Senior Lead, Software Engineering

Role Description

The Senior Lead Software Engineering for Professional Assessments is a business-unit embedded engineering leader with full operational responsibility for the stability, reliability, and effectiveness of mission-critical exam delivery platforms and services.

This role supports physical test centres and online proctoring environments where system performance directly impacts candidate outcomes, client trust, and regulatory compliance.

As an L40 Functional Lead, this leader will execute day-to-day operations, ensure alignment with broader business strategies, and develop talent within the function with a strong emphasis on operational excellence.

What You’ll Do

• Operational Accountability for Platform Reliability:
  • Own end-to-end operational performance of Professional Assessments exam delivery platforms, online proctoring services, and test center technologies, including availability, performance, and resilience.
  • Serve as the single accountable engineering leader for platform stability, reliability, and effectiveness, balancing delivery priorities with operational health.
  • Lead functional incident management, including risk anticipation, rapid resolution within agreed service windows, and clear executive communication.
  • Ensure assigned technology services meet uptime targets and documented SLA/SLO expectations, driving measurable reduction in avoidable incidents quarter over quarter.
• Engineering Delivery Leadership:
  • Lead the engineering function to deliver outcomes through disciplined planning, predictable execution, and strong delivery management across teams and squads.
  • Ensure software solutions are designed, developed, tested, and maintained to meet both product needs and operational requirements.
  • Translate complex business requirements into scalable technical approaches aligned with company technical and functional architecture.
  • Establish release readiness and operational gating practices, including change risk assessment, rollback readiness, and monitoring coverage.
• Cross-Functional Partnership & Integration:
  • Collaborate with Product, Architecture, QA, Operations, and enterprise technology teams to ensure seamless integration across platforms and services.
  • Partner with stakeholders to align priorities and deliver value through continuous improvement.
  • Drive tactical service enhancements that improve reliability, reduce friction for users, and support strategic objectives.
• Vendor & Service Governance:
  • Engage with and manage external vendors to maintain operational performance and cost efficiency, with clear expectations, performance management, and escalation paths.
  • Maintain current, audit-ready service documentation, including runbooks, incident playbooks, service maps, and operational metrics definitions.
  • Manage operational risk related to system downtime, data accuracy, security, privacy, and regulatory compliance.
• People Leadership & Talent Development:
  • Develop and mentor talent within the engineering function, fostering accountability and operational excellence.
  • Build an environment that supports learning, growth, and strong execution.
  • Lead with clear standards for ownership, service quality, and delivery discipline.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in software engineering and/or technology operations roles with accountability for business-critical platforms.
• Demonstrated experience owning operational outcomes for mission-critical services, including availability, incident response, risk management, and service governance.
• Proven ability to lead a function and deliver outcomes through teams with strong operational rigor.
• Strong background in incident management, risk management, service governance, SDLC quality, and release risk.
• Proven ability to partner with business leaders and technical teams in a matrixed environment.
• Experience in assessment, testing, education technology, or another regulated or high-risk environment is preferred.
• Experience supporting platforms with external clients, SLA commitments, vendor management, and contract negotiation is preferred.

Measures of Success

• Success in this role will be measured by sustained operational health, improved platform reliability, clear stakeholder communication, reduced avoidable incidents, audit-ready documentation, positive user feedback, and demonstrated improvements in operational efficiency and cost effectiveness.
• Assigned platforms meet or exceed operational uptime and SLA commitments.
• Incidents are anticipated and resolved with minimal business disruption, with effective post-incident learnings embedded.
• Avoidable incidents reduce quarter over quarter, with improved release quality and stability trends.
• Service documentation remains audit-ready and supports compliance requirements.
• Stakeholder and user feedback reflects improved experience and reduced friction.

Your Benefits

• Compensation at Pearson is influenced by factors including skill set, experience, and location.
• The full-time base salary range for this role is $250-$275k.
• This position is eligible to participate in an annual incentive plan, and information on benefits offered is here.
• Applications will be accepted through 24th July. This window may be extended depending on business needs.