: systems used by millions of customers across Europe.
• A friendly, varied team whose interests range from gaming and chess to ultra-marathons and climbing.
• Values the company actually lives by: teamwork, merit, development, honesty, impact and integrity.

Role overview

• Software Engineering Manager
• Salary of £75,000 - £80,000 DOE
• A performance based discretionary bonus
• 25 days’ holiday plus bank holidays, with the option to buy more
• An extra day off for your birthday, plus a day of charity leave
• Private health insurance and an Employee Assistance Programme
• Cycle-to-work and electric vehicle salary sacrifice schemes
• Monthly socials and charity events
• Hybrid working from a Cardiff HQ 3days per week