Shape the future of digital assessment at scale
At Pearson, we’re transforming how qualifications are delivered globally, combining deep educational expertise with cutting-edge technology. We’re now looking for a Senior Software Engineering Manager to lead the engineering and operations teams behind our critical assessment services.
This is a high-impact leadership role at the heart of our transformation, ensuring millions of learners experience secure, reliable, and high-quality qualification delivery.
About the role
You’ll lead globally distributed engineering, DevOps, and service teams responsible for the technology that underpins Pearson’s regulated and non-regulated qualifications.
Working as part of the PQ Technology Senior Leadership Team, you’ll shape and deliver a product-led technology strategy, balancing innovation, operational excellence, and regulatory compliance. You’ll also play a key role in the PQ Transformation Programme, helping build a more agile, collaborative, and future-ready organisation.
This is a role with real breadth and influence, spanning delivery, stakeholder leadership, and strategic planning.
What you’ll be doing
Own delivery of Pearson’s qualifications technology portfolio, ensuring exam series are delivered on time, to quality, and at scale
Lead global engineering and DevOps teams, translating business priorities into effective technical execution
Drive operational excellence, including incident management, service performance, and resilience during critical exam periods
Partner with regulators and senior stakeholders, acting as a trusted technology leader across internal and external audiences
Enable innovation, overseeing delivery of new features, platform improvements, and agentic deployment approach
Champion modern engineering practices, including agile, DevSecOps, and secure cloud-based delivery
Collaborate cross-functionally across Product, Operations, Assessment, and Regulatory teams to align delivery to business goals
Manage third-party and internal partnerships to ensure consistent, high-quality delivery across multiple locations
Own budget and investment planning, contributing to business cases and long-term strategy
Ensure compliance and security standards are met, in line with both internal policies and regulatory requirements
What we’re looking for
You’ll bring a strong blend of technical depth, delivery leadership, and stakeholder influence, with experience operating in complex, regulated environments.
Key skills and experience
Proven experience leading large-scale engineering and DevOps organisations
Strong background delivering complex digital products or platforms at scale
Experience working in regulated environments (for example education, finance, or healthcare)
Deep understanding of cloud, DevSecOps, APIs, and secure system design
Experience driving agile transformation and modern engineering practices
Strong stakeholder management, including senior leadership and external or regulatory bodies
Experience building and scaling global, distributed teams
Commercial awareness, including budget ownership and supplier management
Leadership capabilities
Inspirational and inclusive leadership style
Strong communicator who can engage at all levels
Collaborative and outcome-focused
Adaptable, resilient, and comfortable operating in complexity
Passionate about solving problems that have real-world impact
Why join Pearson
At Pearson, we believe learning never stops, not for the people we serve, and not for the people who work here.
Joining us means
Working on technology that impacts millions of learners worldwide
Being part of a major transformation programme, shaping the future of assessment
Collaborating with talented, globally distributed teams
Having real influence over strategy, delivery, and innovation
Continuing your own journey of learning, growth, and impact
Who we are:
At Pearson, our purpose is simple: to help people realize the life they imagine through learning. We believe that every learning opportunity is a chance for a personal breakthrough. We are the world's lifelong learning company. For us, learning isn't just what we do. It's who we are. To learn more: We are Pearson.
Pearson is an Equal Opportunity Employer and a member of E-Verify. Employment decisions are based on qualifications, merit and business need. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, ethnicity, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, national origin, protected veteran status, disability status or any other group protected by law. We actively seek qualified candidates who are protected veterans and individuals with disabilities as defined under VEVRAA and Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act.
If you are an individual with a disability and are unable or limited in your ability to use or access our career site as a result of your disability, you may request reasonable accommodations by emailing [email protected].
Job: Engineering
Job Family: TECHNOLOGY
Organization: Assessment & Qualifications
Schedule: FULL_TIME
Workplace Type: Hybrid
Req ID: 24223
