Lead Software Developer – Manchester (Legal Tech)

About the role

We are seeking an experienced Lead Software Developer to head the migration of a legacy legal case management system to a new SaaS platform. This 12‑month contract will involve guiding a development team, ensuring technical excellence, and delivering solutions that streamline legal operations.

Key responsibilities

• Lead and manage the software development function, delivering projects on time and to quality standards.
• Oversee design, development, support, and continuous improvement of enterprise applications.
• Own the technical roadmap for case‑management development and integrations during migration.
• Design, build, and maintain custom workflows, automations, and integrations within the new platform.
• Collaborate with legal stakeholders to translate business requirements into technical solutions.
• Promote best practices in development, testing, security, and documentation.
• Drive continuous improvement in Agile delivery processes.
• Manage third‑party suppliers and technology partners.

Required profile

• Strong hands‑on experience developing and migrating solutions in professional services.
• Proven experience migrating from one software system to another.
• Previous experience leading or informally mentoring a software development team.
• Experience delivering system, data, workflow, and process migrations between enterprise platforms.
• Solid understanding of software architecture and technical design.
• Experience managing third‑party suppliers and technology partners.
• Knowledge of legal software (e.g., VisualFiles, SOS Connect, Actionstep) is a plus.

Required skills