The Open University
Lead Software Engineer (Design System)
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Lead Software Engineer (Design System)
Are you passionate about building scalable design systems and shaping the future of frontend engineering at scale?
Join The Open University as a Lead Software Engineer (Design System) and play a pivotal role in defining the technical direction of a shared UI platform used across multiple products and teams.
About the Role
The Lead Software Engineer (Design System)—known internally as Lead Engineer—sits within the Design System team, owning the technical direction and evolution of a shared UI platform used by multiple product teams across the organisation.
You will provide technical leadership across the Design System ecosystem, shaping architecture and standards for:
- Reusable components
- Developer experience (DX)
- Clear interfaces
- Strong governance
- Versioning strategies
- Accessibility standards
- Documentation
- Operational excellence
The role focuses on enabling teams at scale—not delivering product-specific features—and emphasises modern DevOps and automation practices.
Key Responsibilities
Team Leadership & Mentorship
- Lead and manage engineering teams, setting clear objectives to ensure high-quality product delivery.
- Develop and mentor team members (including junior engineers) to help them grow skills and achieve career goals.
Engineering Community & Best Practices
- Lead process improvements (aligned with agile & DevOps), champion best practices in methods, and tools.
- Engage with the wider engineering profession to inspire, shape, and raise standards within the organisation.
- Drive innovation by staying ahead of emerging technologies and evaluating new tools/trends for the tech stack.
- Support and promote The Open University’s Engineering Manifesto, fostering a culture of continuous improvement.
Resource & Supplier Management
- Assist in resource allocation for projects.
- Manage relationships with external suppliers to ensure smooth execution.
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Technical Architecture & Development
- Architect scalable, reliable software solutions (cloud services, microservices, distributed systems) that align with organisational objectives.
- Oversee the full development lifecycle: integration, configuration management, and rigorous testing practices.
- Collaborate with Data Architects to ensure optimal data modelling and database design for performance and scalability.
- Lead the implementation of security measures and ensure compliance with information assurance standards.
Performance & Problem Management
- Oversee service level management, application support (including out-of-hours), and problem resolution to minimise downtime.
- Drive capacity management efforts to ensure system scalability and efficiency.
- Conduct analysis and feasibility assessments for technical solutions, balancing product needs with technical priorities.
Collaboration with Leadership
- Work closely with Product Lead and Design Lead to align the engineering agenda with product goals.
- Balance product roadmap priorities and technical objectives.
About You
Key Skills & Experience
- Strong technical leadership with a proven track record in delivering high-quality software solutions on time.
- Proven people management & mentoring skills—ability to inspire and grow engineering teams.
- Expertise in systems architecture, specialising in scalable, reliable software with deep knowledge of:
- Cloud services
- Microservices
- Distributed systems
- Seamless cross-environment integration
- Modern software development practices: proficiency in automated testing (TDD, CI/CD), performance & scalability optimisation.
- Data & database design experience to ensure efficient, performant systems.
- Security & compliance expertise for robust system protection.
- Non-functional testing knowledge for performance, security, and scalability assurance.
- Strong stakeholder relationship management, including translating technical concepts for non-technical audiences.
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Technical & Methodological Proficiencies
- Experience in MACH architecture (Microservices, API-first, Cloud-native, and Headless).
- Familiarity with observability tools and hybrid team leadership across permanent/offshore/nearshore settings.
Behaviours
- Lead with ownership: Inspire through action and drive excellence.
- Collaborate effectively: Proactive communicator across functions, fostering knowledge-sharing and alignment.
- Problem-solving: Diagnose complex challenges with innovative, practical solutions.
- Adaptability: Embrace change and thrive in a rapidly evolving tech landscape.
- Strategic thinking: Continuously seek improvements in systems, processes, and technology for long-term success. يكون
Support with Your Application
For questions or adjustments, contact:
- Phone: 01908 541111
- Email: careers@open.ac.uk (quote the advert reference).
Why Join The Open University?
As leaders in digital education and innovation, we empower you to shape the future of design systems—impacting thousands of learners and staff.
Benefits:
- 33 days annual leave (plus bank holidays & 3-day Christmas closure).
- Enhanced pension scheme for UK higher education with generous employer contributions.
- Staff Fee Waivers—earn an OU degree for free while you work.
- Hybrid working model with family-friendly policies.
- Discounts, wellbeing support, and development opportunities.
Ready to Make an Impact?
Apply now to help build a world-class Design System that powers the next generation of digital experiences at one of the UK’s most respected institutions.
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