Software Team Lead

Software Team Lead

Join Smartbox and Make a Meaningful Impact as Our Newest Team Member!

Are you a passionate Software Team Lead who wants to play a part in creating technology that gives a voice to those without speech?

At Smartbox, we take pride in being a leading company in assistive communication technology. Our innovative products, combining specialised hardware, advanced software, and engaging content, are used by individuals with diverse needs worldwide. All around the world, our products, accomplishments, and aspirations are a reflection of our teams’ values: passionate, caring, empowering, achieving together, and enabling change.

We believe that everyone deserves a voice, and our inclusive culture reflects this belief. By joining Smartbox, you will become part of a team that values diversity, fosters collaboration, and supports a community of users who rely on our technology to communicate effectively.

In addition to the rewarding nature of our work, you will collaborate with talented professionals who share a common goal of pushing the boundaries of innovation while considering the environmental impact of our products and processes. We strive to develop sustainable solutions that minimise our carbon footprint and promote a greener world. By joining Smartbox, you will have the chance to shape a more inclusive society while actively contributing to our sustainability efforts. Together, let's make a difference that extends beyond communication technology and leaves a positive mark on our planet.

How Will You Be Making a Difference?

• Leading and mentoring a team of software engineers and QA specialists.
• Understanding our users' challenges and our commercial constraints and opportunities, and bringing technology expertise to bear to solve them in creative ways.
• Working with product and technical leadership to build a combined roadmap that balances product and engineering priorities.
• Joint responsibility for designing and implementing a scalable and high-performance software architecture using appropriate architectural standards and best practices.
• Working on anything from UI to core functionality, from fixing bugs to integrating new technologies.
• Working closely with electronics engineers, product specialists, UX designers, and other developers to design, develop, and support robust solutions.
• Collaborating with stakeholders and customers to build an understanding which helps to solve problems in a way that meets their needs.
• Being responsible for driving collaborative improvement in team practices and processes.

Essential Qualifications/Skills/Experience

• Passionate about changing lives with assistive technology.
• A history of making an impact in a software team lead role.
• Experience leading effective agile software teams, including first-hand experience in lean and iterative development.
• Good understanding of Agile/Scrum methodologies and their use in software teams.
• 5+ years of professional software development experience in modern C# or similar (e.g., Java, C++).
• Knowledge of Computer Science fundamentals in data structures, algorithm design, problem-solving, and complexity analysis.
• Windows and iOS application development.
• Excellent understanding of software design principles.
• Highly confident and experienced with automated testing – from unit tests to system and integration tests.
• Confident working on problems from scratch – resourceful in turning problems into simple solutions, and proactive in working with stakeholders to resolve ambiguity.
• Confident in picking up an existing codebase, refactoring, and improving test coverage to deliver safe code changes.
• Versatility - enjoying turning your hand to new things, with a flexible approach to evolving business priorities.
• Great interpersonal and communication skills.
• Strong analytical thinking, with attention to detail.

Useful Qualifications/Skills/Experience

• Any of the following technologies: WPF/XAML, Xamarin.iOS, Avalonia, ASP.NET MVC, Entity Framework, SQL Server, Android, JavaScript, React.js.
• Cloud experience (particularly best practices around deployment, security, permissions, and resource management).
• Knowledge of professional software engineering best practices, including coding standards, patterns, code reviews, source control, build processes, testing, and operations.
• Experience in configuring build systems for .NET (e.g., Team City, Jenkins, etc.).
• Keen interest in the product, and customer needs.
• Experience with AAC or assistive technology.

Additional Information

• This is a hybrid role based in our Bristol office, with the requirement to come into the office twice a week.
• The salary for this position will be determined based on the applicant's education, skills, and experience.

Why join us?

Here at Smartbox, we are positive and inclusive about making adjustments, providing flexible working, and encouraging all staff to engage in a diverse range of year-round learning and personal development opportunities. In addition, you will work alongside highly motivated colleagues in an environment of strong teamwork whilst also having fun. This is a hugely rewarding role and a career to be proud of where every day you will go home knowing you made a positive difference in the lives of disabled people.

Rewards and benefits

At Smartbox our employees always do their best, which is why we give so much in return. In addition to your competitive salary, private medical insurance, and a whooping 25 days of holiday plus public holidays, we’ll shower you with perks, including:

Dress: We want you to feel comfortable in the office; smart casual is perfect.
Food: You can find free healthy office snacks in our kitchens.
Hybrid working: Laptop and home working IT kit provided.
Flexible work schedule: Balance is key to innovation, and we want to make sure you are at the top of your game with a schedule that will work for you (prior agreement from your line manager is required).
Give back to the community: Each year every member of staff will get the opportunity to spend one paid day volunteering for a good cause of their choice.
You, our best asset: We believe in investing in you and your development. Stay with us and grow with us! We will reward you with more holidays for your long service!
Wellness: Stretch away the stress every morning with our online trainers, available via our cooperative perk website or hit the gym. We provide gym discounts too!
Wellbeing: You gain unlimited access to a benefit and Wellbeing app Yulife,providing store discounts and wellbeing services.
Mental health: You will have access to the 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme for a wide range of support, advice and resources about Family, Health, Life, Money and Work.
Peace of mind: Every employee benefit from a company pension, group life assurance, and income protection.
Fun: Complimentary theatre and cinema tickets to Malvern Theatres. We organise many free social events including team outings and get-togethers.
Eco-friendly: You can sign up for a cycle scheme (save 25%-39% on a new bike or E-bike by cycling to work) or lease an electric car through a salary sacrifice scheme after 2 years of service.
Bonus potential: We work hard and Smartbox recognizes that with a discretionary annual bonus.
Finances: Enjoy a wide variety of savings and discounts with Corporate Perks. You can save on electronics, food shopping, f