Senior Software Lead

Applicants must already have the unrestricted right to work in the UK. We are unable to provide visa support for this role.

This role is based at our office at Bournemouth International Airport, UK.

Salary & Benefits Package

• Competitive Salary
• 22 days annual leave plus 8 public holidays (increasing with service)
• HSF Health Plan - Scheme 2
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• 5% Employee and 3% Employer Pension Contributions

Role Purpose

The Senior Software Lead makes sure our software projects work properly, from first scope to customer handover. In every 3t simulator the simulation model is at the heart of the product: it drives what the HMI shows, what the graphics do and what QA tests. This role leads the simulation engineering team directly and line-manages the HMI and Graphics Leads, so that all the parts of a project come together on time and to the required standard.

Scope

This is a hands‑on technical leadership role in a lean, efficient team with a consciously flat structure, where everyone contributes technically. The postholder writes and reviews production code, using the department's AI‑assisted development tools. They have the authority to run day‑to‑day technical delivery, and they act as a deputy to the Software Manager when needed. The Software Manager sets the product roadmap, technical direction, AI strategy and quality standards. QA reports separately to the Software Manager, so that testing stays independent of development. Significant technical decisions need the Software Manager's approval before work starts. These include changes to architecture, new platforms, frameworks or tools, and approaches not yet proven in production.

About 3t

3t is a leading provider of training services and learning technology solutions. With Training, Technology and Transformation at the core of its offering, 3t delivers safety‑critical training across energy, renewables, power, marine, construction, gas, electric and water sectors. The company trains more than 200,000 delegates per year and is the number one provider of training to the UK Energy Sector and the Global Offshore Wind market. Its drilling and well control simulation business is the world leader in its field. With offices and training centres across the UK, the Americas and the Middle East, the 3t team is represented by 17 nationalities and present in 60 countries worldwide.

Key Responsibilities

• Take day‑to‑day ownership of technical delivery across each project, making sure the model, HMI and graphics work fit together and progress to a common plan. Keep a forward look of deadlines, deliveries and risks. Make sure the Leads and engineers know what is coming up and what to watch for. Follow up actions and decisions until they are closed, so nothing depends on the Software Manager chasing. Identify blockers, scope changes and integration problems early. Resolve them where possible and elevate promptly where not. When a project goes wrong, find out why straight away and without being asked. Be ready to explain to the Software Manager what happened and what is being done about it.
• Line‑manage the Simulation Engineers: set priorities, review their work, support their development, and hold them to the department's standards. Lead the simulation model work hands‑on. Write, review and approve production code, using AI‑assisted tools such as Claude Code. Make sure model behaviour is specified, validated and documented well enough for HMI, Graphics and QA to build and test against it.
• Line‑manage the HMI and Graphics Leads: set priorities, hold them accountable for their teams' delivery and standards, and deal with their day‑to‑day problems and escalations. Sequence the HMI and Graphics work, agree interfaces with the model, and keep all teams aligned to the project plan. Make sure agreed processes are followed across the teams: reviews, document control, configuration management and release procedures. Give QA what it needs to test effectively: clear model behaviour, testable requirements and early notice of change.
• Administration: Make sure timesheets for the software function are accurate and submitted to Finance by the monthly deadline.

Success in the First 12 Months

Projects come together without the Software Manager having to chase: the Leads and engineers follow up their own actions, and problems surface early. The simulation team has clear direction, consistent standards and visible technical leadership. When something goes wrong, the explanation and the fix are already in hand before the Software Manager asks. The monthly timesheet submission to Finance happens accurately and on time without the Software Manager's involvement.

Person Specification

At 3t our values of Innovation, Collaboration and Excellence are at the heart of what we do. The successful candidate will have:

Essential Criteria

• Strong, current software development ability in C# or a similar language, including writing and reviewing production code.
• Experience of real‑time simulation, physics or process modelling, or a closely related technical field.
• Experience managing engineers and team leads across several disciplines, such as simulation, UI and graphics.
• High personal standards and the confidence to hold others to them, including through difficult conversations.
• A proactive, organised approach, with a track record of owning problems and seeing work through to completion.
• Enthusiasm for AI‑assisted development and a willingness to help shape how the team uses it.

Desirable Criteria

• Knowledge of drilling, well control or another oil and gas, industrial or safety‑critical domain.
• Experience with Unity, .NET desktop applications, HMI or SCADA‑style systems.
• Experience with Jira, Confluence and SVN, Git or similar tools.
• A degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Games Development, Physics or a related discipline, or equivalent experience.