Engineering Manager

The Role

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The job:We`re looking for an Engineering Manager to join our Ecommerce Team based in Loudwater, Buckinghamshire. As Engineering Manager for Ecommerce Front-End & QA, you are the day-to-day technology deputy to the Head of Ecommerce. You lead our front-end engineering and test teams to deliver a stable, high-performing ecommerce experience while improving delivery predictability, release confidence and quality. This role is critical to steering our front-end modernisation / migration programme.You are technically credible and able to guide engineering direction, challenge approaches, and make pragmatic trade-offs. You are a strong people manager who builds a high-performing team and reduces reliance on the Head of Ecommerce for operational oversight.Ready to skip the snooze button and get stuck in? Here`s a taste of what you`ll be doing day-to-day...Engineering Leadership & Delivery Ownership

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• Own delivery outcomes for FE engineering and QA: predictable throughput, release readiness, incident/defect ownership, and continuous improvement in how the team plans and delivers.
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• Establish and maintain strong engineering ways of working.
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• Identify delivery risks early (dependencies, resourcing, technical constraints) and actively remove blockers.
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• Balance "run the business" work with roadmap delivery and technical debt reduction to protect site stability and future change velocity.
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Front-End Modernisation / Migration Leadership\n

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• Steer the front-end migration programme end-to-end from an execution perspective: sequencing, approach, and delivery governance to ensure progress without destabilising trading
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• Set and maintain FE standards and patterns: framework usage, TypeScript standards, state management, component structure/reuse, testing strategy and performance best practices.
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• Make key migration decisions visible and understandable: document major trade-offs and decisions and ensure alignment across stakeholders.
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• Ensure the team maintains a sustainable architecture direction.
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Quality & Test Leadership (via Test Manager)\n

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• Line-manage and support the Test Manager to create and execute effective test strategies, plans and scripts across releases and change programmes.
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• Ensure robust coverage across testing types: exploratory, feature, pre/post release, integration, regression, and performance testing; primarily manual with pragmatic automation where it adds value.
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• Drive strong defect management: triage, prioritisation, clear ownership, and fast resolution - especially for live issues impacting customers/trading.
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• Maintain clear release sign-off processes and communication so stakeholders understand confidence and risk.
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Stakeholder & Partner Management\n

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• Actively question project briefs and contribute to shaping solutions to ensure optimum outcomes and reduce delivery roadblocks.
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• Translate business goals into engineering delivery plans and communicate clearly to non-technical stakeholders.
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• Coordinate with third-party partners (development and QA) to ensure alignment on standards, quality expectations, and delivery timelines.
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People Leadership & Team Development\n

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• Build a strong engineering and QA culture focused on ownership, quality, continuous improvement, and collaboration.
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• Set clear expectations, coach performance, develop capability, and support hiring to build the right skills for the future platform.
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• Create a team structure and operating rhythm that reduces dependency on the Head of Ecommerce for day-to-day technology management.
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The Person

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This is the type of person we`re dreaming of:Essential

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• Proven experience leading and line-managing a team of front-end engineers (and/or a cross-functional delivery team), with strong people management capability.
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• Strong technical credibility in modern front-end development (JavaScript/TypeScript, component-based architecture, performance, testing) with the ability to guide decisions even if not coding daily.
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• Demonstrable experience leading delivery of significant front-end change (migration, modernisation, replatform, major refactor) with clear sequencing and risk management.
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• Strong understanding of software quality and testing practices; experience partnering closely with QA/Test roles and maintaining release confidence.
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• Excellent stakeholder management: able to communicate trade-offs, progress and risks clearly to technical and non-technical audiences.
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Desirable\n

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• Ecommerce and/or retail experience, especially within high-traffic trading environments.
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• Experience working with third-party engineering partners and external QA providers.
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• Familiarity with experimentation/CRO delivery environments and performance-focused delivery.
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In your dream role, you`ll also receive:\n

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• Bonus: Our discretionary annual bonus scheme recognises the hard work and dedication of our superstar dreamers.
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• Discounts: Amazing staff discount on Dreams products, plus hundreds of brands including restaurants, holidays, and shopping.
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• Buy-in schemes: You`ll have the opportunity to buy extra holiday, private healthcare, or savings and loans.
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• Parking: We know it goes without saying, but our free onsite parking gives you peace of mind when you travel.
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• Wellbeing: We partner with the Retail Trust to offer a 24-hour helpline with a variety of support services, as well as hosting an on-site gym and out of hours GP service.
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• Hybrid working: Whether you`re an early bird or night owl, we trust you to work your hours responsibly to suit you!
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About Dreams

At Dreams, we know your bed is the best place in the whole world. But for the hours between precious sleep, we`d like to make work a special place to be too. We`re the UK`s most loved bed retailer, so it`s important our people feel the love as well. There`s over 250 of us at our affectionally named `Bedquarters` in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, where every dreamer makes a difference.We`re super passionate about our people-first culture, which means we like to keep things simple and celebrate every success, big or small! From a payday treats trolley to charity fundraisers and all-staff lunches, we know we do it best when we do it together.And together we`ve been making bedtimes better since 1985, with no signs of hitting the snooze button. We`re owned by the world`s largest bedding provider, Tempur Sealy, and have our very own Bed Factory right here in the UK. You`ll even get a guided tour when you join - that`s part of our mission to get you ful