Meet the Engineer: Heather, Team Lead
February 11th, is the International Day of Women and Girls in Science—a chance to celebrate the amazing contributions women make to STEM and highlight the need for more diversity in tech. At Bluefruit, we’re all about creating an inclusive workplace, using non-biased recruitment to make sure we hire based on skill and potential.
Tech isn’t just about coding—there are so many different roles, from Testers and Software Developers to UX Specialists and even Marketing, where data and tech trends play a huge role. But one thing all great teams need? Strong leadership. That’s why today, we’re catching up with Heather, Team Lead for Team Photon, to chat about her experience, the value of leadership in software development, and why having a diverse team makes all the difference
Thanks for chatting with us. Are you able to tell us a bit about your latest projects?
My team Photon, is quite large, and as such, there is a wide variety of skills and talents among the members, meaning we’ve worked on a broad range of things over the past six months. This work has included:
- Embedded Development: Working directly on client products or supporting other teams within the company on both client and internal products. This can involve coding, electronics, training people, and can include challenges like creating a companion board or simulator.
- Testing and Reviewing: Verification & Validation, manual and automated testing, and code reviews.
- Internal Projects: Experimenting with AI and UX/UI, research and design, electronics and PCB design.
- Teaching and Mentoring: One-on-one learning as well as running training sessions open to the whole company.
What sort of role do you have here at Bluefruit?
I have a wide range of responsibilities, but most of them revolve around interfacing and enabling. On projects, I work closely with both the client and the team, ensuring everyone is aligned and development is proceeding smoothly.
- I represent the client to my team, refining and calibrating the direction and delivery of the project.
- I represent the team to the client, ensuring expectations are managed, velocity is tracked, and everyone has a clear understanding of project progress.
Beyond project work, my role extends into broader responsibilities:
- Within the team, I focus on alignment, shared understanding, and camaraderie among members. I play a pastoral role, handling HR-related topics, supporting training and progression, and preserving and promoting Bluefruit’s company culture.
- Within the company, I support the operations, handling team scheduling and financials, representing team members in strategic discussions, and stepping in to cover for other team leads when needed.
What skills do you need to do your job?
A burning curiosity is essential, as is a personal interest in technology (though you don’t have to go as far as being a programmer). It’s also important to enjoy planning, communicating, and collaborating with other people. Every team lead at Bluefruit has a slightly different skill set—some are more technical, some specialise in compliance, and others have backgrounds in teaching. We collaborate weekly to share insights and solve problems together.
How did you get into this role?
I never imagined I’d be in a role like this, but looking back, it makes sense. I studied photography and worked in hospitality, where I learned about self-organisation and managing large teams under pressure. I then became a Software Tester and climbed through different roles over the years. I’ve been a Tester, Developer, Analyst, UX Researcher, Culture Champion, and EOT Trustee. My variety of responsibilities has given me insight into the motivations and challenges of everyone I work with.
What do you enjoy about your job and what’s your favourite thing about working at Bluefruit?
Aside from the role itself, I love that each day brings new learning and challenges. Our clients come from diverse backgrounds, so one day I might be learning about water tension and liquid dosing, the next about AI, particle sensors, or security. I’m lucky to work with incredibly clever people who take it all in their stride. The best things about working at Bluefruit are: Empowerment, flexi-time, open learning sessions, snacks, and more support than you could shake a pasty at.
What do you do on the weekends or in your spare time?
A few highlights from the tome—game programming, drawing and reading comics, baking bread, gardening, going to the cinema, and enjoying wine and nibbles in town.
Are team leads necessary for software development?
A team lead ensures that a project runs smoothly by bridging the gap between technical and non-technical stakeholders. I help clients articulate their needs, ensure the team understands their priorities, and maintain a workflow that leads to valuable, high-quality outcomes.The biggest benefit of having a team lead is that it enables the development team to focus on technical challenges by handling the logistics, communication, and expectations management. Without a team lead, it’s easy for developers to get bogged down with operational concerns, and processes, which reduces their ability to focus on delivering high-quality software.
What steps do you take to align the team’s work with the client’s goals and expectations?
I maintain open channels of communication with regular email updates, and by organising demos, and structured feedback sessions. I also translate between technical and non-technical language to ensure all parties fully understand the project’s progress and priorities.
I facilitate the team to start by working with the client to define success. Throughout the project, I track our progress against these goals and adjust the approach as needed.
What strategies do you use to keep the team on track when working on complex or time-sensitive projects?
- I work with the team to split tasks into manageable pieces – making it easier to spot blockers or time-sinks, also making it easier to plan for deadlines
- Set clear priorities – communicating the must-haves to ensure they get the most attention early on
- Ensure no one is blocked – on a daily basis checking that everyone is equipped and that no further information from the client is needed
- Foster open communication – creating safe spaces for people to speak honestly about the success of the project (see our piece on psychological safety)
- Shield the team from unnecessary distractions – cutting down the number of meetings that need to be attended, refining information, wherever possible.
What is a common misunderstanding about the role of Team Lead?
A team lead isn’t just a manager—we are facilitators, problem-solvers, and enablers. Clients who only want developers often don’t realise that without someone to bridge gaps and remove roadblocks, the efficiency and effectiveness of the team can be severely impacted.
Thanks Heather for chatting with us!
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