Lead Software Engineer, Applications Development

Join Citi's XVA Technology team in London as a Lead Software Engineer, Applications Development at Vice President level — a senior role at the forefront of engineering innovation within a globally operating financial institution. In this position, you will lead the design, development, and delivery of complex application systems that directly shape how technology integrates across critical business functions. Working alongside high-calibre engineers and engaged business partners, you will own technical outcomes at scale and drive meaningful improvement across applications platforms.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design and development of application systems and software, ensuring solutions align with the overall architecture blueprint and meet evolving business requirements.
• Partner with multiple management teams to define system enhancements that support the deployment of new products and process improvements.
• Resolve high-impact technical problems by conducting in-depth analysis of complex business processes, system workflows, and industry standards.
• Develop and enforce standards for coding, testing, debugging, and implementation to maintain quality and consistency across the engineering team.
• Build comprehensive knowledge of how business functions such as architecture and infrastructure interconnect, applying this understanding to deliver integrated technical solutions.
• Translate business context and domain knowledge into well-scoped technical solutions, bridging the gap between stakeholder intent and engineering execution across the full development lifecycle.
• Apply AI-assisted coding tools such as GitHub Copilot or Devin with critical engineering judgment — reviewing outputs rigorously, asking the right questions to validate context, and safeguarding code quality, security, and architectural integrity before integration.
• Mentor and coach mid-level developers and analysts, providing technical guidance and allocating work to support team delivery and professional growth.
• Assess risk in engineering and business decisions, ensuring compliance with applicable regulations, policies, and controls while maintaining transparency in issue escalation and reporting.

Required Qualifications & Skills

• Proven experience in applications development or systems analysis, with a demonstrable record of delivering complex software solutions.
• Deep expertise in system analysis and software application programming, with the ability to independently evaluate and resolve technical challenges.
• Proven ability to manage and deliver technology projects end-to-end, coordinating across teams and stakeholders to achieve successful outcomes.
• Subject matter expertise in at least one domain of applications development, with the depth to set technical direction and define best practices.
• Strong T-shaped engineering capability — deep technical specialism combined with the breadth to understand business processes, interpret stakeholder needs, and design solutions that are both technically sound and commercially relevant.
• Strong leadership and project management capability, with experience guiding mid-level engineers and analysts in a delivery-focused environment.
• Clear and concise written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to convey technical concepts to both engineering and non-technical audiences.
• Ability to reprioritise rapidly in response to shifting business or technical demands, maintaining delivery momentum under changing conditions.