Application Development Manager

Senior Application Developer (COTS solutions)

A Senior Application Developer is required for our client based in Manchester. This is a hybrid position, with around 1-2 days per week on site.

• 1-2 days per week on-site in Manchester

• £51,613-£64,373 depending on experience

We are seeking a highly experienced Senior Application Developer to lead and support the customisation and integration of off-the-shelf software products (COTS). In this pivotal role, you will collaborate with business stakeholders and the IT team to design, implement, and maintain COTS solutions that address complex organisational needs, ensuring high standards of performance, security, and scalability.

Day-to-day of the role:

• Leadership in Customisation & Integration: Lead the customisation and configuration of COTS applications to meet business requirements. Design and implement solutions that integrate seamlessly with existing infrastructure and ensure scalability for future growth.

• Strategic Consultation & Requirement Analysis: Work closely with business stakeholders to understand their needs and translate them into technical specifications. Provide expert advice on the best practices for configuration and integration to optimise business processes.

• Technical Mentorship: Mentor developers, offering guidance on coding standards, best practices, and troubleshooting techniques. Foster a collaborative and innovative development environment.

• System Architecture & Design: Lead architectural discussions regarding system integration and ensure that the solutions meet both functional and non-functional requirements (eg, performance, security, and usability).

• Customisation of COTS Solutions: Implement, configure, and enhance various COTS products to fit organisational requirements. Oversee the creation of custom modules, plugins, and integrations to bridge gaps where necessary.

• Quality Assurance & Performance Tuning: Ensure high-quality deliverables by overseeing unit testing, code reviews, and performance optimisation. Identify and resolve bottlenecks or issues to maintain optimal performance.

• Change Management & Documentation: Lead change management processes, ensuring that customizations and upgrades to COTS products are properly tracked, documented, and tested.

• Ongoing Support & Maintenance: Take ownership of maintaining and troubleshooting customized COTS applications. Perform upgrades, patching, and ensure systems are up to date while minimizing disruption to business operations.

Required Skills & Qualifications:

• Strong proficiency in programming languages (eg, Java, Python, C#, JavaScript) and SQL.

• Extensive experience with APIs, third-party libraries, and system integration techniques.

• Proficiency in HTML5, CSS3, and JavaScript.

• Experience working within change control procedures.

• Knowledge of SQL and experience with databases (eg, MySQL, MS SQL).

• Familiarity with version control systems (eg, Git and GitHub).

• Proven ability to document software development and create test scripts.

• Excellent debugging skills and experience troubleshooting performance issues.

Benefits include;

• 35 days paid annual leave plus 8 bank holidays.
• Significant pension contribution.
• Retail discounts.
• Cycle to work scheme.

In the first instance please submit your CV.

Customisation, Integration, Off-the-shelf software products (COTS), Configuration, System integration, Custom modules, Plugins, Java, Python, JavaScript, SQL, APIs, Third-party libraries, HTML5, CSS3, MySQL, MS SQL, Git, GitHub, Test scripts, AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, Agile