Engineering & Innovation Manager

Role Overview

• Define and evolve the strategy for AI, automation and software engineering, aligning with business objectives and customer needs.
• Translate business challenges into a clear technical roadmap and prioritised portfolio of initiatives.
• Identify and assess emerging technologies, including AI and automation solutions within the Microsoft and Azure ecosystem.
• Drive internal transformation by automating manual processes and enabling data‑driven decision making.
• Support the adoption of AI and automation in a secure and responsible way, ensuring alignment with compliance and governance requirements.
• Act as a senior technical voice, supporting communication between engineering teams and the wider business.
• Build business cases for new initiatives and contribute to securing stakeholder and leadership buy‑in.
• Present updates and progress to senior stakeholders, including contribution to regular reviews.
• Build and maintain relationships with internal teams, customers, partners and suppliers.
• Lead, mentor and develop a multidisciplinary engineering team, supporting performance and growth.
• Support recruitment and onboarding activity as the team expands.
• Promote a collaborative team culture with a focus on quality, delivery and continuous improvement.
• Support resource planning and workload management across multiple initiatives.
• Remain hands‑on where needed, contributing to solution design and supporting delivery.
• Support the definition of technical architecture and best practices across the portfolio.
• Maintain engineering standards across quality, testing, security and delivery processes.
• Support resolution of complex technical challenges where required.
• Manage and maintain the engineering roadmap across projects and initiatives.
• Support agile delivery across multiple workstreams, including planning and prioritisation.
• Contribute to the development and improvement of delivery processes, standards and documentation.
• Support reporting on delivery metrics, progress and outcomes.
• Support the development of internal solutions into commercially viable products.
• Contribute to proposals, go‑to‑market activity and overall service development.
• Help define and measure the value of innovation and automation initiatives.

Requirements

• Strong technical leadership experience, with the ability to balance strategy and delivery.
• Good understanding of the Microsoft and Azure ecosystem, including AI, automation and software development.
• Experience contributing to solution architecture and designing scalable, secure solutions.
• Awareness of AI and automation technologies and how they can be applied in a business context.
• Experience managing and developing technical teams.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills, including engagement with senior audiences.
• Commercial awareness and interest in how technology can create business value.
• Experience working in agile delivery environments across multiple workstreams.
• Understanding of regulated environments and associated security and compliance requirements.
• Practical and solution‑focused approach, with the ability to adapt to changing priorities.
• Experience leading engineering or technical teams within Microsoft or Azure‑focused environments.
• Experience delivering AI, automation or software solutions end to end.
• Strong hands‑on technical background with the ability to remain involved in delivery.
• Experience working within IT services or similar environments desirable.
• Experience working with public sector or regulated customers beneficial.
• Exposure to agile delivery methods and tools such as Azure DevOps.
• Microsoft Azure certifications desirable but not essential.
• Eligibility for UK security clearance desirable.

Tech Stack

• Azure