Software Engineering Manager

at  Dunelm

ABOUT US

Home. There’s no place like it. And there’s no feeling like helping people create the joy of feeling truly at home.
At Dunelm, that’s what we do.
We’re the UK’s number one choice for homewares because we make home life lovelier for our customers. And the caring and supportive culture we’ve created makes this a place you’ll feel right at home too.

ABOUT THE AREA

Our Engineering Department plays a crucial role in driving our company’s growth, and we are committed to providing our team with the latest tools, technologies, and techniques to help them excel and take us to new heights. With our continuous growth, we are seeking talented and ambitious individuals to join our dynamic team and contribute their unique ideas and perspectives. We are an ever-expanding team where every voice counts!
Join our Tech Team and you’ll not only be part of stimulating projects that are making an impact across our business, but you’ll be also somewhere you can build a long-term career that always promises to challenge and excite.
Find your happy place
We recruit people from all types of backgrounds, who share our entrepreneurial, hands-on approach to work. We are committed to creating a full inclusive environment that is representative of our customers and locations. We recognise the value and importance in inclusion and diversity and welcome applications from all candidates, regardless of sex, age, race, religion, disability, neuro-diversity, gender or sexual identity, socio-economic background or education.

ESSENTIAL SKILLS

• Significant experience in line management of autonomous and highly skilled Engineers
• Significant experience in recruitment & onboarding new engineers
• Experience of chapter and talent development
• Strong leadership and interpersonal skills, with the ability to inspire and motivate software engineers to achieve their full potential.
• Demonstrated success in recruiting and onboarding top engineering talent, with a keen eye for identifying and assessing candidates
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to build effective relationships with stakeholders at all levels of the organisation.
• Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, with a track record of fostering inclusive work environments.
• Familiarity with Agile methodologies, DevOps practices, and continuous integration/continuous delivery (CI/CD) pipelines.

DESIRABLE SKILLS

• Experience of working within a multichannel retailer and/or manufacturer.
• Understanding of modern technologies used within retail environments, especially the use of cloud technologies
• Understanding of modern tools & techniques used by Software Engineers.

THE ROLE

A key leadership role within the technology team responsible for developing our Engineering chapter into a destination for engineering talent.
Your primary focus will be line management, talent development, career framework, and chapter development, driving initiatives to empower our engineers and elevate our engineering capabilities to industry-leading standards. You will also play a pivotal role in enhancing our external reputation for technology excellence through strategic initiatives and partnerships.
A technology evangelist both within Dunelm and the rest of the technology industry. You will work as both part of a self-organizing team and as an internal consultant, offering coaching, mentoring, and training to team members.
Ultimately, your leadership as the Engineering Manager will be instrumental in shaping the future of Engineering at Dunelm, defining and leading the strategy and approach for Engineering across Dunelm Technology to ensure that we remain at the forefront of innovation and technological advancement in the retail sector.

Responsibilities

• Provide line management overseeing Software Engineer’s well-being, performance, and career development.
• Develop and implement talent development initiatives, including training programs, mentorship opportunities, and skill enhancement workshops to support the professional growth of our software engineers.
• Collaborate with people services and senior leadership to enhance and implement a comprehensive Career Framework that outlines clear career paths, competencies, and progression criteria for software engineers
• Lead the development and maturity of the chapter, fostering knowledge-sharing, collaboration, and openness.
• Conduct regular performance reviews, provide constructive feedback, and establish individual development plans to support the career advancement of software engineers.
• Champion diversity, equity, and inclusion initiative, promoting a culture of belonging and respect for all team members.
• Ensure compliance with company policies, procedures, and regulations related to talent management, performance evaluation, and career development.
• Lead and collaborate recruitment efforts with Principal Engineers and recruitment teams and attract and onboard top engineering talent
• Foster a culture of collaboration, excellence, and transparency.
• Stay informed about industry trends, emerging technologies, and best practices
• Feed into Operating Model/Team Structures and lead on People movement.