Software Engineering Manager (Site Lead)

Enso Recruitmentis delighted to be working with a brand new FDI organisation who are setting up a team in Belfast. As part of this exciting expansion, their first key technical hire will be the Software Engineering Manager (Site Lead). This position is a classic hybrid of both a technical and operational leadership role. Candidates will need to come from a strong software engineering background and have the capacity to lead and grow a mid-sized engineering team in Northern Ireland. This is a rare opportunity to build something from the ground up while remaining technically hands-on. The Opportunity Youll play a foundational role in establishing and scaling the Belfast engineering function, working closely with global leadership while shaping local culture, delivery standards, and technical direction. This organisation delivers high-quality cloud, data, and API-driven systems for enterprise and high-growth clients. Youll operate as a player-coach; balancing hands-on technical contribution with team leadership, hiring, delivery oversight, and operational growth. Youll have genuine influence across: Technical architecture and engineering standards Hiring and team scaling strategy Delivery methodology and client engagement Culture-building and long-term growth of the NI operation Key Responsibilities Team & Site Leadership Establish and grow the Belfast engineering function Lead, mentor, and support a team of backend and frontend engineers Conduct regular 1:1s, development planning, and performance reviews Drive hiring, onboarding, and capability building locally Foster a culture of ownership, collaboration, and engineering excellence Technical & Delivery Oversight Lead technical decision-making across client projects Contribute hands-on to backend services, APIs, and architectural design Ensure delivery of scalable, high-quality cloud-native systems Collaborate with product and client stakeholders to shape delivery roadmaps Uphold best practices across testing, CI/CD, deployment, and code quality Operational & Strategic Impact Optimise agile delivery workflows and sprint processes Remove blockers and ensure delivery consistency Represent the Belfast site within the wider global organisation Build sustainable processes that support long-term team growth About You 8+ years professional software engineering experience 2+ years in a technical leadership or people management role Strong backend expertise (Java, Python, and Spring) Experience working with modern frontend technologies (React, JavaScript) Solid understanding of system design, APIs, and scalable web architectures Experience working with relational and non-relational databases (e.g. PostgreSQL, MongoDB) Comfortable leading projects end-to-end while remaining technically credible Strong communication skills with the ability to build trust across teams Experience operating in fast-paced, high-growth environments Benefits Opportunity to be the foundational technical leader in a brand new Belfast FDI Hybrid working model Fantastic PTO and holidays Home office equipment provided Private healthcare including dental plan Regular social events and wellness activities To find out more about this opportunity, hit Apply or reach out to a member of the Enso Recruitment team today! Skills: Java Python Spring React