Lead Software Engineer

Contract type: Permanent
Location: Alderley Park
Working style: Hybrid 50% home/office based
Closing date: 7th September 2026

We're looking for a Lead Software Engineer to join our Protection team , to help shape the technology behind the applications that support our customers and colleagues. You'll take technical ownership of complex solutions, influence engineering standards and guide other developers as we modernise and evolve our application estate.

This is a hands-on lead role for someone who enjoys solving difficult engineering problems and helping teams deliver secure, reliable and maintainable software. You'll have the opportunity to influence solutions from initial design through to production, while developing the capability of engineers around you.

About the role

• Take technical ownership of complex software changes from discovery and design through to production.
• Design secure, reliable and maintainable solutions using C#/.NET and related technologies.
• Raise engineering quality through automation, effective standards and constructive code and design reviews.
• Coach other engineers and help them develop their technical judgement and confidence.
• Collaborate with product, architecture, testing, security and operational teams to deliver effective solutions.
• Identify technical risks and dependencies early, then help the team resolve them pragmatically.
• Influence improvements to engineering tooling, practices and the wider developer experience.

About you

• Strong hands-on C# and .NET engineering experience in an enterprise environment.
• Experience taking technical ownership of complex applications or services.
• Sound knowledge of software design, testing, security, maintainability and production reliability.
• Experience coaching engineers and providing constructive technical feedback.
• The ability to communicate complex decisions clearly and build support for your recommendations.
• A collaborative, pragmatic approach to delivery and continuous improvement.
• A role model for the Spirit of Royal London values: Empowered, Trustworthy, Collaborate and Achieve.

Enterprise experience of Java or Angular would be desirable but not essential.

About Royal London

We're the UK's largest mutual life, pensions and investment company, offering protection, long-term savings and asset management products and services.

Our People Promise to our colleagues is that we will all work somewhere inclusive, responsible, enjoyable and fulfilling. This is underpinned by our Spirit of Royal London values; Empowered, Trustworthy, Collaborate, Achieve.

We've always been proud to reward employees by offering great workplace benefits such as 28 days annual leave in addition to bank holidays, an up to 14% employer matching pension scheme and private medical insurance.

Inclusion, diversity and belonging

We're an inclusive employer. We celebrate and value different backgrounds and cultures across Royal London. Our diverse people and perspectives give us a range of skills which are recognised and respected - whatever their background.