Software Engineering Manager - OVO Home Services

Role title: Software Engineering Manager, OVO Home Services

Location: Edinburgh

The OVO Group’s purpose is to drive progress towards net zero carbon living. To reach Plan Zero, we need everyone to come together - not just as customers buying energy, but as members with a common goal. As part of this ambitious plan, our goal is to become the ‘Best Employer in the UK’ by 2030. If you think you could be the talent we’re looking for, then come and join the adventure!

We launched in 2009 with a mission to change energy for the better. Since then, we’ve welcomed over a million members, planted a million trees, and set our sights on helping save the planet.

As a Group, we’re working to become a net zero carbon business by 2030, while helping our OVO Energy members halve their carbon footprints at the same time. 

Green energy and technology are great tools to fight the climate crisis with. But it’s people power that will rewrite history.  

So we’re building a zero carbon team inside and out. Of people who share our values, feel inspired by our mission, and want to make change happen. When you work for OVO, it’s not just a job. It’s the work of a lifetime. And we want the sharpest minds to help. 

Up for the challenge?

Where in the world of OVO will I be working?

You will be joining the Technology team in OVO Home Services, an OVO brand which includes CORGI HomePlan and SSE Home Emergency Services.

OVO Home Services is a successful Insurance and maintenance company, aiming to become the leader for energy insurance and installations that help our members decarbonise their homes.  We serve 360,000 households and are continuing to grow!  We challenge the status quo and strive to provide better quality and pricing of home plan cover to consumers across the UK. 

Here at OVO Home Services, we believe that everybody has the right to a warm and comfortable home. We believe insurance should be fairly priced, fuss-free, with quick resolution times provided by trusted local engineers. 

OVO Home Services is at a time of significant technological investment and growth. The current technology platform is undergoing a major overhaul that already started last year, as we build additional capabilities and features from the ground up.  Our ambition is to build the next generation of insurance platforms, that is at the forefront of user experience, creating best-in-class journeys for both our customers and our staff.

What will I be doing?

You will look after 2 engineering squads, with up to 10 direct reports in the UK and oversee up to 10 colleagues from our Eastern European nearshore partner.

You’re unlikely to be particularly hands-on with the code, but will have enough technical experience to be able to contribute to and guide technical discussions, bringing the big picture context.

Building strong teams is a vitally important aspect of the role, so you’ll be heavily involved in recruitment, onboarding and personal development of engineers.  We have a very strong engineering culture that’s all about empowerment and ownership: all to tackle one of the world’s greatest problems.

You’ll work closely with Product Managers to make sure they are balancing quality and flow with delivery of great products to our customers.  You will manage the delivery of all aspects of the platform from development, API design, unit testing, automated deployment, to coaching and mentoring other team members.

You will be joining a team passionate about developing a quality product following an agile development methodology. You will be encouraged to always be looking at the continuous improvement of our products, tools and processes, along with helping to guide the architectural direction of our platform.

Do I have what it takes?

We are looking for excellent engineering managers and whilst experience is important, ultimately less so than your demonstrated abilities and attitude.  

It would be excellent if:

• You’re passionate about nurturing engineering talent, encouraging their development, and also ensuring everyone is aligned with product delivery objectives
• You are genuinely excited about developing products that will positively impact over a million people and also our environment
• You have experience working with high performing engineering teams who have a strong sense of autonomy in their technical decision making
• You use your influence and stakeholder management skills to have wide-reaching impact
• You love building scalable, resilient products
• You seek learning opportunities to deepen your expertise or broaden your knowledge.

From us you'll get:

OVO believes in fueling human progress with clean and abundant energy for all. We were set up to always find a better way and challenge the status quo.

• A very strong engineering culture

• Competitive pay + a great bonus scheme
• 4% flexible benefits on top of your base salary 
• 5% matched pension
• 34 days annual leave
• A new office just outside Edinburgh Haymarket Station
• Flexible working hours
• A real commitment to your training and development
• & lots more!

Watch our video about joining OVO Tech Team

Diverse teams are the best teams

We’re keen to meet people with varied backgrounds: the more inclusive we are the better our work will be. We want to build a team which represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills, and we decide employment on the basis of merit and potential.

We understand some people may not apply to jobs unless they tick every box. If you're excited about joining us and think you have much of what we're looking for, even if you're not 100% sure… we'd love to hear from you.