Software Engineering Manager

The Role

The job:

We`re looking for an Engineering Manager to join our Ecommerce Team based in Loudwater, Buckinghamshire. As Engineering Manager for Ecommerce Front-End & QA, you are the day-to-day technology deputy to the Head of Ecommerce. You lead our front-end engineering and test teams to deliver a stable, high-performing ecommerce experience while improving delivery predictability, release confidence and quality. This role is critical to steering our front-end modernisation / migration programme.

You are technically credible and able to guide engineering direction, challenge approaches, and make pragmatic trade-offs. You are a strong people manager who builds a high-performing team and reduces reliance on the Head of Ecommerce for operational oversight.

Ready to skip the snooze button and get stuck in? Here`s a taste of what you`ll be doing day-to-day...

Provide technical leadership on FE standards and ways of working so delivery is consistent, maintainable, and doesn`t create long-term risk.
Lead the team through the front-end migration/modernisation programme: set the approach, sequence the work sensibly, and ensure delivery remains safe throughout.
Work closely with Product to challenge briefs, shape solutions, and ensure the team delivers the best customer experience outcomes.
Ensure releases are "ready to ship" with strong test discipline, clear defect management, and visible sign-off.
Coach, develop and performance-manage engineers and QA colleagues to build a strong, motivated and accountable team.
Delivery Support with Front-End and QA: supporting the delivery manager with planning, prioritisation, capacity, dependencies, and clear reporting of progress, risks and blockers.

Engineering Leadership & Delivery Ownership

• Own delivery outcomes for FE engineering and QA: predictable throughput, release readiness, incident/defect ownership, and continuous improvement in how the team plans and delivers.
• Establish and maintain strong engineering ways of working.
• Identify technical delivery risks early (dependencies, resourcing, technical constraints) and actively remove blockers.
• Balance "run the business" work with roadmap delivery and technical debt reduction to protect site stability and future change velocity.

Front-End Modernisation / Migration Leadership

• Steer the front-end migration programme end-to-end from an execution perspective: sequencing, approach, and delivery governance to ensure progress without destabilising trading
• Set and maintain FE standards and patterns: framework usage, TypeScript standards, state management, component structure/reuse, testing strategy and performance best practices.
• Make key migration decisions visible and understandable: document major trade-offs and decisions and ensure alignment across stakeholders.
• Ensure the team maintains a sustainable architecture direction.

Quality & Test Leadership (via Test Manager)

• Line-manage and support the Test Manager to create and execute effective test strategies, plans and scripts across releases and change programmes.
• Ensure robust coverage across testing types: exploratory, feature, pre/post release, integration, regression, and performance testing; primarily manual with pragmatic automation where it adds value.
• Drive strong defect management: triage, prioritisation, clear ownership, and fast resolution - especially for live issues impacting customers/trading.
• Maintain clear release sign-off processes and communication so stakeholders understand confidence and risk.

Stakeholder & Partner Management

• Actively question project briefs and contribute to shaping solutions to ensure optimum outcomes and reduce delivery roadblocks.
• Translate business goals into engineering delivery plans and communicate clearly to non-technical stakeholders.
• Coordinate with third-party partners (development and QA) to ensure alignment on standards, quality expectations, and delivery timelines.

People Leadership & Team Development

• Build a strong engineering and QA culture focused on ownership, quality, continuous improvement, and collaboration.
• Set clear expectations, coach performance, develop capability, and support hiring to build the right skills for the future platform.
• Create a team structure and operating rhythm that reduces dependency on the Head of Ecommerce for day-to-day technology management.

The Person

This is the type of person we`re dreaming of:

Essential

• Proven experience leading and line-managing a team of front-end engineers (and/or a cross-functional delivery team), with strong people management capability.
• Strong technical credibility in modern front-end development (JavaScript/TypeScript, component-based architecture, performance, testing) with the ability to guide decisions even if not coding daily.
• Demonstrable experience leading delivery of significant front-end change (migration, modernisation, replatform, major refactor) with clear sequencing and risk management.
• Strong understanding of software quality and testing practices; experience partnering closely with QA/Test roles and maintaining release confidence.
• Excellent stakeholder management: able to communicate trade-offs, progress and risks clearly to technical and non-technical audiences.

Desirable

• Ecommerce and/or retail experience, especially within high-traffic trading environments.
• Experience working with third-party engineering partners and external QA providers.
• Familiarity with experimentation/CRO delivery environments and performance-focused delivery.

In your dream role, you`ll also receive:

• Bonus: Our discretionary annual bonus scheme recognises the hard work and dedication of our superstar dreamers.
• Discounts: Amazing staff discount on Dreams products, plus hundreds of brands including restaurants, holidays, and shopping.
• Buy-in schemes: You`ll have the opportunity to buy extra holiday, private healthcare, or savings and loans.
• Parking: We know it goes without saying, but our free onsite parking gives you peace of mind when you travel.
• Wellbeing: We partner with the Retail Trust to offer a 24-hour helpline with a variety of support services, as well as hosting an on-site gym and out of hours GP service.
• Hybrid working: Whether you`re an early bird or night owl, we trust you to work your hours responsibly to suit you!

About Dreams

At Dreams, we know your bed is the best place in the whole world. But for the hours between preci